This article is for buyers. It describes the full process of an auction sale on Agorastore: listing publication, the opening of bidding, the rules to know, and closing.
Summary
- Items are grouped into scheduled sales, each with its own opening and closing dates.
- Listings are visible before bidding opens: you have time to study them.
- Each item follows its own process and keeps its own bidding history.
- At the end time, bidding stops automatically and the outcome is determined.
1. The main steps of a sale
Step | What happens | What you can do |
1 | Listing publication | Browse items, ask questions, take part in viewings, save favorites. |
2 | Bidding opens | Place your offers, provided you meet the participation conditions. |
3 | In progress | Follow the bidding and adjust your offers until closing. |
4 | Closing | Wait for the result: the top bidder is designated if the conditions are met. |
2. Before opening: the preview period
A published listing whose sale hasn't started yet shows the opening date for bidding and a countdown.
This is the right time to:
- read the full description and check the attached documents;
- ask the seller your questions;
- take part in a viewing when one is offered;
- check the participation conditions and prepare your documents;
- check the collection terms, which are often decisive.
Items are often grouped by theme or category within the same sale. The sales calendar lets you spot upcoming deadlines.
3. During bidding
- Bidding opens on the scheduled date, simultaneously for all items in the sale.
- Every new offer must be higher than the previous one and follow the bid increment.
- Rankings are updated immediately after each valid offer.
- A placed bid can never be withdrawn.
- Other participants' identities remain confidential: only amounts are visible.
A bid placed in the very last minutes can extend the sale's end time. This mechanism prevents a last-second offer from depriving other participants of the chance to respond.
4. The starting price and the reserve price
Concept | What it means for you |
Starting price | The amount from which bidding can begin. It's shown on the listing. |
Reserve price | The minimum amount below which the seller isn't required to sell. Its amount isn't disclosed, but the listing tells you whether it's been met. |
5. Closing
When a sale's countdown reaches 00:00:00, the bidding period ends ⏱️. No new offer can be placed after that.
👉 At that point, the top bidder is identified, and the lot is awarded (automatically or manually depending on the sale). The sale is definitively confirmed once the confirmation email has been sent to the buyer and the seller.
Two outcomes are possible:
- The item is awarded: the top bidder wins the sale, and what follows happens in three stages — invoice, payment, then collection.
- The item isn't awarded: no bids were placed, the reserve price wasn't met, or the seller didn't follow through. The item may then be relisted.
If no bid was placed before closing, the sale is extended by 20 minutes.
📌 Key points to remember
- If the message "The sale ends in:" is shown, the sale is still in progress and you can still bid
- Bidding stops when the counter reaches 00:00:00
- In the event of a rolling close, every bid placed within the last 2 minutes extends the sale by 2 minutes, up to a maximum of 30 minutes
Our tips
- Note the opening and closing dates as soon as the listing is published.
- Prepare your account and documents during the preview period, not on closing day.
- Don't count on the very last second: a late bid can extend the sale, and technical hiccups happen.
- Factor fees and transport into the budget you set yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bid before the sale opens?
No. The listing can be viewed, but bidding is only possible from the opening date.
Do all items in a sale end at the same time?
They follow the sale's calendar, but each item keeps its own process, particularly in the event of an extension.
What happens if no one bids?
The item isn't awarded. The seller can choose to relist it later.
Can I find out the reserve price?
No, its amount remains confidential. The listing only tells you whether it's been met.
Can other participants see my name?
No. Bidders' information remains confidential.
Can a sale be cancelled midway through?
It's rare, but an item can be withdrawn by the seller before closing, for example if it's no longer available.
What is a rolling close?
During the last 2 minutes of an item's sale, every bid placed pushes the closing time back by 2 minutes. The closing time will be pushed back by a maximum of 30 minutes.