Online, phone or in the room: which way should you bid?
Most auctions let you bid in more than one way. They can differ in cost, convenience and how much control you have, so it's worth choosing deliberately.
In the room
Good for: seeing the lot first, and usually no platform fee.
Watch out for: getting carried away, and the cost of travelling.
By phone
Good for: bidding live when you can't attend.
Watch out for: booking it in advance, and checking for any charge or minimum.
Commission bid
Good for: setting a limit calmly, in advance.
Watch out for: it's executed for you, so confirm it's been recorded and check any deadline.
Live online
Good for: convenience, and bidding from anywhere.
Watch out for: a platform fee, your connection, and being quick enough.
Timed online
Good for: bidding whenever suits you.
Watch out for: closing times, and whether late bids extend the sale (the rules differ).
The cost difference can be real
Take a £500 hammer price with a 20% premium plus VAT. In the room it's £620. Online with a 5% platform fee it's £650. That £30 is the price of convenience, so decide whether it's worth it for that lot. See what an online bidding fee is.
How to choose
- High-value or condition-sensitive lots: view in person if you can.
- If you tend to overbid: a commission bid removes the temptation, because your limit is already set. See how to avoid overbidding.
- If you can't attend: compare phone, commission and online on cost, not just convenience.
How BidCalc helps
Put the in-room route as one scenario and the online route as the other in the comparison tool, and it shows the difference in pounds. In the main calculator, set the online fee to 0% or to the platform's rate and the breakdown shows exactly what it adds.
Open the comparison tool See the £500 online exampleGeneral information only, not tax or financial advice. Auction houses set their own fees and terms, so always check the conditions of sale and confirm the details with the auction house before you bid.