FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SELLING FAQ’S

Find out more about selling with us!

BIDDING FAQ'S

Find out more about bidding in our auctions!

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Find out more about our terms & conditions.

SELLING FAQ'S

What are the steps?

 

There are ten steps in our online estate sale process:

 

1. The first step with all of our services is a complimentary consultation. Our experts assess your estate, recommend a package and answer any questions you might have.

 

2. Next we draw up a contract outlining all of the terms and conditions of our agreement including timeline and rates.

 

3. Our professional team comes to your home to sort, catalogue and photograph everything for the sale.

 

4. The online sale is then made ‘live’, allowing potential buyers to view the auction and begin the bidding process.

 

5. We market the auction for a period of 2-3 weeks, depending on your timeline, drawing on our extensive contact list of online buyers to bring traffic to your sale.

 

6. We hold a preview day, by appointment only, one day before the close of bidding, so potential buyers can inspect premium items in person before bidding closes.

 

7. The final day of bidding is the closing of your auction when most of the bidding action takes place.

 

8. Pick-up day – buyers come and retrieve the items they have purchased, usually the day after the auction has closed.

 

9. We dispose of anything that is left over and leave your house empty and ready for the real estate agent.

 

10. We provide you with a complete printout of items sold and prices realized and your payment within 10 days of the close of your auction.

 

How long does it take?

Typically, 3-4 weeks is the best timeline for an online estate sale, but it will vary with each unique estate. The first week is for staging, including sorting cataloging and photographing the items, and the next 2-3 weeks are for running the auction. We understand that you might be on a tight schedule to get your house cleared out, and we will work with you to find a timeline that suits your needs. You can expect a period of 4-6 weeks from signing the contract to receiving your payment.

 

What if some of my items don’t sell?

It is possible that not all of your items will sell in the auction, or that some items in your home might not be a good fit to list in the auction. In this case, we have several options available. If you would like to consign certain items, we offer an online consignment service, allowing you to clear the items from your home while still making them available for sale. This will give you a longer timeline and wider audience, assuring that your item will find a buyer.
If you prefer donation, we can arrange for pickup by a local charity. We also offer a clean-out service, where we arrange a contracted team to remove unwanted items and dispose of them.

 

Is there reserve pricing?

We have found that we get better results by not setting minimums or reserves. Bidding on all items begins at $1. If you have premium items that do not fit well with this model, we offer a variety of services to accommodate your needs, such as online consignment and placement at fine auction houses.

 

What do I have to do?

After you have signed the contract, you can just relax – we’ll take it from there! We handle all of the advertising, sorting, photography, billing and pickup. When we’re done, you’ll have an empty house and payment within 10 days.

 

Can I see how much my items sold for?

Of course! You can access the auction online if you want to watch the action, or you can wait until it is over when we provide a detailed list of items sold and final prices realized.
What if I don’t live in or can’t be in the area?
Not a problem. We understand that finalizing an estate outside of your home area can be a difficult task, and we’re here to make it easier for you. There is no need for you to remain for the duration of the auction if you have obligations elsewhere. We are happy to make arrangements to suit your needs. You will be able to monitor the online auction from any location.  Ready to get started?  Please click on Contact Us and give us a call, text us, or shoot us an email!

BIDDING FAQ'S

How to Register:

 

Click on the ‘Login/Register’ link in the upper right corner of the page. In the pop-up window, click on the ‘Register here’ link to start the new bidder registration process.

 

 

 

Fill out your First Name, Last Name, Email Address and Phone number. Click on the Google Captcha and then the ‘submit’ button will appear.

 

The system will automatically send you an email that verifies your email address and then you can proceed to complete your registration. If you do not see this email in your inbox, make sure to check your SPAM/JUNK folder. In the email is a ‘Register here’ link – click on this link to continue to the final step of registration.

 

Once you receive your verification email and click on the link to continue the registration process, you’ll come to the final page of registration. Choose a password that is at least 8 characters long and has at least 1 special character, 1 lowercase character, 1 uppercase character, and at least 1 number. You must enter the same exact password twice to confirm.

 

Some fields on the registration form are required – these will be marked with a red asterisk.

 

To complete the registration, ensure that all required form fields are filled out and then at the bottom of the page check the box to certify you are 18 years of age or older, and check the box to agree to the Terms & Conditions. You can click on the word ‘Terms & Conditions’ to view and download/print the Terms of Registration for your records if needed.

 

The last step is to check the Google Captcha box to confirm you are not a robot and then the green colored ‘Submit’ button will appear.

 

 

 

If there is an issue, scroll back up the page and make sure all required fields have been filled out. Once you hit the submit button, the next page will tell you if you’ve have successfully registered and provide you your bidder#. You will also instantly receive an email letting you know if your registration was accepted or if your registration requires manual approval on our end.

 

 

How to Login to your account:

 

In the upper right hand corner of all auction pages is a ‘Login/Register’ link. Click on this link and a pop up window will appear as seen in the screenshot below. Simply enter your Bidder# or Email address and your password and click on the green colored Login button. If you cannot remember your password, simply click on the ‘Forgot Password?’ link to start the password reset process.

 

 

 

 

 

How to view/update your bidder profile and check activity:

 

Once logged in, click on your Bidder# in the upper right hand corner and a drop down menu will appear. Click on the ‘View Profile’ option from this menu.

 

 

 

In your ‘View Profile’ page will be a horizontal menu of option. You can view/edit your profile including your name, phone numbers, addresses, etc in the Basic Information tab. You can change/update your bidder login password in the Change Password tab. The Bids tab that will show you a list of all bids you have ever entered for items. The Invoices and Payments tabs will display a list of all invoices and payments received. You can download any older invoice from this page. The Tax Exemptions tab will allow you to upload a Tax Exemption certificate for our review. If approved, we will mark your account as tax-exempt in the system.

 

 

 

 

 

How to Enter/View the auction and auction details page:

 

Clicking on the ‘View Items’ button will take you directly into the auction to view the inventory items. Clicking on the title of the Auction will take you to the Details page. The Details page may have important information such as the start date, end date, preview date, pickup date, address, and terms of the sale.

 

 

How to place your first bid in the auction:

 

If you are logged in to your Bidder account, simply enter the auction to view the items and click on the ‘Bid Now’ button of the item you wish to submit a bid for.

 

 

 

When you click on the Bid Now button, a pop-up window will appear as seen below. On this page, the minimum next required bid will be automatically filled in for you. You can override this amount and enter a higher amount if desired. The 2nd box (red arrow in the screenshot below) is where the optional Max Bid can be entered. If a Max Bid is entered, the system will automatically bid up to that amount for you. This is a very handy feature as it allows you to enter the maximum amount you’d be willing to pay for the item and not worry about getting outbid in the last moments of the sale.

 

 

 

 

When ready, click on the ‘Place Bid’ button. The next page will allow you review your bid as seen below. To submit your bid, click on the Place Bid button on this bid confirmation page here.

 

 

 

 

The final page will give you the status of the item after you’ve successfully submitted your bid. If you are winning, you will see a message like the one below.

 

 

 

Another bidder may have previously placed a Max Bid on the item, and if your bid did not surpass the other bidders Max Bid, you will see a confirmation that the bid was accepted, but that another bidder has placed an equal or higher bid. In this case you can try to bid on the item again for a higher amount.

 

 

 

When you return back to the Auction, you will see a page that looks similar to the screenshot below. The ‘Bid Now’ buttons are colored as follows:
GREEN = you are currently the high bidder
RED = you bid on the item but are not the current high bidder
BLUE = you have not bid on this item

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

By using the services of Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions, you agree to the following terms and conditions: Prior to registering, please read the complete agreement; by registering you agree that you have read and agree to the terms stated herein. To register or access any of our services, you must be 18 years of age or older and otherwise capable of entering into a binding legal contract.

 

Disclaimer: All items listed in auctions by  Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions  are sold AS IS, with no guarantees or warranties of any kind. Most items are pre-owned and thus show signs of use, unless otherwise specified. All descriptions are believed to be true and correct, but  Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions  will not be held liable for any errors or omissions. It is the responsibility of the buyer to read all descriptions, view photographs, view the item in person and ask any questions prior to bidding. The buyer accepts full responsibility for all items purchased and holds Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions   free from any liability. All sales are final.

 

Preview: A designated date is set before the close of each auction in which bidders may inspect the items in person. Previews are by appointment only and you must specify the item(s) you wish to preview when making the appointment.

 

Payment: Payment must be made at the time of purchase. We accept all major credit cards and payment through Authorize.net. Purchases will remain in possession of  Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions   until full payment has been made by the buyer. A valid credit or debit card is required for registration; this card will not be charged unless the buyer fails to pick up their item on the designated date.

 

Fees: A buyer’s premium of 20% will be assessed on all purchases. Local sales tax will be charged on all purchases. If the buyer is tax exempt, he/she must provide documentation at registration or prior to bidding. Additional fees and charges of $10 per day may be assessed if a purchase is not picked up on the designated date.

 

Retrieval:  Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions   reserves the right to schedule pick-up on a day and at a location of our choosing. The buyer must retrieve all items on the specified date. The buyer must provide all loading and transportation for purchases;  Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions   will not assist in the moving or loading of any purchase. Any purchases not retrieved on the specified pick-up day will incur a storage fee of $10 per day. After 30 calendar days from auction close, items will be considered abandoned and the buyer forfeits all claims with no refund given.

 

Liability:  Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions   will not be held liable for any damages or injuries incurred by participating in our auctions or by the use of items purchased therein. Additionally,  Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions   will not be liable for any damages or injuries resulting from the pick-up and removal of purchases from our property or any other specified pick-up location. By participating in our services, the buyer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless and release any and all liability for  Antique Center Mall & ACM Auctions   and all of its employees.