- Every lot starts from a starting price of at least €30; the seller can set a reserve price.
- You can bid now or set an automatic bid up to your maximum.
- A bid in the last minute extends the timer by one minute, just like an auctioneer in the room.
- On Memorabid there is no buyer's premium: you pay the hammer price plus shipping and insurance.
Online auctions have opened auctions to everyone: you do not need to be in the room, a phone is enough. But the rules change from platform to platform, and knowing them saves you surprises, especially on the final cost. Here is how an auction works on Memorabid, from the first bid to delivery.
Starting price and reserve price
The starting price is the opening amount: bids start from this figure. On Memorabid no lot starts below €30.
The reserve is the minimum price the seller sets to complete the sale: if the auction closes below it, the lot is not sold. Whether the reserve has been reached is shown only to people who have placed at least one bid on that auction.
If the auction closes below the reserve
The highest bidder receives a notification with the reserve amount and has 48 hours to decide whether to match it and win the lot.
How to bid: now or with automatic bidding
With automatic bidding you do not need to stay online: the system defends your position up to your limit. If your maximum is above the reserve in an auction that would otherwise close below it, you win with a bid equal to the reserve price.
To bid you need to register a credit card as a guarantee, with no charge. It is handled by Stripe: Memorabid does not store or collect card details.
The timer that extends in the last minute
The timer shows how long until an auction opens or closes. If someone bids with less than a minute left, the timer extends by another minute. Everyone interested gets the chance to respond, just as an auctioneer waits for the last bid in the room. No wins "stolen" in the final second.
What happens when you win
- Pay within 48 hours. You can use a credit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay via Stripe, PayPal or bank transfer. After the deadline, payment is processed on the registered card.
- Choose extras. At checkout you can request the COA certificate for Memorabid Auctions or the COO for Marketplace Auctions, both with two NFC tags.
- The lot is checked and shipped. For Memorabid Auctions it ships within 5 days of payment. For Marketplace Auctions the seller first ships to our offices, within 5 days, for a final check: that is why delivery takes a little longer.
Won several lots? Combined shipping is possible if no more than 48 hours pass between the first and the last win.
What you really pay: no buyer's premium
Many auction houses add a fee paid by the buyer on top of the hammer price, the buyer's premium. Memorabid has none: the hammer price is exactly what you pay, plus shipping and compulsory insurance.
- Hammer price: €150.00
- Insurance (€100-199 band): €7.20
- Domestic shipping up to 3 kg, packaging included: €10.00
- Total: €167.20, nothing else.
Rates for Europe and the rest of the world and the full insurance table are on the payments and shipping page. For shipments outside the European Union, customs duties may apply and are paid by the recipient.
Closed auctions are not over: direct purchase offers
Missed a lot or found it too late? On Memorabid you can browse every closed auction and send a direct purchase offer to the winner, for an amount equal to or above the hammer price. If the auction did not reach its reserve, the offer goes to the seller.
An offer lasts 7 days. If it is accepted, the item passes through our offices, where we check that it is in the same condition as in the original auction, and then it reaches you. It also works the other way round: once you buy, the platform can collect future offers on your item for you. All the details on the direct purchase offer page.
Auction or Buy now?The guide to choosing the right way to buy.Frequently asked questions
Why do I need to register a credit card to bid?
It is a guarantee, with no charge. The card is handled by Stripe and Memorabid does not store its details. It is only used if you do not pay for a won lot within 48 hours.
Can I see the reserve price?
No. Anyone who has bid at least once can see whether the reserve has been reached. The highest bidder of an auction closed below reserve receives a notification with the amount.
What happens if someone bids in the last second?
If a bid arrives with less than a minute left, the timer extends by another minute so everyone can respond.
Are there fees for buyers?
No, Memorabid has no buyer's premium. You pay the hammer price plus shipping and compulsory insurance.
Memorabid Editorial TeamThe team that selects, photographs and checks the items auctioned on Memorabid.