How to Buy
Bidding at HeritageBids,
explained
Everything you need to know before your first bid, registration, bidding options, payment, and delivery. Stated plainly, the way it should be.
The Process
From registration
to your door
1
Register
Create a free account at auctions.heritagebids.com. Brief identity verification, typically approved within one business day. No fee to sign up or browse.
2
Browse & Inspect
Explore current lots with specialist condition reports, high-resolution photographs, and honest attribution. Condition reports are available to all registered bidders before bidding opens.
3
Bid
Bid live during the scheduled session or place an absentee bid in advance. Both connect to the same floor in real time. You can also bid through LiveAuctioneers if you already have an account there.
4
Win, Pay & Receive
Invoices are issued within 24 hours of the sale closing. Payment is due within 5 business days. Your lot ships directly to you, fully insured, shipping method and cost are confirmed at invoicing.
Bidding Options
Three ways to
place a bid
Live Bidding
In real time,
as it happens
Join the sale in real time through our live console. Watch each lot, see competing bids as they land, and bid with one click. The auctioneer’s floor and online bids resolve together.
Absentee Bids
Set your maximum,
bid in advance
Can’t attend live? Set your maximum bid in advance. The system bids on your behalf, in increments, only as far as needed to keep you in the lead, never beyond your maximum.
Via LiveAuctioneers
Your existing
account works here
Every HeritageBids sale is simulcast on LiveAuctioneers. If you already have an account there, you can bid without registering with us separately. Note that LiveAuctioneers applies its own buyer’s premium, which is higher than bidding with us directly.
What It Costs
Fees,
stated plainly
Buyer’s Premium
15% of hammer
when bidding directly on HeritageBids
Registration
Free
no fee to sign up or browse
Online Surcharge
None
no processing or platform fee
Shipping
Confirmed at invoicing
fully insured, billed at cost
Your total price is the hammer price plus 15% buyer’s premium, plus applicable sales tax and insured shipping. Shipping is billed at cost, quoted and confirmed with your invoice, never marked up. Bids placed through LiveAuctioneers are subject to LiveAuctioneers’ own premium instead.
Bid with Confidence
What stands behind
every lot
Specialist Review
Every lot examined
before listing
Every lot is examined by a specialist before it enters the catalogue. Attribution and condition are stated honestly.
Condition Reports
Written reports,
every lot
Written condition reports on every lot, available before you bid. If we cannot say something with confidence, we say so.
Insured Delivery
Fully insured,
direct to your door
Every lot ships fully insured at hammer value, directly to your door. Shipping is confirmed at invoicing.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need to pay to sign up or browse?
No. Signing up is free. There is no fee to create an account, browse lots, or read condition reports. You only pay if you win a lot.
What is the buyer's premium?
HeritageBids charges a flat 15% buyer’s premium on the hammer price when you bid directly on our platform. There are no online surcharges, processing fees, or tiered rates. If you bid via LiveAuctioneers, their own buyer’s premium applies instead, which is higher.
What happens if I win a lot?
You’ll receive an invoice by email within 24 hours of the sale closing. Payment is due within 5 business days. Once payment clears, we coordinate insured shipping to your door or offer collection by appointment.
How does absentee bidding work?
Log in before the sale and enter your maximum bid on any lot. The system will bid on your behalf in standard increments, stopping when either the lot is won at or below your maximum or another bidder exceeds it. You are never charged more than necessary to win, only what it takes to beat the next competing bid.
Can I bid from outside the US?
Yes. Registered bidders from most countries are accepted. Lots ship insured from consignor to buyer worldwide. Import duties and local taxes are the buyer’s responsibility and vary by destination. Contact us before the sale if you have questions about a specific country.
What if the lot arrives and doesn't match its description?
If a lot arrives materially different from its catalogue description or condition report, contact us within 5 business days of delivery. We will review the claim, and where the description was inaccurate, we accept the return and issue a full refund, hammer price and buyer’s premium, once the lot is returned in the condition received. We stand behind our catalogue descriptions.