> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cibocom.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Submit a Bid and Negotiate Counter-Offers on Cibocom

> Find listings on Cibocom, submit competitive bids, navigate counter-offer negotiations, and confirm a closed deal with this guide.

When you find a listing that matches your buying or selling needs, the next step is placing a bid. This guide covers the full bidding workflow — from browsing listings and submitting your initial offer, through counter-offer negotiation, to the moment a bid becomes a confirmed deal.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Browse listings in a market">
    Navigate to **Markets** and select the relevant market. Use the search bar and filters — commodity type, origin, Incoterms, price range, listing type (Buy/Sell) — to narrow the feed to listings that match your requirements. Listings are sorted by recency by default; switch to **Best Match** to surface the most relevant results first.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open a listing to view full details">
    Click any listing card to open the full detail view. Review the product specification, volume, price, Incoterms, payment terms, validity period, and the seller's company profile before proceeding. Confirm that the listing terms are compatible with your operational requirements before placing a bid.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click 'Place Bid'">
    On the listing detail page, click the **Place Bid** button. This opens the bid form, pre-populated with the listing's asking price and terms as a starting point.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your bid details">
    Complete the bid form with your proposed terms:

    * **Bid price** — your offered price per kg or MT. This can match, exceed, or come in below the listed price depending on your negotiating position.
    * **Volume** — the quantity you want to trade. You can bid on the full listed volume or a partial lot, if the listing permits.
    * **Delivery terms** — confirm or adjust the Incoterms and proposed delivery window.
    * **Message (optional)** — add a short note to the listing owner explaining your position, timeline, or any conditions attached to your bid.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and submit the bid">
    Check the bid summary screen carefully. Confirm price, volume, currency, Incoterms, and delivery terms are all correct. When you are satisfied, click **Submit Bid**. The listing owner receives an instant notification.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor the bid status">
    After submission, track your bid from the **Bids** section of your dashboard. The bid will be in one of the following states:

    * **Pending** — awaiting a response from the listing owner.
    * **Countered** — the listing owner has proposed modified terms.
    * **Accepted** — your bid has been accepted and a deal is created.
    * **Declined** — the listing owner has rejected the bid.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Respond to a counter-offer">
    If the listing owner counters your bid, you will receive a notification. Open the bid to review the proposed changes — price, volume, delivery terms, or other conditions may have been adjusted. You have three options:

    * **Accept** — agree to the counter-offer terms. This creates a deal.
    * **Counter back** — propose a new set of terms to continue negotiating.
    * **Decline** — withdraw from negotiations on this listing.

    All counter-offer exchanges are logged in the bid history for a complete record of negotiations.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Bid accepted — deal created">
    When either party accepts a bid or counter-offer, Cibocom automatically creates a **Deal** from the agreed terms. You will be redirected to the deal page, where both parties can begin the confirmation and documentation process. See [How to Finalize and Close a Deal](/guides/closing-a-deal) for next steps.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Bids have an expiry time set either by the listing's validity period or a separate bid-level expiry you can configure before submitting. Once a bid expires, it can no longer be accepted or countered. If you are still interested, place a new bid on the listing while it remains active.
</Note>

<Tip>
  Always include a message with your bid. A brief, professional note — explaining your company's capacity, preferred shipping schedule, or specific interest in the product — significantly increases response rates. Listing owners are more likely to engage seriously with a bid that demonstrates genuine intent and context.
</Tip>

<Warning>
  Do not place multiple bids on the same listing simultaneously. Duplicate bids create confusion for the listing owner and may result in accidental acceptance of terms you did not intend to honor. If you want to revise your bid, use the **Counter** or **Withdraw and Rebid** options instead.
</Warning>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Close a Deal" icon="handshake" href="/guides/closing-a-deal">
    Learn what happens after a bid is accepted and how to take a deal through to completion.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Bids — Concept" icon="file-lines" href="/concepts/bids">
    Understand bid states, expiry rules, and how the counter-offer flow works on Cibocom.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>