Your key to bidding success
We offer online, in-person, phone, and absentee bidding on all of our auctions at Western Trading Post. This exciting dynamic means that bidders from all around the world are competing to win each lot at the same time. Read on to learn the different ways to bid, how to bid, and what method might work best for you.
Auction basics
Auctions are a fun way to acquire items! Here are a few basic things every bidder should understand before placing a bid:
- First, read the Terms and Conditions (T&C)
- Preview the items for sale (and establish the condition and a value in mind)
- Know when and where the auction is taking place
- Understand the fees involved such as taxes and Buyer’s Premium (BP)
- If buying online or absentee, find out about shipping
REGISTRATION for the auction is a must! Basic contact information and a credit card on file are generally required. You then receive a bidder’s paddle number and are ready to bid.
ASKING QUESTIONS and a preview of the lots you are interested in is encouraged. Bidders should gather all information deemed necessary about items before bidding. Auction representatives are available to answer questions prior to the auction. Live preview times are during normal business hours (and end once the auction starts) and online preview is always open once an auction is posted.
BID INCREMENTS during the live portion of the auction are ultimately at the discretion of the auctioneer. Bidding increments online are preset for each individual auction when posted and we generally follow the following increments:
Below $500 increments are $25; $500 to $1,000, increments are $50; $1,000 to $2,000, increments are $100; $2,000 to $5,000, increments are $250; $5,000 to $10,000, increments are $500; $10,000 to $20,000, increments are $1,000; $20,000 to $50,000, increments are $2,500; $50,000 to $100,000, increments are $5,000; And above $100,000, it is the auctioneer's discretion—remember the increments at any time are ultimately at the discretion of the auctioneer during live bidding.
Ways to place bids
IN-PERSON LIVE
This is the oldest and most traditional form of bidding. It is when bidders show up and participate live, in person, in the same space the auction is happening with the auctioneer. Typically, bidders register upon arrival and are then ready to join the live bidding. Raising your hand or bidder paddle is a signal you wish to bid. Make sure the auctioneer acknowledges your bid.
At Western Trading Post, you may stop by our location two days prior to the auction start for Auction Preview, where you may receive assistance viewing items up close and in person. When you arrive on auction day, you can register for the auction and will obtain a "paddle number" which is used to keep track of your winning bids. The benefit of joining in-person is witnessing the excitement of a fast-paced auction and the ability to take home the items you've won right away, without paying for shipping.
ONLINE LIVE (SIMULCAST)
Online bidding is the most popular way to bid, and allows you to bid from anywhere in the world that has a reliable internet connection. For your convenience, Western Trading Post offers live online bidding on multiple platforms: Western Trading Post Website/App; LiveAuctioneers; and Invaluable.
All online bidders must register online to receive a user ID and password (bidders with pre-existing accounts can log in with their current usernames & passwords). Once you have logged in, you will receive a bidder’s paddle number and are ready to bid. If you have already registered during pre-bidding, you do not have to register again. Once you’re registered on a platform for a particular auction, that registration works for both absentee and live bidding on that platform. Remember, live bidding online can be tricky because of internet speeds and possible delays. We recommend leaving a max absentee bid (more below) when possible and then watch to see if you need to raise your bid during the live auction. If you’re bidding in real time online as the auction is happening, it’s better to bid early in the process once the lot you’re interested in opens up. This helps give the auctioneer ample notice of your intent to bid so you don’t miss out.
WESTERN TRADING POST WEBSITE/APP
> Register to Bid | > Log in
> Get our bidding app available for Android or Apple devices
You can begin pre-bidding (absentee bids) for each auction about two weeks before the event begins. Once live bidding begins on Auction Day, you may join online. The website/app will automatically follow along, and placing a bid is simply a click or swipe away. Bidding from our website and app gives you the chance to browse each auction's catalog early and place early bids.
OTHER PLATFORMS
For detailed instructions on how to bid using LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable, please visit their sites directly so you have the most up-to-date information.
PRO TIP
Use our app to save the lots you're interested in by clicking the star next to the title and marking them as "Watched Items". You will receive a notification ~5 minutes before the bidding on your "Watched Items" begins—helpful if you're bidding on a busy day and can't watch the entire auction!
TELEPHONE
As a matter of convenience to bidders, Western Trading Post offers phone bidding. Bidders are required to register and receive a bidder’s number before phone bids will be taken. Bidders may participate live over the telephone during the auction, but Western Trading Post requires you notify us of your intent to phone bid prior to the auction (preferably 24 hours or more advance notice) so we can schedule a representative to help you.
Contact us at 520-426-7702 for registration and to schedule your phone bid.
ABSENTEE
DIRECT WITH AUCTION HOUSE
As a service, Western Trading Post offers absentee bidding in your place. Bidders are required to register and receive a bidder’s number before absentee bids will be taken. Absentee bids may be left with Western Trading Post by phone, in-person before the auction, or by email before the auction. It's important to remember that absentee bids left before an auction starts are treated as offers to bid up to a certain amount on behalf of a bidder, the same as if the bidder was there in person, bidding against other bidders at the auction. Bids are executed competitively against other live and absentee bidders with the intention of securing the lot at the lowest possible amount (up to the max bid amount left). For example, if a max bid is left of $1,000.00 and the item ultimately brings $500, you would win at $500.
NOTE: Leaving a "max" bid does not guarantee a bidder to win at that particular amount as there may be other bidders who also bid that amount and the auctioneer ultimately determines the winning bidder based on whose bid was acknowledged first during live bidding.
Bidding can be done by bidding the next increment above where the current winning bid is, or there is the option of leaving a “Max Bid” for the amount you are willing to go up to. Leaving a "Max Bid" is called absentee bidding because the computer system will bid on your behalf as necessary, just enough to keep you in the winning position up to your max bid amount. It does not automatically jump your bid up unless another higher bid has been left by another bidder (in some cases a reserve may have been placed on an item and the system may bid against you up to the reserve amount).
Shipping
YOU'VE WON AN ITEM (CONGRATS!), NOW WHAT?
Once an auction is complete, if you've won any lots, you will receive an invoice and info on getting your items in your email. You may pick up the items you've won in person. Alternatively, we are proud to offer in-house shipping on most items. If you won an item and would like shipped, please remember that shipping, handling and insurance for all absentee, internet and phone bid items are ultimately the responsibility of the winning bidder.
Shipment will only occur after funds have been received and cleared. We try to help keep the cost of shipping to a reasonable minimum and will combine postage cost where prudent. The Buyer pays the shipping cost, with a minimum $5 per lot handling / packaging fee (larger and difficult items are more, please see individual listings for exact fee). This charge is in addition to the cost of postage. If several items are purchased by one person and going the same place, we may discount the handling / packaging charges based on volume and difficulty of the items being shipped. Insurance is recommended, but paid for by the purchaser. If you do not want insurance, please let us know immediately that you will take the risk. Otherwise we generally add it on for you. Please contact us if you have questions about shipping.
Remember, once you have bought an item, it is yours! We are merely assisting you to get it in your possession.
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