Tips for bidding in person at our live unreserved heavy equipment & truck auctions

Almost every day of the year, hundreds of people walk through the doors at one of our 40+ locations around the world to buy heavy equipment and trucks. Many are repeat buyers who come back regularly because we offer a huge selection of equipment and a fair, efficient, easy way to buy it.

But there are lots of “first timers” at each auction too. If you’re considering going to your first Ritchie Bros. auction, our on-site staff is more than happy to help you out – just look for someone in orange.

Before the auction: find and inspect equipment

Search our current inventory – we add thousands of items each week. Check the detailed equipment information and photos on our website, and compare similar items side-by-side.

At Ritchie Bros. we sell everything "as is, where is." For added confidence, visit the auction site to test and inspect the equipment before you bid, or send someone to do the inspection for you – keys are cabled into the equipment or available at the main office.

How to bid and buy equipment on auction day

If you’re planning on bidding in person for the first time at an upcoming auction, watch this video and read our tips to help guide you through the process.

1. Register to bid at the auction site

Register to bid at the main counter. You’ll need photo ID; you may need to place a refundable deposit. You’ll get a listing catalog showing your unique bidder number.

At some auctions, we sell attachments, consumer goods and other smaller items in an online Timed Auction. In that case, you will also get a Timed Auction PIN card. Keep your listing catalog and PIN card safe!

2. Get comfortable in the auction theater

On auction day, have a seat and get comfortable. Most mobile equipment is sold on the ramp in the main auction theatre; stationary equipment is usually sold in the yard or inside using our Virtual Ramp.

3. Listen to the auctioneer

Watch and listen to the auction to get a feel for its pace. The auctioneer will introduce each lot and call for bids.

4. Watch the signboards

Electronic signboards show the current lot number and ask price (not the current high bid). When you place a bid, you are bidding at the ask price.

5. Find the lot number or choice group

Items are sold in order by lot number. Similar items are sometimes sold as a choice group.

• The highest bidder on a choice group chooses one or more lots, each at the winning bid price.
• Any remaining lots in the choice group are offered to the runner-up bidder at the same price, and then to the other bidders.

 

6. Make eye contact with the bid catcher

If you want to bid, make eye contact with the bid catcher who relays your bids to the auctioneer.

7. Raise your catalog to bid

Raise your listing catalog to place a bid at the ask price. Don’t be shy! You can never bid too early, only too late. The bid catcher will let you know if you’ve been outbid and need to bid again.

8. Sold! Show your bidder number

Every item is sold unreserved. If you are the highest bidder when the auctioneer says “Sold!”, show the bidder number on your listing catalog to the bid catcher.

9. Return to the office to pay

When you’re finished bidding, return to the registration counter to get your invoice and pay for your purchases. Equipment cannot be removed until your entire invoice is paid in full.

Consider financing your auction purchases. Keep your cash in your business; enjoy low monthly payments on your equipment; and get faster release of your equipment after the auction!

Buy equipment at an upcoming auction

Every live Ritchie Bros. auction is open to the public, and strictly unreserved. That means there are no minimum bids or reserve prices – every item is sold to a new owner on auction day, regardless of price. And there are no buybacks allowed. That means owners and their agents are not allowed to bid, so there’s no artificial price manipulation.

We hope to see you at an upcoming auction near you. Create a free account and sign up for email: we’ll send you email reminders about auctions in your area.

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