How to Bid
Getting Started
Once you have registered and your account has been validated you are ready to start bidding, so log onto the website by entering your username and password - you will know when you are logged on because you will see your username at the top right hand corner of the home page. Select the auction and the lots will be listed in numerical order with a description, photo, the current bid, bidding increment, number of bids, the time the auction ends (subject to overtime bidding) and location of goods. If you wish to see more photographs and technical information click the lot description for more detail. Below this information are two active bidding sections Bid now and Auto bid.
Bid Now & Auto Bid
The “bid now” option will default to the next highest bid - press bid in the dark blue box and a coloured bidding status band will show the coloured green “ you are winning this lot”. If a competitive bid is made higher than yours, the bidding status band will turn red advising that you “ you are losing the lot”. To bid higher just repeat the process - you can bid more than the incremental bid if you think the item is worth it.
This "auto bid" option allows you to enter an automatic bid to a maximum price you are willing to pay - the software will automatically bid on your behalf and stop once other competitive bidders have stopped bidding. This facility means you do not have to remain in front of your screen but we recommend that you checking in near the closing time.
Overtime Bidding
The software is designed to emulate the live auction process and therefore once the end time is less than ten minutes away and another bid is received the time will extend to a maximum of ten minutes this is to award the lot to the buyer who is willing to pay the highest amount. This is different to some other websites were buyers are penalised by the timing of their bids.
Make an Offer
On some auction sales we will have a facility for you to “make an offer” prior to the closing time. These sales will have an additional “Make an Offer” tab which when pressed allows you send to our staff your offer which will be considered and either accepted or rejected within 24 hours. We will only consider two offers and if you are unsuccessful after the second offer the software will automatically continue with the sale and close at the pre-determined time, but you will be able to resume with the normal bidding process of incremental or auto bids.
Machine Shop - Buy it Now
On the Machine Shop section we have a mixture of clients surplus equipment and items which have not met reserves on previous sales. In addition to the normal bidding process we have the “Make an Offer” facility as above and a “Buy it Now” option. The advertised price is clearly shown and if you wish to purchase immediately simply press the button - we will send you an email confirming your purchase and the item will be shown as “ Sold” on the website and the bidding process stopped. Please remember that the item will be subject to our standard 15% buyer’s premium. e.g. Items purchased for £1000 with be subject to a further £150 buyers premium.
