Frequently Asked Questions
Hall’s Auction Services Ltd. tries to operate as transparently as possible. We want to make things easy for all our clients – whether on the selling or buying side. Don’t hesitate to contact us if there is anything that is not covered below.
Please follow our Auction Registration + Bidding guide to learn how to set up your account and bid online.
Please follow our Auction Registration + Bidding guide to learn how to set up your account and bid online.
Once you are registered for the auction there are two ways to bid:
1.) You simply indicate the maximum amount you wish to bid in the window where indicated and click on the “Place Bid” button. You will be taken to a confirmation screen that will ask you to either “Confirm Bid” or “Cancel Bid”.
If you have not yet logged in you will be asked to do so in order to confirm your bid.
Please note that by confirming your bid you are entering into a legally binding contract with the auction house to pay for your successful bids plus the applicable buyer’s premium and taxes.
2.) Bid in real time as each lot is closing just like our live auctions. You will be required to bid, and confirm your bid, for each increment that you are advancing. In effect, you are taking the same steps as in the method above, but are not disclosing your maximum. You are doing the work instead of relying on the software.
Yes, we are pleased to accept absentee bidding by telephone or fax if you are uncomfortable with or unable to bid by your computer.
Please call us during regular business hours to arrange absentee bidding. You can find our absentee bid form here.
Absentee bids will generally be accepted until 12 PM MT the day of the sale. In instances where the sale closes on a Saturday or Sunday, absentee bids will be accepted until 4 PM the Friday prior to the auction closing.
It’s entirely up to you. The simplest way is to always indicate your top bid – the amount to which you would bid if you were attending an auction in person. The bid submitted is similar to a live auction’s absentee bid.
The auction software will hold your bid in confidence, and will bid on your behalf against competing bids, according to the published increments up to the top bid that you have chosen.
For example: if the current high bid on a lot is $300, and you have input your top bid as $550, our software system will accept and implement your first bid at the next increment – in this case, $325. If another bidder then bids $350, our system will automatically submit a bid of $375 on your behalf. If there is no additional bidding, then you will be successful at the $375 hammer price.
Log in to your bidder’s account by entering your username and password.
At the top right of the page, you will see a menu that outlines: ACCOUNT / WATCHLIST / LOGOUT. Click on WATCHLIST to view your current bids.
The auction ends at the time indicated in the auction description. Generally, Hall’s Auctions start to close at 7 PM MT on the date specified in the auction information.
Lots will close sequentially in intervals of 15 seconds. For example, lot 36 will close 15 seconds after lot 35 if there are no further bids within the final two minutes of the lot countdown.
All of our auctions are a soft staggered close, which may affect the final sequential order of the auction closing.
If an item receives a bid during the final two minutes of the count-down clock, there will be an automatic bidding extension. The bidding clock will be extended by two minutes for that item alone. The time extensions continue until there is a two-minute period during which no bidding takes place on the lot.
The extended bidding on one lot does not affect the closing of other lots – other lots in the sale will continue with their individual countdowns. It often happens that active bidding can extend the bidding period significantly on an individual lot.
No – Hall’s no longer hosts live auctions, all of our auctions are now online.
Online auctions are similar to our live auctions except that the bidding is conducted entirely over the internet. In effect, the software system is taking the place of the auctioneer in controlling the bidding and closing of the lots being sold.
Showroom previews still take place in our purpose-built display area.
For bidding during the duration of the auction, you won’t need to manually refresh your browser. The current closing lots will always be shown with an accurate countdown clock and the most recent bidding information.
If there is particularly active bidding taking place, there may be instances where more closing lots are farther down on your screen than you can immediately see. We advise scrolling down the full page to ensure you see everything.
You will see no time left on the clock on a currently refreshed online auction page. You will also view a statement that the auction bidding is now closed.
Congratulations, you’ve won! After the auction we will send you a notification to the email you registered under, and an electronic invoice that can be paid easily online.
The invoice that you receive from Hall’s Auction Services will include links to online payment. If you do not want to pay manually, online bids and absentee bids will be processed by Hall’s Auction Services according to the credit card information you have provided upon registration.
If you would prefer to use an alternative payment method to your credit card, please contact us as soon as possible. Alternate payment arrangements must be made clear to Hall’s Auction Services.
Once a payment is processed, you will receive an electronic receipt to your email.
The purchaser is required to collect their purchased lots from our offices at 4115-7005 Fairmount Drive SE, Calgary, within three days of the closing of the auction.
Any lots remaining at Hall’s Auction Services after this time period will incur storage charges, per the terms and conditions of the auction, until they are removed. If you have further questions about storing your purchases, please contact us.
Yes, we can assist you with shipping. We contract the packing, shipping & insuring through a third-party providers. Visit our Shipping page to view our recommended shippers.
Questions?
Don’t hesitate to contact us, we will be pleased to assist you.