This article is for buyers. It explains how to browse items for sale, refine your results with filters, and quickly find what you're looking for.
Summary
- Three ways to browse: keyword search, browsing by category, and viewing an entire sale.
- Filters let you refine by location, category, sale status, or item type.
- You can save a search as an alert so you never miss anything.
- Items are listed continuously: an unsuccessful search today may succeed next week.
1. Three ways to find an item
Method | When to use it |
Keyword search | You know exactly what you're looking for: a vehicle model, a type of machine, a brand. |
Categories | You want to discover what's available in a given area: vehicles, public works equipment, furniture, IT equipment... |
Sales | You want to browse all the items offered in a single sale, or all the items from a single seller. |
On every listing, the sale name and the seller's name are clickable: this is often the fastest way to find comparable items.
2. Making the most of keyword search
- Enter only one or two terms: an overly specific word may exclude listings worded differently.
- Prefer generic terms (
tractor,forklift,laptop) over technical references.
- Then refine using filters rather than lengthening your search query.
Listing titles are generated from the details entered by the seller: make, model, year. Searching by brand therefore usually gives good results.
3. Filters
Filters can be freely combined. The most useful ones:
Filter | What it's for |
Category | Narrow down to a family of items, with finer sub-categories. |
Location | Only see items you can realistically go and collect. |
Sale status | Distinguish between upcoming, ongoing, and ended sales. |
Sales reserved for professionals | Show or hide items whose access is limited to professional profiles. |
Collection location is a key factor: you will need to come and collect the item yourself, within the timeframe stated on the listing. Think about transport before bidding on a distant or bulky item.
4. Reading the results
Each result shows you at a glance:
- a photo of the item;
- its title;
- its location;
- the sale status: upcoming, ongoing, or ended;
- the starting price or the current bid.
A colored badge immediately tells you whether you can already bid: blue for an upcoming sale, green for an ongoing sale.
5. Never miss anything: the alert
Once your search is set up the way you want, save it by clicking Create an alert. You'll be notified by email, daily or weekly, as soon as a new item matches your criteria.
This is the most effective method for rare items: rather than coming back every day, let the alert work for you.
Our tips
- Start broad, then narrow down: it's better to have extra results than to miss a listing.
- Always check the closing date: some sales end within hours.
- Add items that interest you to your favorites, even if you're not sure: you'll be able to find them easily.
- Also check upcoming sales: it's the best time to arrange a viewing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to view listings?
No. Browsing is open to everyone. An account is required to bid, save favorites, or create alerts.
My search returns no results, what should I do?
Remove one or two filters, use a more general term, then create an alert: new items are listed every week.
Can I see sales that have already ended?
Yes, by selecting the corresponding status in the filters. It's a good way to see the prices reached for comparable items.
Why are some items reserved for professionals?
Some categories, particularly in vehicles or machine tools, can only be sold to professionals who can provide proof of their business activity.
Can I filter by distance from my home?
You can filter by geographic area. Then check the city shown on each listing: it corresponds to the collection location.
Do new items appear immediately?
Yes, as soon as the sale they belong to opens. Your alerts take this into account in real time.