Frequently Asked Questions for Bidders and Consignors
BIDDERS
Do you have a buyer's premium?
No! We pride ourselves in being one of the few auction companies that do not charge a buyer's premium. We want you, the bidder, to have the best auction experience possible.
Are your auctions held indoors?
*Sales held at our auction facility, located at 1667 Cider Press Rd. Manheim, PA, are conducted in our remodeled heated 1800’s sandstone barn which provides adequate seating and restrooms. Box lots, lawn and garden and large items such as vehicles are sold outside.
*On-site auctions are conducted outside where we typically provide a tent to shield customers and family from the elements. During colder seasons, we also take measures to heat the tent.
Do I need to bring a chair?
Chairs are provided at auctions held at our auction facility, however we do not provide chairs at our on-site auctions, and you will need to bring a chair if desired.
How do I purchase something at your auction?
In order to purchase an item at our auctions, you will need to register for a bidder number. Clerks will be available to assist you with this process in the office at our auction facility or in our clerking trailer at on-site auctions. Please be prepared to provide your drivers license and phone number for registration.
How & when do I pay for my purchases?
All successful bids (purchases) must be paid in full before leaving the sale. Methods of payment include: cash or PA check. **Only at our auction facility can we accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.** Administration fee cannot be waived for credit card purchases.
Can I leave an absentee bid?
Auction House - Absentee bid forms are provided for bidders to fill out and return to the office. We encourage all items to be previewed and only minimum bids of $10 or more will be accepted.
We highly encourage all absentee bids to be submitted 1 hour before the start of the sale. If absentee bids are received after the start of the auction, we will do our best to execute the bid, but can make no guarantee. We are not responsible for any missed absentee bids.
Will sales tax be charged?
*6% sales tax will be included at all auctions conducted at our auction facility. If you are tax exempt you will be required to fill out a tax exempt form.
*No sales tax is charged at most on-site sales.
Can I register to bid ahead of time?
Registration is only available the day of the sale. We are typically set up to begin registration an hour before the start of the sale.
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CONSIGNORS
Why should I sell my real estate over auction?
Selling by auction gives the seller the opportunity to establish a time frame in which to sell their property. When auctioning a property the scheduled sale date creates urgency as well as a competitive atmosphere for interested buyers, achieving the highest market value.
What type of items do you accept at your auction house?
We accept consignments consisting of antiques, collectibles, toys, tools, furniture and quality household goods. Separate specialty auctions may be conducted for coins, jewelry, watches, firearms, etc. Our auction house is an ideal place to liquidated merchandise ranging from entire estates to small lots to commercial liquidations. We do not accept garage sale leftovers or well used household goods.
Can I drop off items at your auction house to be sold?
Yes, you can. We ask that you call our office to schedule a time. All items are subject to an Auctioneers approval and are not guaranteed to be accepted.
Do you offer delivery and/or pick-up services?
For a fee we will gladly come to your site and pick up items to be sold at our auction facility. We think our rates are extremely reasonable. Call for a quote.
When will I be paid?
On-Site Auctions: A check will be issued the day of the sale for personal property sold.
Auction Facility: A check will be issued within 7-10 business days after the completion of the sale.
Can I set a reserve price?
We do not typically accept reserves on any personal items sold. Any special requests would need to be discussed with an auctioneer.
When selling real estate, we work closely with the seller to ensure the high bid is satisfactory and only complete the transaction after their final approval.
Where do you advertise?
We love creative advertising campaigns but we rely heavily on our local papers (ie. Merchandisers, Lancaster Sunday Newspaper, Lancaster Farming). We also utilize internet advertising, signage, printed ads, and mailers. Our goal is to reach the broadest consumer base possible.
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