Around Again Auctions FAQs
For Sellers
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Getting Started
Good question! There are many great auction services available in southern Illinois depending on your specific needs. We specialize in personal property sales and have many years of experience buying and selling vintage and antique items in just about any category. We use our experience and knowledge, combined with modern tools, to ensure your items are properly valued and presented to active buyers. Message or call us to get the conversation started. There’s no “one size fits all” to this business, and if we’re not the right people for your situation, we’ll tell you!
No, we are not real estate brokers so aren’t able to auction your real estate for you. We’re happy to work with you in selling your personal property and will gladly refer you to a qualified real estate broker for that part of your sale.
At this time, we are not set up to sell restricted items like firearms and ammunition. We’re happy to work with you in selling your other personal property and will gladly refer you to a qualified FFL who can help you realize maximum value for that part of your sale.
Selling through an online auction is often the fastest and most effective way to turn items into cash. Online auctions attract motivated buyers who are ready to bid, and competitive bidding can drive prices higher than fixed-price sales. You don’t have to haggle, manage endless messages, or guess what something’s worth, the market decides in real time.
Pricing & Value
We have access to great tools to evaluate your items based on recent auction results, condition, demand, and current market trends. Please keep in mind that the price someone may be asking for something often has little bearing on the actual market value. We can provide research-based estimates of what similar items are actually selling for, not just what they’re listed for online. In the end, the true market value is determined by what buyers are willing to pay, and the reality is that values are constantly fluctuating. Solid research, thoughtful presentation, and thorough marketing are the best way to make sure your items get the attention, and the bids, they deserve.
We understand that concern completely! No one wants to see their items sell for less than they’re worth. Before listing, we review your items, discuss realistic market values, and can set reserve prices when appropriate to ensure they don’t sell below an agreed minimum. Professional presentation, detailed photos, and national exposure on HiBid also help attract serious buyers and competitive bidding.
Yes. We’ll give you honest feedback based on current market demand and past auction results so we focus the majority of our efforts on items that are most likely to sell well.
It’s always helpful, but not required. We can advise you on what to clean or leave as-is so you don’t spend unnecessary time preparing items that may not affect sale value.
Results & Reach
We promote every auction on HiBid, which is one of the largest purpose-built online auction platforms in the U.S., to connect your items with a broad, engaged buyer base across thousands of auctions and millions of lots each year. That means more eyes, more competition, and a smooth, trusted process from registration through pickup and shipping. We also do extensive marketing to drive buyers to HiBid, using a combination of traditional media and a variety of online marketing avenues to achieve the best possible results for your auction.
All our auctions are online and visible nationwide through HiBid’s network. We also promote locally in southern Illinois and surrounding areas, giving your sale both community exposure and national reach.
Logistics
Estate auctions and business liquidations are typically organized remotely, with items remaining at your location until sold and picked up or shipped to the buyers. Consignments for smaller groups of items, collections, downsizing, etc. might be completed from their original location or brought to the auction house for processing, depending on the circumstances. We will work with you to determine the best approach for your needs.
Around Again Auctions manages all communication and interaction with buyers on the designated pickup day(s) to ensure pickup is smooth and shipping is completed as stated in the auction terms. Depending on the situation, items that will be shipped may be packed and prepared at your location or brought back to the auction house for packing and shipping.
When you as the seller retain custody of your property until pickup or shipment, you retain control and responsibility for your items. Around Again Auctions maintains insurance coverage for items that are brought to the auction house and are in our care.
There are no upfront costs for most sellers. The auction house earns a commission on sold items and there are some variable fees, such as advertising, that are paid through your proceeds after the sale is completed. Contact us for a copy of our auction agreement, which outlines all possible fees/costs of selling. Commission rates and fees will vary depending on the size of and type of sale, typically based on total sale volume and item category mix. We will discuss and agree on all rates and fees in advance so there are no surprises!
If something doesn’t receive a bid or meet an agreed-upon reserve price, you can choose to relist it in a future auction, keep it, donate it, or dispose of it in whatever way fits your goals best!
Settlement & Payment
Commissions will be calculated based on the gross selling prices, aka “hammer prices,” without deduction for any liens or encumbrances.
We will provide the Seller (or other designated entity or representative) with a settlement statement and net auction proceeds within 30 days of the sale of items at auction, provided all buyer payments have cleared and no disputes or chargebacks are pending. It is agreed that all auction fees and expenses will be deducted from the proceeds before satisfaction of liens or encumbrances and receipt of payment. Contact us for a copy of our complete funds settlement and escrow policy.
For Buyers
Registration & Bidding
All of our auctions are run on the HiBid sales platform. If you don’t have one already, sign up for an account through our HiBid page, or use your existing account to register to bid at any of our auctions. Look for the blue “Register to Bid” link on our HiBid page that appears with each auction to register to bid at that auction with your account.
Yes. HiBid requires a valid credit or debit card to complete registration.
Bidders can register and bid anytime between the auction start and lot closing dates/times. At the closing date/time, items will begin closing at the rate published in the Auction Information section on HiBid. We recommend registering to bid before auction items begin to close to ensure your registration is accepted and you are able to bid on all of the items you want.
Click the blue “Bid” button found with item you want to bid on. A screen will pop up that shows the next increment you must bid to be entered in the bidding. For items that show “X” and a number, your bid will be multiplied by that number. Enter your bid, in U.S. Dollars, and click the blue “Confirm Bid” button to complete your bid.
You can enter a “max bid” on any item. If you enter a Max Bid higher than the current minimum bid increment, the computer will place bids for you, in the published bid increments, up to the maximum amount you entered. You may win the item for less than your maximum bid if other bidders stop bidding at an amount less than your maximum. If someone else has left a larger Max Bid, it is possible to be outbid immediately. You can always raise your Max Bid, but it cannot be lowered. Also, remember that the Buyer’s Premium and Sales Tax will be added to your final winning bids.
A soft close is when a bid is placed at the last minute before an auction lot closes and causes an increase in the remaining bidding time for that lot. The soft close prevents bid “sniping” and gives all bidders a fair chance to place their desired bids to win a lot. Our auctions are typically set to add an additional two minutes of bidding time to a lot when a bid is placed in the last minute. See each individual auction’s terms for specific details.
Bid increments (and many other important details!) can be found by clicking the blue “Auction Details” link associated with each auction.
We add Sales Tax and a Buyer’s Premium to your bid. The Buyer’s Premium is a percentage added to the final winning bid to achieve the final price for the item, before sales tax. This fee will be clearly stated in the Auction Information, and participants are responsible for understanding and accepting it.
Only bid if you are sure you want the item(s)! Bids are considered legal offers to buy the item(s). Once a bid is placed, it cannot be retracted. All sales are final and no refunds will be issued.
Payments & Invoices
If you place one or more winning bids at one of our auctions, you will be notified by email with an invoice indicating the lots you have won and the total of your bids, Buyers Premium, and Sales Tax, which will be charged to the credit/debit card with which you registered. If your credit/debit card payment is declined, we may require a certified bank check for payment. Shipping is billed separately – see below.
If you wish to pay with a different credit card than the one with which you registered, you must contact us before the end of the auction and we will send you a secure payable invoice link.
If you want to pay with cash or bank transfer, you must contact us before the end of the auction to arrange the payment method. We do not accept checks or money transfers through Venmo or similar apps.
If you have not received your invoice by 11am CST on the morning after the auction closes, please contact us at 618-353-1405.
Shipping will be billed through a separate invoice generated from Shipping Saint after your items are packaged for shipment.
Pickup & Shipping
Shipping is available for most items on a lot by lot basis. Look for the blue truck icon and the words “Shipping Available” in each lot to know if that lot is available for shipment.
Yes! The Around Again Auctions team handles the shipping of your items in-house. We use Shipping Saint to ensure great communication and keep costs reasonable for your shipments. We will use USPS, FedEx or UPS shipping services to achieve the most economical shipping cost for your items. Shipments may be packaged in one or more boxes as determined by our shipping department to best protect the contents and achieve the lowest overall cost. In addition to a small per-invoice handling fee for shipments, there may be added fees for packing materials and time in addition to actual shipping carrier costs. Packages valued above $100 will have shipping insurance added at the buyer’s expense. Read each auction’s “Shipping/Pick Up” information section for specific details for that auction.
Packaging your items for shipping will be done as quickly as possible, but may take up to 10 business days from the end of the auction to be completed.
Packaging items for shipment can be time consuming and costly, and carrier shipping rates are always on the rise. We ship in-house to keep costs to a minimum, but shipping can be expensive, and the cost may exceed the amount spent on purchases. The larger, heavier and/or the more fragile the item(s), the costlier shipping will be. Unexpected shipping costs are not a reason to cancel purchases. Contact us for an estimate before bidding if you’re concerned about the cost of shipping a particular item or items. Please keep in mind that estimates are approximate and costs could exceed the estimate due to unforeseen circumstances.
Successful bidders will receive a separate shipping invoice from Shipping Saint via email and/or text message after the package(s) has been prepared and is ready to ship. Shipping payment is due in full before items will ship.
We pack all items carefully to avoid damage, but damage is always possible. If your items arrive damaged, you must provide detailed information and photographs of the damage and keep all packaging until a resolution with the shipping carrier has been reached. The buyer is responsible for contacting the shipping carrier to make a claim.
No. Shipping is only available to addresses within the United States.
Buyers are responsible for packing/loading of all items at local pickups. Bring an appropriate vehicle and any necessary tools, boxes, tubs, protective materials, and people to help you move and load your items.
Each individual auction will have information about local pickup dates, times and locations. If you’re planning on local pickup, make sure you’ll be available on the pickup days/times to pick up your items.
General Questions
Remember that auction items are typically used and may be old, dirty, worn, scuffed, scratched, dented, unsafe, damaged, broken, etc. Bid carefully – all lots are sold AS-IS, and all sales are final. There are no returns or refunds. We strive to provide accurate photos and descriptions, but Around Again Auctions and our client(s) are not responsible for unintentional omissions or errors in auction listings. If you are uncertain of the condition, completeness, or suitability of any lot/item, please bid accordingly.
Around Again Auctions makes no guarantees or warranties about the condition, authenticity, or fitness for a particular purpose of any item. Item listings and descriptions are subject to changes, updates, or cancellation at any time without notice.
Some auctions will have in-person preview times available when you can come and personally inspect the items. If in-person previewing is not available, call 618-353-1405, send us a message through HiBid, or email [email protected] for questions or additional information on any lot.
Some items may have a reserve price. The reserve price is the minimum amount that will be accepted as a winning bid for that item. If there is a reserve price for a particular lot, that lot will show a message that indicates whether the reserve price has been reached or not. If the highest bid for a lot has not reached the reserve price by the closing time of that lot, the lot will not sell. The auctioneer reserves the right to disclose or waive the reserve price at any time before or during the auction.
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