How to Bid & Buy

A simple guide to our auction process, from registration to picking up your items.

1. Getting Started

Before you place your first bid, you'll need to set up your secure account.

 
01

Register

Create a free account. You'll need a valid email address and phone number to verify your identity.

02

Payment Info

Add a valid credit card to your file. This is required for security and allows for instant checkout.

03

Browse & Watch

Find items you love. We recommend setting an alarm for the final day, as most action happens then!

2. How Bidding Works

Understand our automatic bidding system to win more auctions.

 
A

Set it and Forget it

Enter the highest amount you are willing to pay. Our system will bid for you automatically, only raising your bid if someone else challenges you.

B

Soft Close (No Sniping)

If a bid is placed in the final moments (30-240 seconds), the clock resets. This gives everyone a fair chance to react.

Pro Tip: Most bidding wars happen in the last few minutes. Watch the auction live if you can!

Proxy Bid Example

We use an automatic "Proxy" bidding system. You tell us your max, and we bid the lowest amount needed to win.

Current Price $50
Your Max Bid $100
You Pay $51

Even though you bid $100, the system only bid $51 to beat the previous price. Your max remains hidden.

3. Winning & Payments

Congratulations, you won! Here is how payment and fees are calculated.

 

Automatic Payment

Once the auction ends, the winning bidder's card on file is immediately charged.

If your card fails, you must pay manually within 5 days or items are considered abandoned.

Tax Exemptions

To claim sales tax exemption, you must provide a valid resale certificate before purchase. Retroactive refunds are not processed.

Sample Invoice

Example calculation for a $100 winning bid.

Winning Bid $100.00
Buyer's Premium (18%) $18.00
CA Sales Tax (7.75%) $9.15
Total Due $127.15

4. Pickup & Shipping

 

Local Pick-up

7251 Galilee Road, STE 160, Roseville, CA 95678
Standard Hours Tue & Thu: 10AM - 4PM
Sat: 10AM - 1PM
Loading Bring help for heavy items.
Important: Items must be picked up within 14 days.

Shipping Request

Shipping
  1. Submit Your Request: Complete our Shipping Request Form with your contact details.
  2. Processing: We prepare your items and deliver them to AIM Mail Center within 2 weeks.
  3. Estimate & Payment: AIM Mail Center will contact you directly with a quote. All packing and shipping fees are paid to them.
Placer Auctions does not pack or insure shipments directly. Contracts are between you and the provider.