How to Bid Online

How to Bid Online

In order to participate in our online auctions, you must register as a TPA bidder at artfact.com. You only have to do this once, and you will automatically be included in all of our future auctions.

It costs nothing to register as a bidder.

1. Create an account with Artfact

If you already have an account with artfact.com, invaluable.com or auctionzip.com, you can skip this step.

  • Go to www.artfact.com.
  • Click the "Join" button near the top right of the window.
  • Enter a Username and Password of your choice, and your Email Address, then click "Create Account".
  • Once you have created an Artfact account, you will be able to register as a bidder in any of Artfact's auctions.

2. Register as a bidder

  • Go to Artfact's Trains, Planes and Automobiles page, which lists our upcoming auctions.
  • Click the "Login" button near the top right of the window, enter your Username and Password, then click "LOGIN".
  • Select the current auction and click "Get approved to bid" or "Bid Now". (If these options are not available, the auction is not yet open for registration and you should check back later.)
  • Enter your name and address, if you have not already done so.
  • Once you have filled in and checked your details, please read the "Auction House Terms and Conditions" and click the checkbox "I agree with the above Terms and Conditions".
  • Then click "Submit Request for Approval".

Once you have registered, your registration must be approved. If you have not bid with Artfact before, this may take a day or two. You will receive notification by email when you have been accepted as a bidder.

3. Bidding before the auction

  • As a registered bidder, you can leave absentee bids prior to the auction. Each auction will be opened for bidding from about a week before the auction date.
  • As above, go to Artfact's Trains, Planes and Automobiles page.
  • Log in to your Artfact account.
  • Select the current auction and click "Lot Details" to view the list of items in this auction.
  • To place an absentee bid on an item, click "Bid Now" and place your bid. (If you do not see a "Bid Now" button, the auction is not yet open for bidding.)
  • Note that absentee bids can also be left with us by phone, fax or email, or in person during the auction viewings.

4. Bidding during the auction

  • As above, go to Artfact's Trains, Planes and Automobiles page.
  • Log in to your Artfact account.
  • Select the current auction and click "Bid Now".
  • An auction Console window will open in which you can view the auction and place bids.
  • The Console window will be available one hour prior to the auction. No further absentee bids are accepted during this period.
  • If instead of the Console you see the list of auction lots, then the auction has not yet commenced.
  • If the Console window does not open, or does not display correctly, see "Trouble-shooting" below.
  • We also accept telephone bids during the auction. If you would like to bid by telephone, please contact us before the auction and we will arrange it.

We strongly recommend that you register early to ensure that you have been accepted as a bidder, and that you log in to your Artfact account well before the auction to ensure that you have access to the auction Console. You can test the Console in advance by clicking "Watch Now" on any auction that is currently in progress. You do not have to be registered to watch an auction.

Please contact us if you have any questions or difficulties in registering.

5. Trouble-shooting

If you are having technical difficulties during an auction, call us on (02) 4787 1590 or (02) 4787 1455. We will try to help you, or we can take your bids over the phone.

Before the start of an auction, you should ensure that your computer is capable of opening the auction Console window. You can do this by finding an auction on the Artfact website that is currently in progress and clicking the "Watch Now" button. You do not have to be registered to watch an auction.

If you cannot open the auction Console window, or it does not display correctly, please check the following:

  • Minimum system requirements

    Windows

    • Windows XP Service Pack 2 or higher, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8.
    • 512MB RAM.
    • Firefox 11, Google Chrome 18, or Internet Explorer 9. (Note that Internet Explorer 9 no longer works with Windows XP. For XP users, Firefox or Google Chrome are recommended.)

    Mac

    • OSX 10.6 with Firefox 11 only.
    • OSX 10.5 with Safari 5.1.1 only.
      Sorry, no other OS-Browser combinations are currently supported for Mac.
    • PPC or Intel processor.
    • 512MB RAM.

    The console does not support:

    • Windows 2000 or earlier.
    • Mac OSX 10.4 or earlier.
    • Netscape, Opera, or AOL browsers.
    • Dial-up or wireless internet.

    • If your computer and browser meet the minimum requirements and you still can't open the console window, please contact us and we will try to help you.