Here’s the Truth About Auction Fees

So, you’re thinking about selling an item at auction, but you’re wondering how much you’ll actually walk away with. Trust me, we get it. Auction house fees can sometimes feel like they’re straight out of a horror movie—hidden charges and absurd pricing can leave you wondering what just happened.

But here’s the deal: **we believe in transparency**. No hidden fees. No nonsense. Let’s break it down for you, so you can make the best decision for your item.

What to Expect with Auction House Fees and Commission

Like any good middleman, we facilitate the buying and selling of goods, similar to, let’s say, eBay or Amazon (minus the billionaire CEOs). To cover the costs of making this magic happen—think employee salaries, marketing, rent—we charge a standard auction house commission.

That commission typically falls between 20% and 35%, depending on the value of your item. But before your heart skips a beat, don’t worry—we’re about to make things crystal clear.

No Hidden Fees: Our Transparent Approach

Ever heard of a buy-in fee or a minimum? It’s a common practice where auction houses charge consignors (that’s you, the seller) a fee for listing an item at auction—even if it doesn’t sell. Yes, seriously.

To us, that’s a huge no-no. If your item doesn’t sell, you shouldn’t have to pay a dime. It’s that simple. We don’t charge any buy-in fees, because we think that’s only fair.

And here’s the cool part: If your item doesn’t sell the first time around (which rarely happens), 99% of our clients list it in another auction. There’s no pressure to do so, but hey, why not give it another shot?

Is the commission negotiable?

Yes, if you consign a collection with a combined value of $100,00 or more, we will negotiate the commissions charged, and every other auction house you speak to should do so too.

For everything else, here’s how our sliding scale commission works:

- $500 - $4,999: 35% commission

- $5,000 - $9,999: 25% commission

- $10,000 - and above: 20% commission

The hammer price (aka what your item sells for) is where we base these commissions. But remember, if your item doesn’t sell, you pay nothing.

Understanding Auction Reserves: Protecting Your Investment

You might be wondering: What’s a reserve? Simply put, it’s the minimum price you’re willing to accept for your item when it’s offered at auction. We work with you to set a fair and realistic reserve, usually between 50-75% of the item’s estimated value.

For example, if your item is valued at $10,000, the bidding might start somewhere between $5,000 and $7,500. We use our years of experience to guide you through this process, ensuring we protect your investment and maximize your sale.

And don’t worry—we won’t undervalue your item just to get it sold faster. Our goal is to help you get the best price while keeping the process fair and transparent.

How to Get Started: Choose Your Consignment Style

We know life can get busy, so we offer a variety of ways for you to consign your items. Whether you’re tech-savvy or prefer doing things the old-fashioned way, we’ve got you covered:

• Online Valuation Form: Fill out our online form for a free valuation. Turnaround time is about 1 week.

• Mobile App Valuation: Use our app, available on Google Play or the App Store, for a valuation in just 5-7 days.

• In-Person Valuation: Prefer the face-to-face route? Bring your item in for a physical valuation. It takes a little longer, but we’ll make sure it’s worth the wait. Or if you have a whole collection make an appointment for our specialists to come out to your location for an in-person valuation.

Still have questions about the auction process? No problem! Check out our complete guide to selling at auction for more details, or feel free to give us a shout—we’re always happy to help.

FAQs: What You Need to Know About Auction Fees

What is a seller's commission at auction?
We charge a sliding scale commission based on the hammer price of your item. The commission ranges from 20% to 35%, and for collections over $100,000, we will negotiate our commissions.

What happens if my item doesn’t sell at auction?
No worries! Unlike many auction houses, we don’t charge a minimum or buy-in fee. You won’t owe anything if your item doesn’t sell.

What’s a reserve, and why do I need one?
A reserve is the minimum price you're willing to accept for your item. We help you set a realistic reserve to ensure you get fair value for your piece while maximizing the chances of a sale.

When can I expect to receive my payment?

All consignors are paid within 30 business days of the auction. This allows us to get all the payments in from the buyers. 

Do I have to pay to ship my items to the buyer?

Nope, we take care of that.

Do you insure all the consignments?

Yes, all consigned items are insured while they are here at the auction house, and they are also insured if we pick them up from you. When your consigned item sells we charge a small fee to cover the cost of insuring your items while they are in our care.

Can I bring my items to you for auction?

You will need an appointment with one of our specialists first. To get started you can email or text us pictures of the items you want to auction. We will then get back to you a valuation or more questions, or if we are ready to set up an appointment for you to bring the item/s in.

Can I phone you and speak to a human being?

Yes please call us, and press 0 when you hear the automated attendant answer. If you are calling during office hours you will speak to a real human being and not a chat bot.

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