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Bid in a Timed Auction

At 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.

Bid in person or online

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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

The Timed Auction System

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.


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