Bid in a Timed Auction
Timed Auctions at Ritchie Bros. offer a convenient and transparent bidding experience. These auctions run without an auctioneer, allowing you to place bids at your own pace within the auction period.
Check our website, the auction brochure or your auction day listing catalog to find out if items are being sold by Timed Auction.
How timed auctions work
Placing bids in our Timed Auctions is easy. Bidding opens a few days before sales close and closes at staggered times during the auction. Every item is sold to the highest bidder when bidding closes.
Bidding opens days before the closing time.
Each lot has a set closing time.
Last-minute bids extend the closing time, ensuring fair competition.
The highest bid when time runs out wins the lot.
Ways to place bids
You can place bids in two ways:
Manual bids
Manually enter a bid based on the next bidding increment. This allows you to actively participate in the auction and adjust your bids as needed.
Set a maximum bid
Let our system bid on your behalf by entering the maximum amount you're willing to bid.
The system will place the lowest bid required to keep you in the lead.
If someone outbids you, the system will automatically increase your bid up to your maximum.
In the case of a tie, the first bid placed wins.
You can adjust your maximum bid anytime before the lot closes.
Closing time extensions
To promote fair bidding, any bid placed near the closing time will extend the lot’s closing time. This gives all bidders an equal opportunity to respond before the lot is sold.
Group lots
All lots within a group have similar characteristics and share closing times. When time is running out, any new bids placed on a lot within this group will cause additional time to be added to the closing time of all the lots. Grouped lots give bidders the opportunity to bid more strategically with fewer time constraints.
Bidding Increments
Bids follow a structured increment system, ensuring transparency in how bids progress.
Current Bid Range* | Bid Increment* |
|---|---|
0 - 99 | 5 |
100 - 249 | 10 |
250 - 499 | 25 |
500 - 999 | 50 |
1,000 - 2,499 | 100 |
2,500 - 9,999 | 250 |
10,000 - 24,999 | 500 |
25,000 - 149,999 | 1,000 |
150,000 - 299,999 | 2,500 |
300,000 - 999,999 | 5,000 |
1,000,000 & above | 10,000 |
Improving the Timed Auction experience
We are enhancing the Timed Auction experience by bringing bidding into the search feature. Additionally, we are integrating bidding functionality into the watchlist and adding a "placed bids" section within user accounts to make tracking bids easier.
Ready to bid?
Before placing a bid, ensure you have a bidding limit. Learn more about bidding limits.
Important information
Fees
A transaction fee applies per lot purchased, with additional charges for extra services. Buyer fees
Bidding & buying terms
All items sell to the highest bidder with no reserves. Bids are final. Owners cannot bid on their own items. Read full terms
Inspect before you bid
Items are sold "as is, where is." Check photos online or visit the site for in-person inspection. You may also send a representative.
By understanding these rules, you can confidently participate in our Timed Auctions and secure the items you need.