Bidding Questions


Are there fees for bidding on an auction?

There are no charges to bid. Charges are only incurred if you are the winning bidder. Some auctions may be subject to a buyer's premium charge, which will be outlined in the terms & conditions of the auction.


How do I bid?

Select the auction you would like view. When the bidding for the auction is open you will have the opportunity to enter Your Bid or your Maximum Bid for each item. Enter your bidding number and password at the bottom of the screen to submit the bid(s).

Note: If you forget Bidder or Password go to Quick links click Register Online Only then click forgot bidder or password on form reenter email address and it will be resent to you!


What is a Bid Increment?

The Bid Increment is the minimum dollar amount that the bid must be raised by. Bid Increments will typically be in $5.00, $10.00, $20.00, $50.00 or $100.00 increments. You can bid higher than the minimum bid, or you may enter a Maximum bid, but you may not bid in denominations less than the set Bid Increment.


What is a Maximum Bid?

A Maximum Bid is the highest dollar amount you are willing to pay for an item. Here is an example of using the Maximum bid feature: If you enter a Maximum bid the system will automatically bid on your behalf up to your Maximum bid amount. For example let’s assume that the next bid requirement is a $100.00, you enter a Maximum bid of $400. If no other bids are placed on that item you will be the winner at your $100 bid. If another bidder places a bid of $200 on the item you will now be winning at the $200 plus 1 increment level (for example: $200 + $10 = $210).


Can I raise my Maximum Bid?

Yes, you can increase your maximum bid at any time before the auction ends, even if you’re still the high bidder. Here’s how it works:

Increasing Your Maximum Bid Without Changing the Current Price

  • If you raise your maximum bid, but no other bidder has placed a higher bid, the current price will remain the same.
  • For example, if your original maximum bid was $50 and you raise it to $100, the current price won’t increase unless another bidder places a higher bid.
  • Example:
    • Bidder 1 places an opening bid of $10 with a maximum bid of $50.
    • Bidder 2 places a $15 opening bid with a maximum bid of $30.
    • The current price is $35 (based on Bidder 2's maximum).
    • If Bidder 1 raises their maximum bid to $100, the current price stays at $35, as their previous bid ($50) is more than 1 increment higher than Bidder 2's bid.

When the Current Price Increases After Raising Your Maximum Bid

  • If your new maximum bid is lower than or equal to the next highest bidder's bid, the current price will increase to match the next increment.
  • Example:
    • Bidder 1 places an opening bid of $10 with a maximum bid of $50.
    • Bidder 2 places a $15 opening bid with a maximum bid of $48.
    • The current price is $50 (based on Bidder 1's maximum bid).
    • If Bidder 1 raises their maximum bid to $100, the current price increases to $53 (the next increment above Bidder 2’s maximum bid).

Feel free to adjust your maximum bid at any time to stay competitive, but note that changes to your maximum bid will only affect the current price if other bidders have placed higher bids.


How can I make sure I'm seeing the most up-to-date bids?

Remember to refresh often to be sure the bids on display are the most recent. Either use the refresh button next to each item in the catalog view or use the refresh button in your browser.


How can I see the status of the items I've placed a bid on?

Click on My Items in the top right of every bidding page. That will bring up a list of the items you've placed bids on. Each item will list the time left in the auction, the current bid, your maximum bid and the status of the auction.


Why can't I place a bid?

To place a bid, you must be registered and approved for the auction. See how to register for an auction.


How do I remove a bid?

Once a bid has been placed, there is absolutely no way to cancel it under any circumstances.