Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers

How to Buy at Auction

Traditionally, we held all of our fine art & antique auctions live in the showroom. With COVID came a new era & all auctions are now Timed Online. We publish all auction catalogues on our Upcoming Auctions page – and you can bid online as soon as an auction catalogue is live.

For full details on the three steps to buy at auction, payments & tips for auction buyers, please read on – or if you’ve received an invoice, you can pay online via our Invoice Payment page.

 

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“Couldn’t have been easier. Very easy process from initial bid through to delivery of goods.”
Review by Danny M. on 25 Sep 2022

Three Steps to Buy at Auction

Variety of lamps and pendant lights in shop | Photo Unsplash Hjalte Gregersen

View

We publish all auction catalogues online. Always read the full lot description and Auction Details, and view all images. For condition reports or further details, please contact the listed specialist.

 

A wooden hand with finger pointing up on yellow background

Register

All bidders need to register, and you can do this quickly by clicking the ‘Register to Bid’ link at the base of any lot description in the online catalogue. You only need to register once to bid in all future auctions.

 

 

Women working at laptop

Bid

You can bid as soon as we publish the auction catalogue, right up until the listed auction time. Always remember to factor in the buyer’s premium fee (in lot description) & shipping.

 

Row of painting on storage shelf
Tips for Auction Buyers

Click – the Auction Details link in the top menu bar of any auction catalogue. This is where you find all terms & conditions including buyer fees.
Read – the lot description carefully for details on item condition and dimensions.
Look – at all photos. These may show the items/s from several directions and include any important markings.
Consider – shipping costs. Our shipping department can provide quotes for small item postage (min. $25) and recommend carriers for larger items.
Contact – the auction specialist with any questions or to book a viewing.

Antique pocket watch | Photo Unsplash Andrik Langfield
Timed Online

Timed Online is exactly as it sounds. Auctions take place online & you can leave a bid as soon as the catalogue is live. Bidding on the first lot closes a minute after the listed auction time**, with subsequent lots closing a minute apart.

**If a bid is placed within the last five minutes prior to closing, then the bidding time will be extended for that lot by 5 minutes.

Close up of women using mobile phone, dressed in black and wearing silver rings | Photo Unsplash Priscilla du Preez
Bidding Freedom

Bid from your desktop or on our App, available on the App Store or Google Play. Keep an eye on Upcoming Auctions to view catalogues and bid online. We also publish a selection of auction previews on our home page.

Payment

Close up of an old fashioned brass cash register in golden light | Photo Unsplash Ramiro Mendes

Invoices

We send all successful bidders a tax invoice shortly after the auction closes. This includes the hammer price, buyers premium & GST plus details on payment options. While we require credit card details for registration, we never automatically deduct payments. Please pay invoices within two working days.

Once you have your invoice, you can pay online via our online Invoice Payment page.

View of gmail inbox on laptop | Photo Unsplash Stephen Phillips

Lost Invoices

No invoice? Please check your spam or junk email folder & add us to your address book. If you don’t receive your invoice, please call or email us with the auction details and lot number to hand.

A hand holding a credit card on orange table top | Photo Unsplash Towfiqu Barbhuiya

Payment Options

You can pay via direct deposit & all major credit cards. See your invoice for payment details.

EFTPOS, Visa & Mastercard Debit: 1%
Visa Credit & Mastercard Credit: 1.6%
American Express: 1.6%
International Visa Credit & Mastercard: 2.6%
AUD $25 International Fee
AUD $3000 Limit on Telephone Payments