FAQ & rules

One billboard. Bidding is free and open to anyone. Every auction closes at 10:00 PM Friday, New York time.

The basics

What is Your Message Here?: One billboard on the internet. A single advertiser owns it at a time, for seven days. Anyone can bid for the next week.
How does the auction work?: Bidding runs continuously. Every auction closes at exactly 10:00 PM Friday, New York time. The highest bid at that moment wins the billboard for the following seven days.
When does the winning creative go live?: Once payment clears. The week runs from the Saturday after the auction closes through the following Friday.
How much traffic does the billboard get?: Everyone who visits the homepage sees it — there is nothing else on the page. Weekly traffic is shared with the winner and grows with each week.

What does it cost to bid?: Nothing up front. Bidding is free and requires no account and no card — just your name, email, advertiser name and an amount.
What is the minimum bid?: The auction opens at $5 USD. Every subsequent bid must beat the current high bid by at least the $10 increment. All amounts are in USD.
Can I bid more than the increment?: Yes. Bid any amount at or above the current minimum. There is no maximum.
Are bids binding?: Yes. Placing a bid is a commitment to pay if you win. Bids cannot be retracted or lowered.
Can I bid more than once?: Yes — bid as many times as you like, as long as each new bid beats the current high bid.
Do older bids disappear once they are beaten?: No. Every bid stays in the bidders table for the whole auction, including your previous bids and everyone else's. Nothing is removed when it is outbid — the full bidding history stays visible, and it is archived with the week once the auction closes.
What happens if I get outbid?: We email you immediately so you can bid again before the deadline.
Are bids public?: The current high bid and the advertiser name are public. Email addresses are never shown.
What if two bids land at the same moment?: Bids are validated on the server in the order they arrive. The first bid to clear the minimum wins the tie.
Is there a last-minute sniping rule?: No extensions. The auction ends at 10:00 PM New York time on the dot — whatever is highest then wins.

How do I know if I won?: You get an email within moments of the auction closing, with a secure Stripe checkout link.
How long do I have to pay?: 24 hours from the close of the auction. Payment is handled by Stripe — we never see your card details.
What if I do not pay in time?: The win is forfeited and the billboard is offered to the next highest bidder at their bid amount. Non-payers may be blocked from future auctions.
Do you offer refunds?: Payment is non-refundable once the creative is live. If your creative is rejected and you cannot supply a compliant replacement, you are refunded in full.
Can I get an invoice or receipt?: Yes — Stripe emails a receipt automatically, and an invoice is available on request.

What size should the image be?: 1600 × 900 px (16:9), JPG or PNG, under 2 MB. For a retina-sharp file use 3200 × 1800 px.
When do I upload it?: Right after payment. You get an upload link in your confirmation email.
Can the billboard link somewhere?: Yes. You provide one destination URL and the whole billboard links to it.
Can I change my creative mid-week?: One swap per week is allowed, subject to the same review. Email us and we will handle it.
What if I miss the upload?: Until your creative is uploaded and approved, the billboard shows the default placeholder. No refunds for unused days.

Is every creative reviewed?: Yes. Every image and destination URL is manually reviewed before it goes live.
What is not allowed?: No illegal content, adult content, hate speech, harassment, malware, phishing, scams or deceptive claims, and nothing that impersonates another brand or person.
Are crypto, gambling or political ads allowed?: Case by case. They are not banned outright, but they must be legal, clearly disclosed and not misleading.
Can you reject my creative after I have paid?: Yes. You can supply a compliant replacement, or take a full refund if you would rather not.

Can I buy multiple weeks in a row?: Only by winning each week's auction. There is no way to reserve future weeks.
What happens to old ads?: Every past advertiser stays online permanently in the archive.
What if nobody bids?: The billboard stays on its placeholder for that week and the next auction opens as normal at $50.
How do I get in touch?: Message @alexmacgregor__ on X, or reply to any email we send you.