How to Bid by Phone at an Auction

Phone bidding lets you take part in a live auction from anywhere, with a staff member relaying the action to you in real time. This guide is for buyers who want to bid on specific lots without attending, but who still want to make decisions as the bidding unfolds.

How phone bidding works

When you arrange to bid by phone, the auction company assigns a staff member to call you shortly before your lot comes up. That person stays on the line, tells you the current bid and the asking price, and places bids in the room on your instructions. Unlike an absentee bid, you decide each step in the moment.

Phone bidding is most common at sales of art, antiques, collectibles and other higher-value items. Many companies only offer phone lines for lots above a certain estimate, because staff and lines are limited.

How to request a phone line

• Register with the auction company as a bidder.
• Fill out the company's phone bid form, listing the lot numbers you want to bid on.
• Provide a reliable phone number, plus a backup number if possible.
• Submit the request before the stated deadline, which is often a day or more before the sale.
• Ask for confirmation that your request has been accepted.

If you speak a language other than English and the company has multilingual staff, it is fine to ask whether someone can bid with you in that language.

Prepare before the call

Have your catalog or the online lot page open, with your notes and your maximum bid written down. Know the buyer's premium so you can keep track of your total cost. Make sure your phone is charged and you are somewhere with good reception and little background noise.

Many companies also ask you to agree to a backup bid. This is an absentee bid the company will place on your behalf if they cannot reach you or the call drops. It is worth agreeing to, set at a level you are comfortable with.

What happens during the call

The staff member will usually call a few lots before yours. They will confirm your name, your bidder number and the lot you want. While you wait, they may describe how the sale is going.

When your lot opens, they will give you a running commentary, such as the current bid, whether it is in the room or online, and what the auctioneer is asking next. To bid, simply say yes or give a clear instruction. To stop, say no or that you are out.

• Speak clearly and give short answers so there is no confusion.
• If you are unsure of the current bid, ask the staff member to repeat it.
• It is fine to ask for a moment to think, but bidding can move on quickly, so decide your limit in advance.
• You can give an instruction like "keep bidding up to this amount," and the staff member will carry it out.

When the lot sells

The staff member will tell you whether you won and at what hammer price. If you won, the purchase is recorded under your bidder number, just as if you were in the room. You will receive an invoice afterward with the premium, tax and any other charges added.

Write down the lot, the hammer price and the time, so you can check them against your invoice.

If something goes wrong

Calls can drop and lots can come up sooner than expected. Most terms of sale state that the auction company is not responsible for failing to reach a phone bidder or for errors in executing phone bids. That is why a backup absentee bid is useful. If the line drops, try calling the company's main number right away, but be prepared for the lot to sell without you.

Phone bidding compared with other options

Phone bidding gives you more flexibility than an absentee bid, because you can respond to the room. It also gives you a more personal connection than online bidding, since a staff member can answer quick questions. On the other hand, it depends on staff availability and a good connection, and it is not usually offered for lower-value lots.

Quick checklist

• Register and submit a phone bid request before the deadline.
• Provide a reliable number and a backup number.
• Set a written maximum and agree to a backup bid.
• Be somewhere quiet with good reception at sale time.
• Give short, clear instructions during the call.
• Record the result and check it against your invoice.