Auctions
How to BidRegistering and bidding at Bloch Bauers
Our auctions are timed online sales held right here on our website. There is no separate app and no third-party platform. You create an account, browse the current sale, and place your bids before each lot closes.
How our auctions work
Each lot is listed with photographs, a description, and a scheduled closing time. You bid on the lots you want, and the highest bid accepted when a lot closes wins it, subject to any reserve. Winning bidders are notified by email as soon as the sale ends.
Bidding, step by step
Create your account
Bidding requires a free account. Visit My Account and register with your name and email. One account lets you bid on every lot in every sale, so you only do this once. You are ready to bid as soon as you are signed in.
Find your lots
Open the current sale and browse the lots. Each listing shows the photographs, the description, the current bid, and the closing time. Every lot is sold as is, so read the description carefully. If you would like a condition report, request one by phone, email, or in person, and please do so well before the lot closes.
Place your bid
On any lot you want, enter your amount and place your bid. You will see right away whether you are the high bidder or have been outbid.
You can also set a maximum bid. Enter the most you are willing to pay and the system will bid on your behalf in increments, up to your limit, so you stay in front without watching every minute.
Watch the close
Lots close at their scheduled times. If a bid lands in the final moments before a lot closes, the closing time may be extended briefly so other bidders get a fair chance to respond. Keep an eye on your lots as they near the end, or use a maximum bid so you are covered if you step away.
If you win
When the sale ends, winning bidders are notified automatically by email. Your invoice adds a 20% buyer’s premium to the hammer price, then 13% HST on the combined total. All transactions are in Canadian dollars.
Pay and collect
Payment is due in full within 48 hours of the close. We accept cash in person, debit and credit cards including Square, Interac e-Transfer, and pre-authorized debit. Collect your lot in person at the gallery, or ask us to arrange shipping at your cost. Please collect or arrange shipping within 14 days of the close.
What you will pay
The price you bid is the hammer price. Two standard charges are added on top, the same way they are at any auction house.
Buyer’s premium: 20% of the hammer price, added as part of the purchase price.
HST: 13%, applied to the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium.
Worked example. On a $1,000 winning bid: $1,000 hammer + $200 premium = $1,200, then $156 HST = $1,356 total.
Bidding questions
Do I need an account to bid?
Yes. Registering is free and takes a minute. One account covers every lot in every sale, so you only register once.
What is a buyer’s premium?
It is a percentage added to your winning bid that forms part of the purchase price, which is standard practice at auction. Ours is 20% of the hammer price.
How much will I actually pay?
Your hammer price, plus a 20% buyer’s premium, plus 13% HST on that combined total. On a $1,000 winning bid that comes to $1,356. All prices are in Canadian dollars.
What happens if someone bids at the last second?
If a bid is placed in the final moments before a lot closes, the closing time is extended briefly so everyone has a fair chance to respond. Last-second bids do not end the auction early.
What is a reserve?
Some lots carry an unpublished reserve, the minimum the consignor will accept. If bidding does not reach the reserve, the lot may go unsold.
Can I get a condition report?
Yes. Every lot is sold as is, and condition reports are available on request by phone, email, or in person. Please ask well before the lot closes.
How and when do I pay?
Payment is due in full within 48 hours of the close. We accept cash, debit and credit including Square, Interac e-Transfer, and pre-authorized debit. A processing fee may apply to certain credit card payments.
Can you ship my purchase?
Yes. We are happy to arrange shipping, with shipping and insurance at the buyer’s cost. We recommend collecting in person where you can. Please collect or arrange shipping within 14 days of the close.
Ready to bid?
Browse the current sale, find the lots you want, and place your first bid. These notes are a plain-language summary. The full Buyer’s Terms and Conditions of Sale govern every purchase.