Frequently asked questions

General

What is Official Sporting Memorabilia?

Official Sporting Memorabilia is a premium, authentic line of official London 2012 licensed merchandise developed to create meaningful connections between the Games and consumers worldwide. Typically, Official Sporting Memorabilia brings athletes, autographs and pieces of the Games together, resulting in unique collectables tied to lasting memories of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

How do I know that my collectable is authentic?

The Official Sporting Memorabilia hologram provides anti-counterfeiting and tamper-evident features to ensure your product is 100 per cent authentic.

How do I register my Official Sporting Memorabilia?

To register your collectable please visit: london2012.com/memorabilia. Successful registration requires the serial number indicated on the Official Sporting Memorabilia hologram attached to your product.

How should I care for my collectable?

Take proper care to protect your collectable by displaying away from direct sunlight in an ambient temperature.

Where can I purchase Official London 2012 Sporting Memorabilia?

Official London 2012 Sporting Memorabilia can be purchased from the online London 2012 Auction (starting May 2012 at london2012.com/auction), the official London 2012 online shop (shop.london2012.com), London 2012 shops and other good retailers.

What is Innovative Sports Limited?

Innovative Sports is one of the premier sports marketing companies in the world, dedicated to creating unique and memorable products and services for our customers. Innovative Sports has been chosen by LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd) to create and manage the Official London 2012 Sporting Memorabilia programme.

What is LOCOG?

LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd) is a privately run organisation responsible for the preparation and staging of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Official London 2012 Auction

I am new to the Official London 2012 Auction: where do I start?

Everyone is invited to browse or search through our auction categories and listings for items. If you see something you would like to bid for you must register first. Registration is free and easy.

May I browse listings without registering?

You may browse as much as you like without registering.

How do I register?

It takes just a few minutes to register. To complete the registration process, you will need to provide information such as your user name, full name, address and email address.

Do I have to enter my credit card information when I register?

The registration process does not require you to enter credit card information. You will be prompted for this information before you enter your bid. You may also go to My Account to enter your credit card information without prompting.

Why do I need to register with the Official London 2012 Auction?

By registering with the Official London 2012 Auction, you are letting other members know that you will participate in an honest and professional manner. You must provide valid contact information so that we can if necessary contact you regarding your purchases.

What does it cost to register?

Registration is free and easy. There are no monthly membership fees, and there is no obligation to maintain your membership. Once you have submitted your registration, you will receive a confirmation email message from the Official London 2012 Auction and you will then have instant access to products.

Do I have to buy anything after I register?

No. You are not obliged to buy anything on the Official London 2012 Auction after registering. You are welcome to drop by any time and look around. If you see something you would like to bid on you can do so quickly as a registered user.

How do I bid?

After you review the item information for the item that interests you, click on 'Bid now'. Enter your bid, and then choose submit.

Can I submit a bid offline?

We only accept bids submitted via this website.

Where can I monitor my bidding activity?

You can monitor all your bidding activity from within the View my active bids > Your bid status section of your account.

How will I know if my bid is no longer winning?

We will send you an email when your bid is no longer winning. However, there can be unpredictable delays in email transmission. We suggest that you regularly visit the Official London 2012 Auction to check your bid status.

How will I know if I win?

We will notify you by email if you win, although you are responsible for determining if you have won by visiting the site and checking the status of your bid in My account. The email will contain instructions on next steps.

What is a Reserve Price Auction?

In a Reserve Price Auction, the seller has the option of setting a reserve price, which is a price below which the listing will not sell. The reserve price is higher than the opening value. A reserve price allows the seller to start the auction with an opening value below the reserve price to initiate bidder interest and determine the fair market value of an item. If the seller has set a reserve price you will see either a 'Reserve price NOT met' or 'Reserve price met' message on the listing page depending on whether the current bid is below, or at or above, this price.

Why does it appear that I am having to place multiple bids in order for my bid to be accepted?

This is because a bidder has placed a proxy bid, which is an amount higher than the bid increment. This is the maximum value that a bidder is prepared in order to win this auction. You can place a proxy bid of your own in order to try to outbid the current proxy bid, or you may choose to continue bidding in the increments indicated until your bid is accepted.

I appear to have been overbid by an amount smaller than the bid increment. How has this occurred?

The other bidder had placed a 'proxy bid'. In some cases, it's possible that another bidder's standing maximum bid is greater than yours, but by less than the bid increment. In this case, the other bidder will be winning at exactly their maximum bid.

Can I retract a confirmed bid?

Yes - but your confirmed bid can only be retracted under special circumstances should you choose to submit a formal request. Once you have submitted your confirmed bid, it can only be retracted under the following circumstances:

• You made a typographical error when placing a bid amount.
• You have submitted your valid bid retraction request not less than 12 hours before the auction closes.
• New item information added by the seller changed your understanding of the item for which your bid was placed.
• You cannot reach the seller via email, or your question to the seller is returned as undeliverable, or the seller responds with a request to sell to you directly offline.

You cannot retract a bid if:

• You have placed bids on a similar item.
• You have changed your mind.
• You state that you cannot pay for the item.
• You submit a bid retraction request less than 12 hours before an auction closes.

To retract a confirmed bid, you must contact info@memorabilia.london2012.com with your request. Please include the item listing number and the reason for the retraction. All bid retraction requests received less than 12 hours before an auction closes will not be processed regardless of the reason. All bid retraction requests received without a valid explanation will not be processed. Bidders who retract their bids may not place new bids on that item. It is up to the discretion of the Official London 2012 Auction whether or not your bid retraction request will be accepted.

Is there a charge to place bids?

No. Browsing and bidding for merchandise are free. As a buyer, you are not obliged to buy anything after you have registered. You are welcome to drop by any time and look around. If you see something you would like to bid for you can do so quickly as a registered member.

Do I need to register my Visa card to bid?

Yes. To ensure fair bidding, a valid Visa card will be required to bid for any item. Your Visa card information is only required the first time you place a bid. All additional bids will not require Visa card verification.

Your Visa card is required for personal identity validation only. Visa card verification may pre-authorise charges to your card, where indicated in the item description, to pay for an auction item if you are a successful auction winner. All authorised, or pre-authorised Visa payments for winning bids will be processed through our secure payment servers.

How do I pay for my purchase?

In recognition of Visa's longstanding support of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, The London 2012 Auction is proud to accept only Visa (debit, credit or prepaid). If you do not have a Visa card, your bank will be able to help you select and apply for the Visa product that best suits your needs.

For more information on obtaining a Visa product, including a prepaid product that can be used immediately, please visit the Visa website.

What is my CVV/CVC code?

When you place an order with us we will request your card security code to help prevent against fraudulent use of your card. The security code is the three digit number on the signature strip on the rear of the card.

What is 'Verified by Visa'?

Verified by Visa is the latest method in the fight against credit and debit card fraud. If you are participating in the scheme, as part of the purchase process you will be directed to a Visa verification page hosted by your card provider. Once you have entered the specific digits of your password requested you will be able to complete your purchase. Please note this password is not shared with us at any stage.

When will I be charged for my order?

Payment for your order is taken on your registered Visa card when you place your order.

What kind of payment can I use to bid?

As a proud sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, only Visa (debit, credit and prepaid) can be used to bid in the London 2012 Auction.

Can I pay through Paypal?

No - we do not offer the facility to pay via Paypal.

What is a 'maximum bid amount'?

Your maximum bid amount is the highest price you are willing to pay for an item. You should determine beforehand the most you are willing to pay for an item and then enter a single bid at that amount in the Bid field. An early bid supported by a high maximum bid amount can make you a winner!

Can I increase my maximum bid after I've placed a bid?

Yes. If your maximum bid amount has been outbid, you can either place another maximum amount or enter each subsequent bid one at a time. Please note that you can only increase a subsequent maximum or incremental bid. To increase your current bid amount, simply return to the listing and enter and submit a new, higher maximum bid amount (this amount is the most you're willing to pay for the item).

How do I find out if an auction has ended?

You can locate an auction in which you have participated from within the View my active bids > Your bid status section of your account, or by entering the listing number, if known, in the search box.

What do I do if I win an auction?

If you are the winning bidder when an auction closes, the Official London 2012 Auction will send you an email notification telling you that you have won the item(s) and detailing the next steps.

I won an auction but my item has not been delivered within the designated shipping window, what do I do?

Please send an email to info@memorabilia.london2012.com with the item listing number.

What is Buy now?

Buy now provides the opportunity to purchase an item immediately, at a set price, without waiting for an auction-style posting to end. The final payment amount will be based on the Buy now pricing plus shipping (based on size and weight) a nd applicable taxes (based on delivery address). If your delivery address is within the UK or the European Union, the tax charged will be 20% VAT. Payment must be made on a registered Visa card and all Buy now sales are final.