Basic Questions

  • Q1What do I have to do to sign up for an auction?
  • AOnce you are on the auction page of our website click on ‘Create an Account’ and fill in your basic information. You will receive an email to verify your account and username.
  • Q2If I bid in an auction later on do I have to make a new account?
  • ANo you can sign-in using your existing username and password.
  • Q3What if I forgot my username?
  • A1You may use your email to sign-in instead of your username.
  • A2When you reset your password all of your information will be maintained.
  • Q4What if I forgot my password?
  • AEnter your email into the blank field and press enter, you will receive a link to reset your password.
  • Q5What if I forgot which one of my emails that is associated with my account?
  • A1 Call icollector® Tech Support (our auction web platform)
    Toll-Free: 1-866-313-0123
    Phone: 604-941-2221
    Technical Support is available Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm (Pacific UTC-8) and during all regularly scheduled auctions.
  • A2 Call BTM Industrial Tech Support
    1-616-259-9129
    Available Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm (EST).

Technical Questions

  • Q6What does Maximum Bid mean and how does it work?
  • AA maximum bid is the highest amount you would like to pay for an individual lot (not including buyer’s premium). By placing your top dollar into that field you don’t have to sit and watch the auction every minute to ensure a win. The system will bid for you up to the dollar amount you specified.
  • Q7If I put in my max bid does it instantly get bid up to that dollar amount?
  • ANo, no matter what amount you enter into the max bid field the system will only bid for you at the appropriate bid increment for that lot. A bidding increment list is located on each lot page under the bidding field. You can raise your max bid without changing the status of your current winning bid. (Raise max bid from $250 to $400 and your current winning bid of $195 will stay the same.)
  • Q7aI put in a bid (example $100) but now there is another bidder's username showing as the winning bidder for the same $100, why?
  • A1There was at least one bidder who put in a max bid larger or equal to $100 before you put in your single bid of $100. Because they have placed their bid earlier than you their bid takes precedence over your bid.
  • A2NOTE: When it comes to placing a max bid, even if two bidders have put in the same amount, the major factor is who placed their max bid first.
  • Q7bThe bid price was at $300 and I put in a max bid of $2000, why did the bid jump instantly to $1600?
  • AThat action shows that there was at least one bidder who had a max bid placed for $1500 and since you over bid those bidders with the amount of your max bid the system out bid the other bidders at the next available bidding increment to make you the winner.
  • Q8Do all of the lots close at the same time?
  • ANo, each lot has their own closing clock.
  • Q9Why did the closing clock on the lot I was bidding on just add minutes?
  • AIf a bid is placed within the last 5 minutes of any individual open lot than 5 minutes are added to the time clock. Example: if there are 3 minutes left in the auction for Lot 23 and a bid was placed than the clock will be reset to 8 minutes (original 3 minutes plus 5 minutes).
  • Q10What is a Buyer’s Premium?
  • AIn auctions, the buyer's premium is a percentage additional charge on the hammer price (winning bid at auction) of the lot that must be paid by the winner. It is charged by the auctioneer to cover administrative expenses.
  • Q11How much is the buyer’s premium?
  • A15% is the standard but for credit/debit card payments or PayPal payments the premium is 18%.