The price stated in the catalogue is estimated by our experts. The price called out is 80% of the estimated price, which means that the minimum bid is 80% of the estimated price. Hammer prices are often much higher than the estimated prices.
We have to coordinate all the written bids before the auction: If bids are received at the same amount, the first bid received is accepted.
The following examples are possible in the bidding procedure:
Example 1:
Estimated price: 1,000 euros
If a written order has not been received, the auctioneer calls out the lot in the auction at 80% of the estimated price, i.e. at 800 euros. If only one bidder then makes a bid in the salesroom, the item goes to this bidder for 800 euros.
Example 2:
Estimated price: 1,000 euros
The auctioneer has received three written bids:
Bidder 1: Limit 2,900 euros
Bidder 2: Limit 1,800 euros
Bidder 3: Limit 800 euros
According to the auction rules, the auctioneer must reasonably outbid bidder 2 in the interests of bidder 1 (by around 5 to 10%). The price called out is thus 1,900 euros in the interests of bidder 1 (although the estimated price is 1,000 euros). If no higher bid is made in the salesroom, bidder 1 wins the bid for 1,900 euros. The maximum bid of 2,900 did not have to be placed.
Example 3:
Estimated price: 1,000 euros
The auctioneer has only received one written bid for 850 euros:
The lot is called out at 800 euros in the auction. If no bidder in the room offers a higher amount, the written bidder wins the bid for 800 euros.
Example 4:
Estimated price: 1,000 euros
The auctioneer has only received one written bid for 1,200 euros:
The auctioneer calls out the lot at 800 euros. If there is no other bidder, the written bidder wins the bid for 800 euros. If there is another bidder, the auctioneer places bids up to a maximum amount of 1,200 euros on behalf of his written bidder and does not knock down the item to the other bidder in the room until an amount of 1,300 euros is bid.
Example 5:
Estimated price: 1,000 euros
Three bids have been placed at 975 euros each: To prevent any misunderstandings, the auctioneer exceeds the bid received first slightly and accepts a bid of 1,000 euros.