Do Online Auctions Ship? How Auction Shipping Works

How do you know if an auction lot ships?

Check the sale page before you bid, not after you win. A sale generally works one of three ways, and on Auktia every auction states which one applies.

• Pickup only: you, or someone you send, collects the lot. No shipping is offered.
• Ships at a listed price: each lot shows its shipping cost up front, so you can include it in your bid.
• Ships with a combined amount after the sale: the house packs everything you won and adds one shipping amount to your invoice once the sale closes.

How much does auction shipping cost?

It depends on size, weight, distance and packing. A small box such as a watch or a few coins can ship for less than $20, while a framed painting may need custom crating that costs more than the art. Furniture moved by freight or a blanket-wrap service often runs into the hundreds.

Do the math before bidding. A lamp at a $40 hammer with a 15% premium and 8.25% tax is $49.80, and $28 of shipping makes it about $78 delivered. If the same lamp is $60 at a local shop, the auction is not the deal it looks like.

Why are so many auctions pickup only?

Packing and shipping takes staff, boxes and time, and a single fragile item can take longer to pack than it did to catalog. Regional houses selling furniture, tools and estate contents often skip shipping to keep fees low and clear the warehouse fast. Liquidation sales of pallets nearly always expect buyers to bring a truck.

Pickup-only sales can be where the deals are. Fewer bidders can reach them, which tends to keep prices down for people nearby. See auction pickup for how collection works.

How do you ship a lot from a pickup-only auction?

If you live out of town or the piece is too big for your car, you can often arrange your own shipping. Build the shipper's quote into your max bid before you place it.

1. Ask the house whether it releases lots to third-party shippers, and how much notice it needs.
2. Get a quote from a local pack-and-ship store or freight service before you bid, using the lot's size and weight.
3. Win, pay your invoice, then send the shipper your invoice and paddle number.
4. The shipper collects, packs and sends the item, and you pay the shipper directly.

What happens after an auction item ships?

When a lot ships, the house records the carrier and tracking number; on Auktia, tracking shows on My bids. Open boxes as soon as they arrive, and photograph any damage before you unpack further.

If a lot arrives materially different from its description, report it to the house and the platform within the stated window, which is 7 days on Auktia. Shipping damage is usually handled with the carrier or whoever packed it, so keep the box and packing materials until the claim is settled.

Which auction lots are worth having shipped?

Shipping makes sense when the item is hard to find locally or the price gap is big enough to cover the trip. Say a solid wood chair hammers at $300 at a sale 800 miles away. With a 15% premium and 8.25% tax it is $373.46, and a $250 blanket-wrap quote brings it to about $623. If the same chair sells for $900 near you, that is a good buy.

It rarely makes sense for cheap, heavy or common things. A $60 bookshelf with a $150 freight quote is a $225 bookshelf you could have bought down the street. Run the numbers on every lot, and when shipping eats the savings, look for the same item in a pickup sale near you.