How do the auctions work?
The auctions are timed online only auctions. The entire catalogue is auctioned automatically, in order, one lot at a time. When the auction moves to a lot it will pause for a few seconds to see if there are any more bids. If someone bids then there will be another pause for any further bids. Once there have been no bids for a few seconds the lot will be sold and the auction moves on to the next lot.

Can I pay by credit card?
Yes credit card charges will apply, or you can pay by cash, bank cheque or EFTPOS.

How do I get my bidder's number?
Firstly you need to be registered to bid, click here to register. When you register you will be given a permanent paddle number which will come up every time you logon to an auction. The paddle number is important to identify yourself when you want to pay.

When can I start bidding?
In general, bidding will commence around 48 hours prior to the live auction time. Once pre-bidding has started you can commence placing your absentee bid limits. You can also bid live during the auction.

If I place a bid limit does bidding jump to that limit?
No, the system will bid for you, until the limit is reached or you get the lot. You could end up paying a lot less than your limit.

Can I bid one increment at a time like I normally do at auctions?
Interbid uses high speed Internet communication technology, but there are still unavoidable delays with Internet bidding. You have to bid quite quickly to bid one increnet at a time and there is always a chance that a single increment bid does not make it to the auction server in time.

What's the best bidding strategy?
Selecting a lot and setting an absentee bid limit is really great for giving you the best chance of getting a bid in no matter how fast the auction goes. If you can, set the absentee bid limit to about 80%-90% of the maximum you would pay and then if the bidding approaches the absentee bid, increase it to your maximum. Note this bidding tip relies on increasing your limit before the bidding gets to it, so you always have an active limit in place. Its an art, but worth a try.

I placed a bid, but the bidding increment changed and someone else got the bid.
The system tries to ensure that when a bidder places a bid limit well ahead of time, they will get the bid when the bidding reaches their limit. To achieve this the bidding increment may temporarily be reduced, to favour the oldest bid limit.

Will I get notified if I'm outbid?
An outbid notice email will be sent to you if you're outbid during the pre-bidding stage. Outbid notice emails are not sent if you're currently logged into the auction or during the final auctioning of the lot.

The catalogue showed me as the top bidder, but when I clicked on the lot I found out I had been outbid.
Because of unavoidable buffering and web caching on the Internet, the catalogue can get behind with the bidding. This can mean that it can show you as the top bidder on a lot, even though your bid has been beaten. Going to the lot by clicking on it, will always give you the most recent bidding. When a lot is offered or you click on the lot to view it, the bidding client connects to the auction server to make sure it is showing the most recent bidding.

Can I view my bids?
Clicking "View My Lots" will display the lots you have bid on. If you favourite a lot by selecting the box in the bottom right hand corner of the lot it will also be displayed when you click on "View My Lots".

How can I pratice using the system?
If you have not used the bidding system before its very important you try the offline demo before the auction.