1. Project Overview

The client’s website runs on WordPress with the Ultimate WooCommerce Auction PRO plugin on nbrc.us. Currently, when an auction ends and a winner is declared, the winning amount is expected to be paid by the highest bidder. However, if the highest bidder fails to complete the payment, there is no automated mechanism to fall back to the next eligible bidder, and the auction has to be handled manually.

The goal of this task is to introduce an automated process that declares the second highest bidder as the winner if the original highest bidder does not pay the auction amount within 5 days. This ensures that auctions are concluded fairly and efficiently without manual intervention.

2. Customer Requirements

The client requires the following custom changes to the plugin:

Automatic Second Highest Winner Declaration

  • If the highest (first) bidder does not pay the winning auction amount within 5 days, the system should automatically declare the second highest bidder as the new winner.
  • The process must run automatically without any manual action from the admin.

 

3. Technical Approach

The requirement will be implemented by creating a new child plugin for Ultimate WooCommerce Auction PRO. This keeps the custom functionality isolated from the core plugin, ensuring the main plugin remains update-safe. The implementation will cover the following:

  • Develop a new child plugin that extends the functionality of Ultimate WooCommerce Auction PRO without modifying the core plugin files.
  • Implement a scheduled cron job that automatically checks all expired auctions from the last 5 days.
  • For each expired auction where the first highest bidder has not paid within 5 days, automatically run the second highest winner declaration process.
  • Ensure the second highest bidder is notified and the auction is updated accordingly and won mail will be sent to the second highest winner, while preserving all existing auction and order data.

4. Effort — Design & Development

4.1 Development

  • Set up a new child plugin structure for Ultimate WooCommerce Auction PRO.
  • Create the new “Second Highest Winner” admin menu under Admin Dashboard > Auctions to track every auction of the second highest winner.
  • Add a new setting to change the number of days like, 5, 10, 15 etc.
  • Develop the cron job to check all expired auctions from the last 5 days.
  • Implement the logic to detect unpaid auctions and automatically declare the second highest bidder as the winner.
  • Handle notifications and auction status updates for the second highest winner process.

Estimated effort: 12 hours

4.2 Testing

  • Test the cron job execution and verify it checks expired auctions correctly.
  • Verify the second highest winner is declared accurately when payment is not received within 5 days and won mail will be sent to the second highest bidder.
  • Confirm existing auction data and completed orders remain unaffected.

Estimated effort: 2 hours

 

5. Effort Snapshot

# Activity Hours
1 Development 12  hours
2 Testing  

2 hours
TOTAL 14 hours

6. Deliverables

The following deliverables will be provided as part of this task:

  • A new child plugin for Ultimate WooCommerce Auction PRO containing the second highest winner functionality.
  • Tested and deployed on the client’s server.

7. Commercials & Payment

Project Cost

  • Total Estimated Effort: 14 hours
  • Hourly Rate: USD 45 / hour
  • Total Cost: USD 630

 

Payment Schedule

Milestone Amount (USD) Estimated Delivery Date
Advance Payment $630 TBD upon confirmation
Project Start — TBD after payment
Project End — TBD
Total Amount $630

 

Actual start and end dates will be confirmed after payment is received, based on availability at that time.