Start Bidding Now
OnlineAuctions.Africa hosts auctions for many different auction companies. So while you’ll only have to set up your bidder account once, you will need to register and pay a deposit per auction as each auction may be operated by different auctioneers (who have different terms and conditions).
Set up Your Bidder Account
In order to register for an auction, you will first need to create a bidder account on the OnlineAuctions.Africa platform. This profile records your personal and invoicing details and is only provided to auction companies whose auctions you register for.
Understand Auction Rules
Navigate to the auction you are interested in. Carefully read the Terms and Conditions, Important Auction Information and Approval Requirements. Here you will find the requirements for your registration approval. It is usually FICA documents and payment of a deposit.
Register for the Auction
Click on the "Register for Auction" button and accept the Terms and Conditions. You will see that the button changes to "Pending Approval" Submit your required documentation to the listed email address. Once all is confirmed, the auctioneer will approve you to bid.
Get Bidding
Once the auctioneer approves you to bid, the button changes again to Place Bid" At this point you can place your maximum bid and allow the system to bid for you. Wait for the auction to open for bidding and click the bid button to go up in predetermined increments against other bidder until the auciton close.
Need a little more detail?
Have a look at these most Frequently Asked Questions…
A bidder account is your membership on this online auction website. OnlineAuctions.Africa is a shared platform, hosting many different auction companies at one time. Your profile includes all your contact and invoicing details which will be shared only with the auction companies when you register for their specific auctions.
Not only are there different auction companies hosted on our site with their own Conditions of Sale, each auction runs under is own terms and conditions and desposit value (which is specified under Approval Requirements) So each auction is subject to individual approval based on bidders providing the required information. Once Registered you will be allocated a unique bidders number which will enable you toplace bids.
Please check each auction’s Approval Requirements tab. However, the general rule of thumb is up to date FICA documents and Proof of Payment of the desposit.
- If purchasing in your personal capacity, a copy of ID and recent (not older than 3 months) proof of residence is required
- If purchasing in your company name a copy of company registration form CM1 or CK1, CM46, CM9, a utility bill & CM29 or Resolution from company authorising representative to bid is required.
- If purchasing where the person is not a RSA citizen, a copy of passport and proof of residence if living in RSA is required.
A deposit ensures intent to purchase by the buyer. Auction rules state that the highest bid is binding (in other words if you have the highest bid – you are required by law to purchase the item), the deposit is a security for the auctioneer that the buyer will not default on the purchase.
Each auction company hosting an auction on our platform will have their own trust account into which your deposit will be paid. OnlineAuctions.Africa does not take deposits on behalf of auciton companies. Please check the Important Auction Information tab for each auction for bank details.
Yes, according to Auction law, you will lose your deposit. Unfortunately, you will also be banned from bidding on any auctions on our platform in the future.
If you have successfully bid on a lot, your deposit amount will be deducted from the overall purchase amount.
If you have not bought anything on that auction, the auction company running the auction will refund the deposit as soon as possible. Please see each auctions Terms and Conditions for more detailed information.
You will need to refer in detail to each auctions specific Terms and Conditions but in general be mindful of the following general rules of auctions:
- Bids exclude VAT (ie VAT will be added onto the final amount after commissions are added at the end)
- Bids exclude commissions (these could be buyers commission and / or internet surcharge)
- Items are sold “voetstoets” which basically means what you see is what you get.
- If you are the highest bidder at the end of the auction – you are legally bound to purchase the item.
An auction is a system of buying and selling goods or services by allowing people to bid and selling to the highest bidder. The bidders compete against each other, with each subsequent bid being higher than the previous bid. The auctioneer will start at a relatively low price to attract a large number of bidders. The price increases each time someone makes a new, higher bid until no other bidders are willing to participate, and the highest bidder takes the item.
An online auction is conducted over the Internet. OnlineAuctions.Africa offers 2 types of online auctions: Timed and Live Webcast Auctions. In all auctions hosted on our platform, the item is sold to the highest bidder (if bidding has reached or surpassed the reserve price).
A timed auction is an automated process. The bidding for each lot is opened at a certain amount, for a set period of time. During this time, you may place a higher bid at a defined bidding increment. Bidders are automatically informed by email if they are the winning bidder, or if they have been outbid by another competing bidder. At the end of the defined bidding period, if the highest bid offered meets the seller’s reserve price, the lot is sold. Bidding on all lots in a timed online auction will close at a specified time.
A Live Webcast auction is identical to a traditional live auction except you can bid online in realtime along with those gathered in the auction room. The Auctioneer controls the bidding in the room and the bidding online. Live video and audio streams keep you connected with the auction as it happens in real time.
A reserve price is set by the auctioneer and the seller, it is the lowest possible price acceptable for sale. It is not knowen by the bidder. In a timed auction, the system will automatically sell the item should the final bid have reached or surpassed the reserve amount. In Live webcast auction, the auctioneer will only sell if he is satisfied with the offer.
You will only be able to place a bid once you have been approved by the auctioneer hosting the auction.
Auctions are often published for a time before active bidding begins, please consult the dates per auction to see when the auction is open for bidding.
Bids are placed by clicking on the “Place Bid” button. In the lot detail you will see a Current Price (which is the current highest bid for that item) and an Asking Price (which is the next offer for that item) By clicking the bid button you are agreeing to offer that amount.
Once you click the bid button, the Current Asking pirice changes and you become the highest bidder, unless a competing bidder out bids you.
If you are the highest bidder, you will not be able to bid against yourself. And the bid button will be inactive.
You will receive email notification if you are out bid – DO NOT reply to this mail to raise your bid, go to the lot detail page and raise your bid by clicking thebid button again.
Bids are placed by clicking on the “Place Bid” button. In the lot detail you will see a Current Price (which is the current highest bid for that item) and an Asking Price (which is the next offer for that item) By clicking the bid button you are agreeing to offer that amount.
Once you click the bid button, the Current Asking pirice changes and you become the highest bidder, unless a competing bidder out bids you.
Live auctions run at a far faster pace and you are bidding against the floor as well.
The bids increase by predetermined “increments” These are set amounts decided by the auctioneer and will vary per item. You will only be able to bid according to multiples of the increment value.
You will receive an email notification if you are the highest winning bidder.
STC stands for subject to confirmation. Often sellers want to see the highest offer for an item first and then decide if they are prepared to sell for that amount. In the case of an item sold STC, you will be contacted directly by the auctioneer.
A reserve price is set by the auctioneer and the seller, it is the lowest possible price acceptable for sale. The item is only available for sale once the reserve has been met. Opening Asking Prices are always set below reserve.
You may still be contacted by the auctioneer if your highest bid is under reserve to negotiate a better offer for the seller.
