FAQs

	Live Auction FAQs	How can I preview the catalog? How do I participate in your auctions? How do I know if I won an auction? How to I bid on an item online? What is a Buyer's Premium? What are bid increments? Does my maximum bid have to be my start bid? When do the auctions take place? What is the return policy on auction items?
If you have any additional questions please call us toll free 877-444-1195

1. How can I preview the catalog?

We have our auction catalogs available to view online several days ahead of time. You can preview the lots, see images, and leave left bids from the auction catalog page.

2. How do I participate in your auctions?

If this is your first time bidding, you will be asked to complete a simple registration form, agree to the Auction Terms/Conditions, and provide a credit card for billing purposes. If you prefer to register over the phone with a representative, you can call us toll free at 877-444-1195. Once you are registered you can pre-bid with a representative before the show starts or you can watch the auction live and bid at that time. (Please note: Once entered, bids cannot be cancelled with out authorized approval)

3. How do I know if I won an auction?

When you pre-bid with a representative over the phone, if you provide an email address, we will send you a tracking # for your package. Also, you can call our toll free phone number, and we can look up your account to see if you won. (we are in the process of creating an online order tracking system)

4. How do I bid on an item online?

You can bid online in two ways. You can leave a left bid or you can bid in real time with LiveBID. A left bid allows you to state a maximum price you'd be willing to pay for the item before the auction starts. You can leave a left bid as soon as the catalog is viewable on the internet. You can also phone in your leftbid. Please follow the Left Bid link on the catalog page to leave your left bid. LiveBID is a realtime interactive bidding system that you can access from our website. You can view still images or live video of the auction as it happens. You must be registered before you can bid.

5. What is a Buyer's Premium?

The buyers premium is a surcharge, that pays for the costs associated with the auction. We charge a 10% buyers premium. Example if you won a bid at $90 the total you will pay will be $99 with the premium.
Most other auction houses have a 15-20% premium.
Christies charges 25% upto $50000
Sothebys charges 25% upto $50000
(these other auction houses will give you a break on the buyers premium for the amount of your bid over half a million dollars!)

6. What are bid increments?

A bid increment is the minimum amount by which a bid can be raised. When the bid is low the increment is small but the as the bid amount gets higher the increment increases. It would take a long time to sell a $10000 Picaso if the bidding was done in $5 increments. The bid increments are as follows:

Regular Auctions

• Less than $200 item: $10 increment
• $200 - $500 item: $25 increment
• $500 - $1000 item: $50 increment
• $1000 - $10,000 item: $100 increment
• $10,000 - $20,000 item: $500 increment
• Greater than $20,000 item: $1000 increment

PIP Auctions

• Less than $100 item: $5 increment
• $100 - $200 item: $10 increment
• $200 - $500 item: $25 increment
• $500 - $1000 item: $50 increment
• $1000 - $10,000 item: $100 increment
• $10,000 - $20,000 item: $500 increment
• Greater than $20,000 item: $1000 increment

7. Does my maximum bid have to be my start bid?

You can and should take advantage of Maximum bidding. With Maximum bidding, you choose the most you want to pay for an item. Using the Maximum Bid option gets you the best deal by only bidding the smallest incremental amount possible to keep your winning status. By placing a maximum bid you can possibly win the item at a lower bid amount if no one else bids up to that amount.

8. When do the auctions take place?

See scheduling on the homepage

9. What is the return policy on auction items?

RETURNS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN RMA NUMBER.
RMAs issued Monday-Friday 10-7 (EST)
You are allowed to return items up to 10 days from the date received. If your item is not as described during the auction, youll receive a full refund. If you return an auction item within 10 days for any other reason or cancel and order, the 10% buyers premium will be not be refunded and a 10% restocking fee at a minimum of $10 will apply.
Items greater than $500 with tags removed are NON-REFUNDABLE
BUY IT NOW items are NOT subject to restocking fees.
Returns for Custom Orders or altered jewelry (including ring sizing) are not allowed.
If you have any questions about returns or any other subject, you can call and ask to speak with customer service.