How to Participate in Our Auctions
Overview of registering, bidding, and receiving your items.
1. Account Creation & Registration
To participate in an auction, prospective bidders must create an online account, or call to provide their billing & shipping information.
- Verification: A valid credit card, billing and shipping details are required to create an account.
- Register: You will need to register for the specific auction you'd like to bid in. Register early so that you are approved well before the auction begins.
- Condition Reports: Item descriptions represent our opinion, and are not warranties. If you need more details or additional photos of a particular lot, please contact us before the auction begins. We do our best to respond to auction-day inquiries.
2. Bidding Procedures
We offer multiple ways to participate, no matter where you are in the world.
Online Bidding
We encourage bidding directly on our website, live.AffiliatedAuctions.com, to take advantage of our lowest online buyer's premium. Our auctions are also available on LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, AuctionZip, and Proxibid.
Pre-Bids & Absentee Bids
Before the live event, you may submit maximum bids online or over the phone. These are executed by the auctioneer during the sale to secure the lot at the lowest possible price.
Telephone Bidding
Submit your desired lots in advance. We'll call you during the live auction to execute bids on your behalf.
In-Person (Floor)
When you arrive at our gallery, register and collect your paddle number at the counter. To bid, clearly signal the auctioneer.
3. Buyer's Premium Rates
All successful bids are subject to a buyer's premium added to the final hammer price. This fee covers operational costs, marketing, and platform fees. Bidding directly with us yields the lowest premium.
| Bid Type | Cash, Check, Zelle | Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Absentee / Floor / Phone Bids | 12.5% | 17.5% |
| live.AffiliatedAuctions.com | 15.0% | 17.5% |
| Proxibid | 23.0% | |
| LiveAuctioneers | 21.0% | |
| Invaluable / AuctionZip | 25.0%* | |
* Invaluable's buyer's premium includes a variable online fee component. For most lots the effective rate is 25%, however lots under $200 carry a $10 minimum fee, and lots over $10,000 are capped at a $500 fee. The exact premium will be displayed before you confirm your bid. Learn more at Invaluable's help center.
4. Invoicing & Payment
The final invoice will include the hammer price, the buyer's premium, shipping, and applicable local taxes (7.5% sales tax for Florida residents).
- Invoicing: Regardless of which platform you use to place your winning bid, you will receive an invoice directly from Affiliated Auctions the day after the sale.
- Payment Terms: Payment is due in full within 14 days of the auction close. Please note we do not accept PayPal for certain restricted categories (e.g., weapons, hate-related materials).
- Returns: Items sold "as-is" are final. Guaranteed items deemed inauthentic by recognized experts may be returned for a refund if authorized within 10 days of receipt.
5. Shipping & Pickup
We are proud to offer expert in-house shipping for most items. Items will be shipped within 10 business days after payment. Local pickup is also available.
- If flat-rate shipping isn't available for your item, shipping won't appear on your initial invoice. Once you pay for the item, our shipping team will contact you to approve shipping & handling.
- Shipping for certain oversized items must be arranged via a third-party shipper. We'll let you know if this is the case.
- Restrictions: No alcohol (except wine) will be shipped. Ivory items will only be shipped within the U.S., excluding certain restricted states. Know your local laws before bidding.
- Firearms: Modern and C&R eligible firearms will only be shipped within the US to valid license holders.
- Abandoned Items: Items not claimed within 30 days will be considered abandoned.
In-House Shipping Rates
Note: Shipping prices reflect current rates with an additional handling fee. Subject to change.
| Small Flat Rate | $15.00 |
| Medium Flat Rate | $24.00 |
| Large Flat Rate | $32.00 |
| Helmets / Canes | $35.00 |
| Swords | $45.00 |
| Handguns | $50.00 |
| Long Guns | $80.00 |
| Muskets | $100.00 |