Legal
Last updated: August 2026
These Conditions of Bidding govern the conduct of every auction sale held by HeritageBids, whether bidding takes place through our online bidding console, by absentee bid, or via LiveAuctioneers. By registering to bid or by placing any bid, you agree to be bound by these Conditions in addition to our Terms of Sale.
Any individual of legal age in their jurisdiction may register to bid, subject to HeritageBids’ approval. Registration requires a valid government-issued ID and a payment method on file, and is typically approved within one business day. HeritageBids reserves the right to refuse, suspend, or revoke any bidder’s registration at its sole discretion, including where a bidder has failed to complete a prior purchase.
Bidders located outside the United States are welcome to register and participate on the same terms. Employees of HeritageBids and their immediate family members may not bid in any sale in which they have access to non-public information about a lot.
Each lot is published with a low and high estimate, representing our specialist’s opinion of its likely hammer price based on comparable sales, condition, and market demand. Estimates are opinions, not guarantees, and a lot may sell above, below, or within its published range.
Some lots carry a reserve, a confidential minimum price agreed with the consignor in advance, below which the lot will not be sold. Where a reserve applies and is not met, the lot will be passed and recorded as unsold. Reserve prices are never disclosed to bidders during or after the sale.
Bidding advances in standard increments set by the auctioneer, which generally increase with the price level of the lot. Typical increments are as follows:
The auctioneer retains discretion to vary increments during a sale, including to accept a bid between increments, in order to conduct the sale fairly and efficiently.
HeritageBids Conditions of Bidding 17 pagesA registered bidder may submit a maximum bid on any lot in advance of the sale. Our system executes the absentee bid on the bidder’s behalf in standard increments, bidding only as far as necessary to maintain the bidder’s leading position, and never beyond the stated maximum.
Absentee bids must be submitted before the published close of bidding for the relevant lot. Where two absentee bids are entered at the same maximum, the bid received first takes precedence. Absentee bids are treated as firm commitments to purchase and are subject to the same conditions as live bids.
Every HeritageBids sale is simulcast on LiveAuctioneers. Bidders who already hold an account there may bid without registering separately with HeritageBids. Bids placed through LiveAuctioneers are subject to that platform’s own terms of use and its buyer’s premium, which is higher than the premium charged on bids placed directly with HeritageBids.
Bids placed through our own console, by absentee bid, and through LiveAuctioneers all compete against one another in real time on the same lot. HeritageBids is not responsible for any technical delay, disconnection, or malfunction of LiveAuctioneers’ platform, though we will make reasonable efforts to address any such issue during a live session.
In the event of a tie between a live bid and an absentee bid at the same amount, the absentee bid takes precedence as having been placed first. In the event of any other dispute between bidders as to who placed the winning bid, the auctioneer’s decision is final.
HeritageBids may, at its sole discretion, reopen bidding on a lot in the event of a bidding error, a technical malfunction, or a genuine dispute as to the winning bid, and may declare the lot unsold if a fair resolution cannot be reached. Any such decision by HeritageBids is final and binding on all parties.
HeritageBids reserves the right to withdraw any lot from sale at any time prior to the fall of the hammer, without liability to any bidder. A lot may be withdrawn for reasons including, but not limited to, a title dispute, a newly discovered condition issue, or at the consignor’s request where permitted under the applicable consignment agreement.
The highest bidder at the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer is the buyer, subject to any reserve price having been met. The fall of the hammer constitutes the formation of a binding contract of sale between the buyer and the consignor, with HeritageBids acting as agent for the consignor. Each bid is a binding offer to purchase the lot at the bid amount plus the applicable buyer’s premium and any sales tax.
These Conditions of Bidding are subject to change. The version published at heritagebids.com/conditions-of-bidding/ at the time a sale opens for bidding governs that sale.