Placing a bid
Every lot has a bid panel on its page. Placing a bid is quick, but a bid is a binding commitment to pay if you win, so it's worth understanding the box before you type in it.
What the box is asking for
The field is labelled Your maximum bid — and that's exactly what it means. You're telling us the most you're willing to go to, not the amount you expect to pay. We then bid for you, one step at a time, only as high as it takes to stay in front, up to your maximum. Often you pay less than your maximum. This is called proxy (or maximum) bidding — see How proxy (maximum) bidding works.
How to place a bid
- Make sure you're signed in and registered for the sale. If you're not registered yet, you'll see Register to bid on this auction instead of the bid box.
- In Your maximum bid, type the highest amount you're happy to pay. The box shows the current minimum as a guide.
- Press Place bid.
- A short confirmation appears — Confirm your bid — showing your maximum and reminding you it's a ceiling, not the price. Press Place bid again to commit, or Go back to change it.
After you confirm, the panel tells you where you stand: You are the high bidder, or a message explaining why your bid was too low or that you're already leading.
Important things to know
- Bids cannot be taken back. Once confirmed, a bid stands.
- The winning bid isn't the whole bill. A buyer's premium and sales tax are added to the hammer price. The exact rates are on the lot page and the sale's terms.
- Per-unit lots multiply. On a "times the money" lot (say a pallet of ten), your bid is multiplied by the quantity. The lot page flags this clearly above the bid box — read it before you type a number.
If a bid is refused, the panel tells you why in plain words — usually that the amount is below the next allowed bid.