Registration FAQ:
+ How do I register to bid on an auction?
Click the “Sign Up/ Log In” at the top of the catalog your considering bidding on, to fill out the necessary information to bid. You’ll need to create a login name and password, enter your contact info and a valid credit card. You will only need to enter your credit card if you place a bid. The credit card is authorized for $1 to ensure it is active and belongs to you. If you've already bid on an online auction hosted by LiveAucioneers.com or HiBid.com, you may be able to use the same credentials.
+ My CC Keeps Saying Declined, What Should I Do?
You may have experienced an issue getting through the registration page if your credit card continually was declined. This is likely due to our new CC processor, Stripe, attempting to match your current address with the one we have on file for you (which is likely outdated). How do I fix it? Click on "Log In" at the top/right of any bid.fairauctionco.com page, if you've already confirmed your email address. If not, please do that first. Then, click on "My Account" at the top right. Then click on "Account Info" near the middle/top right. Then, "Payments and Addresses" on the left. There you will be able to match the Billing Info with that of your banks' info. Also, there is a short video above that walks you through this step by step. Still having trouble? We can update it for you! Email us at info@fairauctionco.com
+ How do I submit a Tax ID?
Simply email your pre-filled ST-10 from to info@fairauctionco.com. If you need a copy of the ST-10, please download it using the link near the bottom of this page. If you need to register with the state of VA as a business that accepts sales tax and wish to be tax exempt when making purchases for resale, please follow the instructions listed on the tax.virginia.gov website.
+ Can I see the items up for auction in person before bidding?
Yes! Every auction we sell online has at least one preview day, some have multiple. If the preview schedule doesn't line up with yours, contact us- We will try to accommodate an after hours preview.
+ What are Watched lots?
By clicking “Watch” or the little Heart symbol on any lot, the item will be added to your personal watch list, anonymously. You can find your watch list by (first logging in) at the top of the page, then click on "My Items" near the top of your My Account page.
+ How do I add a credit card that will be used for my auction purchases?
Click on "Log In" at the top/right of any bid.fairauctionco.com page, if you've already confirmed your email address. If not, do that first. Then, click on "My Account" again at the top right. Then click on "Account Info" near the middle/top right. Then, "Payments and Addresses" on the left. There you will be able update billing info, and add a new/different CC.
+ Is Auto Pay at the End of the Auction Mandatory?
Yes, if your invoice total was less than $10k. Due to the speed as which we sell auctions, payment for items purchased at auction is due immediately after the sale ends. For invoices above $10k, we ask for a wire transfer in the 3 days following the sale. If this is the case, please look for an email after the auction with wire instructions.
Bidding:
+ How do I see what lots I have bid on?
Log into your account at the top/right of any bid.fairauctionco.com page and click on My Account. Then, see the My Bids link near the middle of that page. You can sort and filter these results in variety of ways including upcoming/past, won and lost, etc. See the My Items tab to see items you have added to your watched (favorites) list.
+ Can I retract a bid?
It depends. We never want a buyer to feel remorse. Most of our software does not allow bid retractions. It is imperative the buyer double check their bid amounts before bidding. A retraction may be possible if there is enough time for the auctioneer to contact software support staff to make changes. In the heat of a closing auction, this is generally not possible. We cannot retract a bid on account of buyer regret. Please be careful, especially during the final moments of the auction. Once the item has sold online, it's sold to whomever has the highest bid. Make sure to read the Terms and Conditions of sale before bidding.
+ What are the shipping terms for this auction?
Click “Auction Information" while viewing any catalog page. Then scroll to the bottom of that page. Note, the Terms boxes are small and have scrolling text, so make sure to read everything. Also Note, Terms and Shipping terms are auction-specific and change regularly. At a basic level, expect a handling fee and for items to be shipped USPS for small items, or Freight for furniture. Nearly Every auction we sell offers shipping but if you don't see that option, contact us to confirm.
+ Why does the auction extend when I bid in the last couple seconds?
A: This is called the Soft Close feature. Just like a live auction, when someone bids in the final moments of an auction, the auctioneer extends the duration to allow the backup bidder to jump back in. This is our main advantage over eBay and other auction sites, making sure everyone have a fair chance to own the items they have been bidding on.
+ What is Buyers Premium?
Buyers premium is like a tax that gets added onto the hammer price of each item at an auction. All auctions charge a buyers premium in order for the auctioneer to conduct the sale (i.e. digital advertising, software, photography, research).
+ What is the Max Bid feature?
In a live, in-person auction, your “maximum” price your willing to spend is always anonymous. The max bid feature allows this for online auctions. This feature allows you the bidder to bid once, at your maximum and let the software bid competitively on your behalf. Example: Lot 1 is currently at $4.00. You need to bid $5.00 in order to win. If someone comes in right before the auction ends and bids $6.00, you may or may not have time to increase your bid. By entering your maximum bid (for example, $10.00) the software will automatically bid against other bidders competitively until your maximum is reached. If you are outbid, you will receive an email alerting you, and prompting an increase.
+ I still don't trust it... Can I call in an absentee bid instead?
Yes! We understand some folks hesitate to buy anything online. Rest assured your information is completely secure on our site. We will never share your info with anyone, see our Privacy Policy. We utilize some of the most powerful safety features available to keep your info secure and anonymous. Keep in mind, we will never store you CC info: this is done by our CC processor, Stripe. If you would still like to leave an absentee bid to avoid bidding on the internet, Contact Us Here.
+ How do I know if, or what I won after the auction ends?
After each auction, we will send you an invoice via email for your purchases. Also, Once logged in to our bidding site, see you My Account page then click on Items Won near the top.
+ Do I need to be approved to bid?
Yes. If you added a CC upon registration, you're automatically approved to bid. The Auctioneer can approve or reject your signup for their auctions at their discretion. We use advanced software to track accounts which may raise red flags and out your account in Pending mode. Being rejected from bidding on one auction does not necessarily mean that you will be rejected from signing up for other auctions.
The time it takes to approve you for an auction depends on the auction. Most auctions are setup to automatically approve bidders, eliminating the need for you to wait. As a general rule, If you add a valid credit card upon registration, you are automatically able to bid.
Shipping:
+ Do you ship?
Yes, almost every item we sell is available for shipping. Certain items may be excluded from shipping, for a variety of reasons, including if it's a house or other immovable object... Or, if an item is extremely fragile, that may not qualify for shipping, or if an item is illegal in other states. If an item is not eligible for shipping, it will be mentioned in the items description.
+ How do I know what the shipping will cost?
Please read the shipping terms before bidding if you will require shipping. These are posted below the “Auction Details” tab for each auction. Typically, Furniture and large items will cost significantly more to be shipped or delivered. Visit USPS.com, or Fedex.com to achieve a quote for small, box-able items. For furniture and large items, we recommend Plycongroup.com or uShip.com for the best freight carrier rates. Feel free to contact us ahead of time if you would like assistance obtaining a shipping quote. If you're local to the auction location, there's a good chance we can deliver in-house, but please ask first to confirm the price and parameters.
+ What if an item is broken in shipping?
A: We have a very, very high success rate when it comes to shipping due to our in-house packing process. As in: Thousands of items shipped, less than 10 items broken. IF an item is unfortunately broken during shipping, it is the responsibility of the buyer/recipient of the package to alert both the auction house and carrier right away. In most cases, the buyer can easily file a form with the carrier to get the matter resolved.