As a Buyer:
In Order to bid in any of our Auctions you will first need to register as a bidder. To register online you will be asked to provide your Name, Address and contact information. If we are having an in person live event, registration will be very similar just have an ID handy and a credit card. After that you’ll be asked to agree to the Terms and Conditions before being assigned a bidder number, but once you have your own bidder number you can feel free to place bids!
All of our Auction items will be uploaded for preview and pre bidding a full week before the auction closes out on auction day. That means that everyone will have a week to preview items online in the upcoming or live auctions tabs where a brief description and several photos can be found. If you wish to preview in person, please email us or call and we will be happy to arrange that. Also feel free to call or write with any questions during the preview/pre bidding week. Please keep an eye out on our socials for special preview videos ahead of each auction day as well.
If you buy online and you want us to ship your items, we will arrange for your lots to be shipped to you thru an offsite third-party shipping service that we have partnered with. We are happy to ship worldwide in most cases. We have decades with packing and shipping collectables. If you bought online and are local to us then you can come down on the Sunday following the auction from 9am-5pm and give a call when you arrive and we will bring your lots right out to you, all you will need is your invoice and ID. If you need to make arrangements to pick another day please call FIRST and be sure to talk to someone so that we can try to work with you.
A Buyer’s Premium of 17% of the “Hammer Price” for auction items will be added to each purchase to reach the total sales price. Online, absentee, phone and in person bids will all pay the same buyer’s premium of 17% as described above. The total sales price will still be subject to appropriate/applicable sales tax as well.
The Auction method is used to market some of the greatest assets all around the world, week in and week out. Buying at Auction can present bidders with opportunities that they may not find anywhere else. Auctions can be a fast, fun, and transparent way of doing business and have been for a very long time, as one of the oldest forms of commerce known.
During the auction, many records are kept, both physical and digital (and often even audio and video records) to help ensure that there will be no mistakes or disputes. But if for any reason a dispute does arise, then the Auctioneer will use the tools at their disposal to help resolve it right away. If a dispute arises between bidders, the Auctioneer will decide the winning bidder or re offer an item for sale if the situation constitutes. The highest bidder is the buyer, and any other disputes can be handled by our team very quickly to resolve any issues.
Buying at Auction can be very, very, easy and straight for today, we have a lot tools to make it as easy as possible these days- even online. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the type of Auction you are participating in (timed auctions versus live auctions for example) and the auction platform, such as apps or websites. Most Auctions will be auction with reserve, unless the auction says that it has no reserve, then expect there to be a reserve even if the reserve is only a 5- or 10-dollar starting bid, it is still a reserve.
Timed Auctions are auctions that have a time limit and close out like a typical eBay auction and usually just online only. Live auctions will often have online pre bidding and then close out every item one by one as an auctioneer asks for additional bids after the pre bidding has ended and the auction day comes, and the live portion starts. That can be in person, or live and online in a simulcast event, or a combination of the two. These are examples of things to get familiar with, but many of us already are thanks to sights like eBay and tv auction shows that have helped normalize Auctions as a first option and not a last resort! Lastly, preview and research what you intend to bid on and try to have an idea of what you are comfortable spending prior to the Auction- don’t forget, there is a buyer’s premium and maybe sales tax as well! Good luck and happy bidding!
As a seller:
NO! Auction is a GREAT first response when looking to sell something, the Auction method of marketing has been around for an incredibly long time and Auctioneers have more marketing tools and abilities then ever before. While it is true that in some very specific examples, or in some poorly planned liquidations, an Auction may be the last step, Auctions are often times the first or only choice for marketing goods. All of the finest goods and real estate around the world trade hands at auction every day, even domain names, artwork, cars and so much more. When sellers want to market to the right buyers for the top dollar, Auction is the way they choose to go.
First, research Auctioneers that might be a good fit for your needs. They will be happy to discuss what they can do to help. If you find an Auctioneer you like, the process may vary slightly but for us here at Collectorverse Auctions it is as simple as a quick consultation, reviewing terms, and looking over a contract.
It is helpful to have photos and some details of what you would like to consign. If you can, try to have your items out in a place that they can be easily seen by an Auctioneer should they need to come to where your items are being stored. Be sure that you have good title and right to sell your items prior to reaching out to Auctioneers. Beyond that, do not hesitate to ask any questions up front. Feel free to reach us any time at [email protected]
Here at Collectorverse Auctions, sellers can expect their auction items to be settled within 21 business days of the Auction. When settled a seller will receive their proceeds minus any commissions, along with a report of the auction which will show an itemized report with the details of the auction(s) and what each of your items (or groups of items) sold for.
The very first thing that we will do is start with a consultation, where we can do a valuation on your items and see what your goals are. We will review our contract and discuss the terms that we can offer you. If you decide to sign with us, we will take possession of your items (don’t worry we carry all of the appropriate insurances) which will then be sorted and tagged with your unique seller number along with a lot number. After that we will take several photographs of each lot and write detailed descriptions for each lot. During this period, we will schedule them for an Auction day and upload your items into an auction catalog on our website. Once they are uploaded to an Auction, they will be open for bidding and preview. At that point, we will have already begun marketing your items using the most up to date tools in the industry today. From there, the Auction will close, we will handle all of the payments, any packing or shipping, and all that will be left for you to do is sit back and wait to receive your detailed Auction reports and your payment!
Our Auction is paid a commission in the form of a percentage of the gross sales amount for you items. Our commission rates will vary depending on the type of property/assets/items that you would like to sell. Keep in mind that for most auction houses, the amount of items, their value and the amount of work involved as well as specific needs or additional needs may impact what that percentage is. We will be happy to discuss our rates further after we know what more about what you are selling and your goals.
If you sign with us and can get your items to our office, then all you will need to do is schedule a time to bring everything to our facility. If you need help getting your items to our office, we can schedule a day and time to arrange for our team to get your items packed and transported to us.
Our award-winning Auctioneers have taken the time to continue their education, invest in industry leading tools, and seek out a global marketplace that allows us to be able to put your collection in front of as many buyers as we can. With goals to re-invest, and further develop the tools we already have while we continue to hone our ability to serve, we only expect to grow. There are many Auction houses to choose from, but ours focuses on just collectables with the experience and passion of genuine collectors that have decades of experience in the industry and hobby with a vast network to back us up. With testimonials and satisfied sellers all around the country, we are certain that we can help you.