Buying at Auction



Auctions provide buyers and sellers a venue to exchange items of value from a single rare treasure to an entire, collection" At a competitive and educational event. Preview in person or bid from the comfort of your internet device. Sales are viewed and attended by a wide variety of collectors, dealers, and spectators. There are often great deals to be had and one of a kind rare discoveries
"Some people watch auctions just to observe and learn....usually though, some items are such a good deal observers can't resist bidding"



we conduct multiple types of sales events



Antiques & Collectibles



These events are held approximately monthly and feature the finest items including fine art, jewelry, antiques, collectibles. Items are offered world wide on invaluable bidding platform. Though these are conducted online, you may also preview and bid in person



General Auctions



These events are conducted most every week and offer some higher end household items as well as collectibles, designer furnishings, jewelry and thousands of other items. Sometimes known as weekly or general auctions



Online smalls & trinkets



These events are conducted online on our proprietary bidding platform. We use the events to provide a market for tiny items that are often overlooked in the auction market place. The average size of items in this sale is 4" and might include jewelry, little old toys, a vase, a pocket knife, sterling jewelry, and more.



Estate Sales



This event also known as a tag sale, is conducted at the sellers property either live or online. These sales are conducted, typically over a weekend. Entire contents are priced offered to the public - Most items are offered for less than retail. and can include collectibles as well as useful household items.



Online Store - Private Sales



Sunset auction maintains it's own online store. We use this outlet most frequently to sell items from multiple estates bundled as one "estate sale". We call these private sales as items are priced and sold directly to buyers before going to auction. The prices on these are set to decline on a predetermined schedule, something like a backwards auction.



Timed Auctions



We host our own online timed bidding platform. We do this to reduce extra fees that auctions usually charge the buyers. Online timed auctions are conducted and closed by the computer rather than an auctioneer.




BUYER'S FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I PLACE BIDS?
There are 4 ways to place bids.Visit the sales room to place written proxybids. Online absentee bidding. Live online real time biddingTelephone biddng.HOW DOES AN ABSENTEE BID WORK?
When you place absentee left bids, the auctioneer or computer will bid for you on the items up to but not exceed the amount of your bid. Your bid is a proxy. You sometimes may get the item for less than your maximum. Online absentee bids may be placed untill the auction starts. After the auction starts, you may place absentee bids until the time the item is on the auction block in writting or on the phone.

WHAT IS A TELEPHONE BID?
On selected items, the auction gallery will call you when the item is about to be sold. A staff member will relay your bids to the auctioneer in competition with other bidders. This method usually reserved for higher value items

WHAT MIGHT AN ITEM SELL FOR?
Some of the most expensive items in the world are typically sold at auction. Rare and unusual items generate top dollar through the auction process of competitive bidding. More common items have a wide variety of results depending on the desirability of the object, and auction attendance. Buyers usually pay far less for common items than retail value.

WHAT IS AN AUCTION ESTIMATE?
An estimated range of what an item might sell for based on experience and past auction results. Estimates are not a guarantee and should not be confused with an appraisal. They are only intended as a guide, and actual results can vary widely from the estimated selling range.MAY I SEE SOME AUCTION HAMMER PRICES?
Yes click here to view past auction on invaluableonline bidding platform

WHAT IS A RESERVE?
A reserve is the minimum price the consignor is willing to allow the property to sell for. Reserves will be allowed on selected items only. The reserve price is set by mutual agreement between the consignor and the auction house. Typically, reserve prices shouldn't exceed the low auction estimate of the item.

WHAT IS AN AUCTION LOT?
A lot is an item or group of items being put on the auction block for sale as one unit. A lot may consist of one item, a collection, a pair or an entire box or pallet full of items.

WHAT IS A BUYER'S PREMIUM?
A buyer's premium is a charge added to the hammer price of the lot paid buy the seller. This amount is currently 19%. Typically in the industry buyers premiums range from 10% to 25% charged by major auction houses. A buyer's premium is taxable

WHAT IS A CONTESTED BID?
On occasion, the auctioneer may not see a bid despite the bidders best efforts to place the bid, and sell the item. Despite common thought, once the auctioneer says sold, the bidding can be reopened at the discretion of the auctioneer to determine the highest bidder. This is supported by state law. Our best recommendation is to use your bidder card and make sure the auctioneer acknowledges your bid.

WHAT IS CHOICE OR "TIMES THE MONEY"?
Some auction houses sell via a method called choice. Often lotted as "1st choice, 2nd choice, then take the rest. Bidder may take as many items from the group and pays the winning bid amount times the number of items selected during 1st and 2nd choice. On the take the rest portion of the group, all the remaining items not sold on 1st & 2nd choice will be sold for one price for all. We don't currently use this method as it requires live floor bidders



tHE fINE PRINT



AUCTION TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALES



  1. A buyers premium of 19% will be added to the "hammer price" of each lot.
  2. Successful bidders should make full payment and pick items(s) within 48 hours following the auction unless shipping arrangements have been made. Lots not claimed by 6:00 pm the third following the auction will have a 5% handling surcharge added to the buyer's premium as described above. At the discretion of Sunset Auction, Items unclaimed may be resold at a future auction at the full commission. Bidders may realize a gain or loss on sale.
  3. Lack of payment may result in the removal of bidding privileges and removal of access to on line bidding pages.
  4. All items are sold "AS IS WHERE IS"......ALL SALES ARE FINAL. Bidders are responsible for previewing merchandise before bidding. Contact a Sunset Auction professional to inquire about physical condition of merchandise. (425-776-6716)
  5. The Auctioneer reserves the right to refuse any unreasonable bid and has the option to sell or not to sell on one bid only - auctions are defined as sale by competitive bidding.
  6. Auctioneer reserves the right to re-open the bidding if she/he determines that a bid(by whatever means offered) was in place as the "hammer was falling or after it has fallen"
  7. Auctioneer reserves the right to: consolidate or split lots, without notice, to withdraw lots prior to sale of said lot(s).
  8. All descriptions and counts are believed to be correct. However, Sunset Auction will not be responsible for errors in nomenclature or count. Bidders are responsible for previewing items before purchase.
  9. Sales tax must be paid on all taxable items. Dealers who purchase for resale must file their resale permit numbers. The Buyer's premium is taxable.
  10. We accept cash, Master card, Visa, Discover Card, and American Express, PAYPAL and wire transfer .
  11. Announcements made at the live auction take precedence over any previously printed information
  12. In the event of tied absentee bids, the bid received first takes precedence.
  13. Sunset auction will not be responsible for missed absentee bid or Internet delays




Serving Buyers and Sellers Since 2000 - Licensed and bonded D.O.L #1940