Viewing by appointment | please call 01403 700 858 or email sussex@bellmans.co.uk 

This is a Timed Online Auction. A Timed Online Auction is the name given to an auction that runs over a defined period of time, days or weeks, with no auctioneer.

As a bidder you can dip in and out of the auction over the defined period either to place a bid or check the progress of bids.

Using our set bidding increments you can choose your maximum bid – the most you are willing to bid and step away from your computer. (All bids are subject to a 22% Buyer’s premium [BP*]). Our internal computer software will then bid intelligently for you, bidding only enough for you to meet the reserve or stay in the lead. (Exactly the same as our current absentee bidding system).

Your maximum bid remains secure within our systems.  We do not share your maximum bid with the vendor, other bidders, or anyone else for that matter. (Again, exactly the same as our current absentee bidding).

You’ll see your ‘current bid’ when you log in to view the lot (often it will be less than your ‘maximum bid’).

If someone bids higher than your maximum, we send you an ‘outbid alert’ via email to let you know, so you can decide whether to bid more.

If a bid is placed in the final few minutes of the defined time period, that period will be extended by a number of minutes.

In our case if there is a bid in the final 2 minutes of a lots’ allocated time period, then the lot will be reopened for a further 10 mins. This will repeat if the same happens again within an existing 10 minute extension.

This is to stop ‘sniping’ – a practice used by bidders on some other websites whereby they rush to place bids in the last few seconds to prevent other bidders being able to respond before the auction closes.

The lots will have a staggered finish with 30 seconds between when each lot is set to finish. 

It is important to note that bidding on lot 1 will not affect lot 2's finishing time.

It could be that lot number 1 has lots of bidding and will remain open due to repeated lot extensions until no more bids are placed, but lots 2, 3, 4, 5, without competitive bidding would close at their set 30 second intervals, uninterrupted by the bidding on lot 1.

For more information please contact our office 01403700858 or email sussex@bellmans.co.uk

* VAT is payable on the 22% commission