FAQ

If your maximum absentee bid is reached during a live auction, it means there was competitive bidding that pushed the price up to your limit. This usually happens when another participant places a bid close to your maximum, prompting the system to automatically match and apply your top bid.

Example:
Let’s say you submitted a maximum absentee bid of $1000. During the live auction, another bidder places a $950 bid. Because your $1000 bid is already on file, the system automatically uses it to outbid the $950 offer.

Why the System Jumps to Your Maximum Bid:
When the live auction begins, the system doesn’t start from the opening bid and work its way up through each increment. Instead, it may immediately place your highest absentee bid to reflect current demand and speed up the process. This helps avoid unnecessary delays and brings the auction straight to the active bidding level.

Important Note About Absentee Bidding at KING LOUIES AUCTIONS

At KING LOUIES AUCTIONS, the KING LOUIES AUCTIONS system ensures fair bidding by preventing users from bidding against themselves. This means that if you place a new absentee bid on a lot you’ve already bid on, your previous bid will automatically be replaced. You can only have one active maximum absentee bid per lot at any given time.

To view or manage your absentee bids, simply visit your My Bids page.

If KING LOUIES AUCTIONS allows bids below the starting price, you’ll be able to submit a lower absentee bid without encountering an error. However, if bids below the starting price are not permitted, the system will not accept them.

During the live auction, the only way to place a bid below the starting price is if the auctioneer manually lowers the opening bid. If this happens, the change will be reflected in real-time on your bid button in the live bidding console.

Please note: Most auction houses, including KING LOUIES AUCTIONS, typically do not accept bids below the starting price.

At KING LOUIES AUCTIONS, bidding increments are determined by our in-house structure and may vary depending on the current bid amount. As the price increases during the live auction, the bidding increment will adjust accordingly to reflect the appropriate level for that range.

You can view the full list of bidding increments by checking the Auction Details or reviewing the Terms & Conditions at the bottom of any listed catalog on our website.

BID INCREMENTS

If you win a lot, it will appear in your Won Items page within your profile. You will also receive an email notification confirming your win.

To view your won items, simply hover over or click the Account drop-down menu and select "Won Items."

On this page, you’ll find a list of all items you’ve won. You can also contact the auction house directly or pay your invoice if it has been sent through KING LOUIES AUCTIONS.

Please note that all payment and shipping arrangements are handled directly with the auction house. If you don’t find the information you need in the auction’s Terms & Conditions, we recommend reaching out to the auction house for assistance. Typically, auction houses send an invoice with payment instructions via email within 24–48 hours after the auction closes.

At KING LOUIES AUCTIONS, bidders can view the leading absentee bid for an item at the next increment above the next lowest absentee bid.

For example:
If one bidder places a bid of $80 on an item, and you place a bid of $100 with a $10 increment, anyone else viewing the item will see the current bid as $90.

When you place a bid, the system will notify you if you are the highest absentee bidder on that item. If another bidder submits a higher absentee bid than yours, you will receive an email notification informing you that you have been outbid. This update will also be visible on your My Bids page.

Reserve Prices and Buyer Information at KING LOUIES AUCTIONS

To protect the bidder experience, KING LOUIES AUCTIONS does not reveal reserve prices through the system.

Some auction houses may choose to disclose whether an item has a reserve or if the reserve has not yet been met, but this is entirely up to the auction house’s discretion.

Please note: Auction houses are not required to notify buyers if an item has a reserve price.

How to Place Absentee Bids at KING LOUIES AUCTIONS

You can place absentee bids in advance of the live auction. Our hassle-free absentee bidding system helps ensure you get the best possible price on the items you want. Be sure to submit your maximum bid amount—the highest amount you’re willing to pay for the item—before the live auction begins.

Your bid will automatically stay at the lowest amount necessary to keep you in the lead and will only increase up to your maximum if another bidder places a competing bid.

To place an absentee bid:

1. Select your maximum bid from the drop-down menu on the item page.

2. You may also enter a custom bid by typing an amount or by clicking “Enter a Custom Bid.” We’ll automatically round your custom bid to the nearest increment.

3. Confirm your bid amount, including the applicable buyer’s premium.

4. Agree to the Terms of Sale by clicking the “Confirm” button.

5. Finally, you will receive a confirmation that your bid was submitted.

Please note: All bidders and bids must be approved by the auctioneer for the bid to be processed during the live auction.

How Absentee Bids Are Submitted Automatically:

Your absentee bid will be placed on your behalf based on the following criteria:

1. If no other bids start at the starting price.

2. If there are other absentee bids, the system starts at the lowest non-competitive amount.

   Example: You place a $100 absentee bid and another bidder places a $300 bid. The starting price is $70. The first bid submitted will be $110 (or the next increment above $100), in your favor.

3. If two absentee bids are for the same amount, the auction will open at that amount for the bidder who placed their bid first.

   Example: You place a $100 bid on Tuesday, and another bidder places a $100 bid on Thursday. The auction will open at $100 in your favor.

4. If the auction floor places a bid, the system will submit a competing bid at the next increment up.

5. If someone bids live online using the bidding console, the system will match that bid amount.

6. Bidding stops once your maximum absentee bid is reached. Live bidders must surpass your maximum absentee bid to become the high bidder.

Absentee bids placed before the auction can be retracted up to 2 hours prior to the auction start time. Other types of bids cannot be retracted.

To retract an absentee bid:

1. Visit your My Bids page.

2. Locate the bid you wish to retract.

3. Click the “Retract” button.

If you accidentally place a bid during the live auction, it is recommended to contact the auction house directly to explain the situation and inquire about possible assistance. You can do this by clicking the “Ask A Question” link on the item’s listing page.

Please note, KING LOUIES AUCTIONS serves as a facilitator for the auction. The decision to cancel or retract a sale is at the sole discretion of the auction house.

Reserve Prices at KING LOUIES AUCTIONS

Reserve prices represent the minimum amount an item will sell for. These prices are set by auctioneers to ensure certain price targets are met. If the reserve price is not reached during bidding, the item will not be sold.

How Does the Reserve Price Affect Bidding?

• Bidders will be notified when their absentee bids are below the set reserve price. These alerts appear on the item lot pages and on your My Bids page.

• If your bid during a live auction is below the reserve price, you will be prompted to place a higher bid closer to the reserve.
  Note: Auctions with live auctioneers conducting the sale may not prompt for a higher bid, as auctioneers are strongly discouraged from this behavior.

Guidelines Our Auction House Partners Follow When Setting Reserves:

• Reserves should not exceed the low estimate, which is intended to be a reasonable and achievable final price.

• Reserve prices cannot be changed after the item has been sold.

• Once the reserve is met, the item is considered sold, and lots cannot be canceled afterward due to failure to reach a perceived value.

• Bidders who win an item by bidding above the reserve price are not allowed to cancel the sale.

• Buyers should always be informed if an item has a reserve price. The reserve price feature is used to communicate this clearly on our site.

• Auction houses must not bid on their own items above the reserve price.

• Any changes to reserves must be made no later than two hours prior to the start of the auction.

Buyer’s Premium at KING LOUIES AUCTIONS

A buyer’s premium is an additional service charge that the buyer is responsible for, which may be added to the final price of sold items. If a buyer’s premium applies, it will be clearly indicated on the item page.

Each auction house sets its own buyer’s premium rate.

What is Buy It Now / Make An Offer?

The Buy It Now / Make An Offer feature allows auction houses to sell items that may not have sold during the live auction or did not meet the reserve price. It also gives buyers the opportunity to purchase an item at or below the reserve price.

When a listing is marked Buy It Now, the bidding option is replaced by “Buy Now” and “Make an Offer” links. These listings are typically available for up to 14 days after the auction concludes.

• Selecting “Buy Now” means you agree to purchase the lot immediately at the price set by the auctioneer.

• Selecting “Make an Offer” lets you propose a different price to the auctioneer for consideration.

Please note, the auctioneer reserves the right to accept or decline any offers made on the item.

Bid Limits at KING LOUIES AUCTIONS

Auction houses have the ability to limit the total value of items you can win in a given catalog. Bid limits are typically applied to new bidders on the KING LOUIES AUCTIONS platform, especially those with little or no bidding history, or new bidders at a specific auction house. Each auction house sets and manages its own bid limit policies.

You can check if a bid limit has been placed on you by reviewing the auction page or the item page.

If you’d like to request an increase to your bid limit, please contact the auction house directly by clicking the “ASK A QUESTION” link on any of their listings.

Will the Auction House Be Able to See My Maximum Bid?

Yes, the auction house can see your maximum absentee bid amount. This helps them understand the bidding activity and manage the auction process. However, your maximum bid is kept confidential from other bidders to maintain a fair bidding environment.

If you have not successfully paid for an item you won, KING LOUIES AUCTIONS may file a dispute on your account. This serves as a warning to other auction houses regarding a failure to complete payment.

To resolve a dispute, you must communicate directly with KING LOUIES AUCTIONS.

Please note that unresolved disputes can impact your ability to bid in future auctions, so it’s important to address them promptly.

If you have an open dispute on your account from an auction house that is no longer listing with KING LOUIES AUCTIONS, please contact our Bidder Support Team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com.

Include the following information in your email:

• The name of the auction house

• The date of the auction

• The item(s) associated with the dispute

We will review the details and determine if the dispute can be removed from your account.

Disputes are filed by auctioneers when an invoice is not paid within the required time frame.

To avoid disputes, always review the auction house's payment terms before placing a bid, and ensure you can make payment within their specified window.

Unresolved disputes may impact your ability to bid in future auctions. We strongly encourage you to resolve any disputes directly with the auction house as soon as possible. You can reach them using the contact information on your invoice or by clicking the "Ask a question" link on any of their listings.

To view your open disputes and easily contact the auction house, go to your Won Items page on KING LOUIES AUCTIONS.

Disputes are filed against your account by an auction house if you have not successfully paid for an item you won within the required time frame. These disputes serve as a flag to alert other auctioneers of non-payment activity.

You will receive a notification when a dispute is opened against you. To resolve it, you must contact the auction house directly using the information provided on your invoice or their listing page.

Unresolved disputes may limit your ability to bid in future auctions, so we encourage you to resolve them as quickly as possible.

To view your open disputes and contact the auction house directly, go to your Won Items page and filter by Status: Open Disputes, or click here.

If you need assistance with dispute resolution, please reach out to our Support Team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com.

If you believe you won an item but the auction house says otherwise, we recommend the following steps:

1. Check Your Account:
   Visit your Won Items page on KING LOUIES AUCTIONS to confirm whether the item appears in your purchase history.

2. Review the Bid History:
   Look at the bid history on the item’s listing page. This can help clarify if your bid was the highest at the close of the auction.

3. Contact the Auction House Directly:
   If you still believe there’s an error, reach out to the auction house. Use the contact information provided on the listing or your invoice page, or click the "Ask a question" link on their listing.

4. Still Need Help?
   If you're unable to resolve the issue with the auction house, contact our Support Team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com, and we’ll review the matter further.

Old Dispute on Your Account? We’re Here to Help

If you have a dispute on your account that is over a year old and you’ve already attempted to resolve it directly with the auction house, please contact our Bidder Support Team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com.

In your email, include the following details:

• Name of the auction house

• Date of the auction

• Item(s) involved in the dispute

• A brief summary of your communication attempts

Our team will be happy to review the information and, if appropriate, reach out to the auction house on your behalf to assist in resolving the matter.

If you have reached out to the auction house and have not received a response, please contact our Support Team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com.

We’ll be happy to review your case and assist by reaching out to the auction house on your behalf to help mediate a resolution.

A dispute is a flag placed on your account when you win an item in an auction but fail to complete payment.

Please note: All disputes are filed by the auction house, not by King Louies Auctions, and must be resolved directly with the auction house.

Disputes can affect your ability to bid in future auctions, so it’s important to resolve them promptly. You can do this by:

• Paying the outstanding invoice

• Or contacting the auction house to request a release from the sale

To view your open disputes and get in touch with the auction house, visit your Won Items page and look for items marked with an open dispute.

You can choose to receive text message alerts for key auction updates by visiting your Email & Notifications settings page.

Under Auction Alerts, simply check the box to enable any or all of the following SMS notifications:

• Outbid Notifications – Get real-time alerts when you’re outbid

• Auction Reminders – Never miss the start of an auction

• Payment Reminders – Stay on top of your invoices

Enabling these alerts ensures you never miss an important update.

To receive alerts from specific auction houses:

1. Enter the auction house name in the search bar.

2. On the auction house’s profile page, click the blue FOLLOW button.

3. Once the button changes to FOLLOWING, your alert has been successfully set up.

To stop receiving alerts from that auction house, simply click the FOLLOWING button again to unfollow.

To make sure you’re receiving important emails, such as invoices and auction updates, please follow these steps:

1. Verify Your Email Address
   Go to Your Account > Account Settings and ensure the email listed in the Email field is accurate.

2. Check Your Subscription Preferences
   Visit Your Account > Emails & Notifications to confirm that you’re subscribed to the types of emails you want to receive.

3. Check Your Spam or Junk Folder
   Sometimes, email providers mistakenly filter messages. Look in your spam or junk folder for any missing emails, especially invoices.

You’ll receive notifications to keep you informed about your auctions and account, including:

• Outbid Alerts when someone bids higher than you

• Auction Reminders so you don’t miss the start of an auction

• Payment Reminders for items you’ve won

• Shipping Updates (when available)

• Account and Security Notifications

You can choose how you want to get these—by email, text message, or app notifications—by updating your preferences in Your Account > Emails & Notifications.

If your item arrives damaged, please complete the attached form. Our claims department at KING LOUIES AUCTIONS will begin processing your insurance claim promptly.

A claims adjuster will reach out to you within 2–3 business days to review your submission and discuss the next steps.

Most claims are resolved within 1–2 weeks.

If your item arrives damaged, missing, or is lost in transit, please complete and submit a claim form. Our team will review your claim promptly and determine the appropriate course of action to resolve the issue.

KING LOUIES AUCTIONS partners exclusively with trusted, professional shipping providers to ensure secure and hassle-free delivery of your unique purchases.

Our shipping partners will handle the pickup, professional packaging, and delivery of your item to the address provided at checkout.

Please note: Shipping through KING LOUIES AUCTIONS is currently available only for purchases made directly through our platform and with participating auction houses.

In some cases, shipping costs may be automatically included in your payment, depending on the terms outlined in the auction listing.

Contact our shipping support team at:
kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com

Yes, you can contact our shipping support team to request an address update.

If the change is possible, please note that additional fees may apply. However, if your item is already in transit, we may be unable to update the shipping address.

Please contact our shipping support team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

Please note, address change requests must be made before you receive a tracking number. If you have already received a tracking number, please reach out directly to the shipping carrier’s support team for assistance.

If you would like to expedite your shipment, please contact our shipping support team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com.

Yes, if you have a preferred shipping carrier, please contact our support team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com before your item has shipped.

In some cases, we may be able to partially disassemble items to lower shipping costs or improve handling and packaging. If you’d like to explore this option, please contact our support team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com before your item is packed for shipment.

Please note that disassembly is not always possible and may depend on the item's construction and condition.

Yes, in some cases we can remove the signature requirement upon request. To do so, please contact us at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com before your item is shipped.

Important: Removing the signature requirement may waive certain protections, and KING LOUIES AUCTIONS is not responsible for lost or stolen packages delivered without a signature.

Can shipping be combined for multiple lots?

Yes, shipping costs can be combined for multiple lots if all items are from the same auction. However, combined shipping depends on the size, weight, and fragility of the pieces you’ve won.

We’ll do our best to consolidate your shipment whenever safely possible. For questions or a custom quote, please contact us at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com

After confirming your shipping address during checkout, simply select the “Arrange by KING LOUIES AUCTIONS” option.

Once selected, we’ll handle the entire shipping process for you—from pickup and professional packaging to secure delivery.

If you selected the “Ship with KING LOUIES AUCTIONS” option by mistake, please contact us as soon as possible at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com to request a cancellation.

This depends on the options provided by the Auction House, which can be found in the auction’s terms and conditions or during checkout.

Most Auction Houses offer local pickup or allow buyers to arrange their own shipping through a third-party provider.

For specific details or to confirm available options, please contact the individual Auction House directly.

If you have a tracking number but your item shows no delivery progress, please contact our shipping support team at kinglouiesauctions@gmail.com

In the unfortunate event that an item arrives damaged, please file a claim with our team. We will promptly review your case and determine the appropriate course of action to resolve the issue.

At KING LOUIES AUCTIONS, along with our trusted shipping partners, our priority is to ensure your items arrive safely and securely to their new home.

As a full-service shipping program, our goal is to provide a safe, fast, and transparent delivery experience for every auction purchase.

Your shipping quote covers the full cost of pickup, packaging and materials, transportation, delivery, and insurance.

As a comprehensive, full-service shipping program, KING LOUIES AUCTIONS and our trusted partners strive to provide a safe, fast, and transparent delivery experience for your auction purchase.

Shipping is now available for select auctions on KING LOUIES AUCTIONS.

We partner with vetted, professional shipping services to provide hassle-free delivery of your one-of-a-kind items. Our trusted partners will handle pickup, expert packaging, and ship your item directly to the address you provide at checkout.

Currently, Shipping with KING LOUIES AUCTIONS is limited to participating auction houses and is only available for purchases completed through our website.

In some cases, shipping costs will be included in your purchase total and automatically charged to your payment method, depending on the auction terms. For more details, please refer to our Autopay help article.

You can easily find items eligible for Shipping with KING LOUIES AUCTIONS by filtering under Locations & Shipping.

Why do 3 out of every 4 bidders choose Shipping with KING LOUIES AUCTIONS at checkout?

Benefits include:

• Shipping quotes clearly displayed on the item page

• International shipping available across North America and Europe

• 100% insurance coverage on all shipped items

• Real-time tracking updates via email and on the won item’s page
  
  

  Here’s what some of our bidders have said about their shipping experience:

  “The whole process was straightforward and quick. KING LOUIES AUCTIONS shipping service was excellent.”
  — Bidder, Won 19th Century Pastel Painting, February 2023

  “KING LOUIES AUCTIONS arranged the shipping and all I can say is ‘Wow.’ It was so easy and the price very fair. I am blown away with how perfect the experience was.”
  — Bidder, Won Wrought Iron Gate, March 2023
  
  On average, shipping quotes through KING LOUIES AUCTIONS are 35% less expensive compared to other shipping vendors like UPS, FedEx, and PackNShip.

You should receive tracking information within 2-3 weeks after payment, depending on the size of your item(s). 

Crated or freight pieces may take an extra week for proper packaging and handling. 

You will receive email updates about the status of your shipped items. You can also check your “Won Items" page and select a particular invoice to see the current shipping status of that order.