Bidding Methods

Menzies' hosts both live auctions, taking place at our galleries in either Sydney or Melbourne, and online auctions.

For Menzies live sales below are the different ways to bid at auction.

• IN ROOM BIDDING

  There is nothing more exciting than being in the room bidding. You can register in advance or on the night. Please ensure you bring your photographic ID and proof of address when collecting your paddle.

  All clients intending to bid in the room are required to register for a bidding paddle by completing a Buyer Pre-Registration form. This form may be submitted in advance of the auction via our website or at one of Menzies' pre-auction viewings. Please introduce yourself at the auction venue to collect your paddle. Clients registering on the evening of the sale are encouraged to arrive 20-30 minutes before the auction commences to collect their paddle. Menzies is pleased to offer reserved seating in the saleroom for pre-registered clients. We ask that seating requests are made no less than 24 hours prior to the auction, either at the time of registration or by contacting Menzies directly.

  If you have a designated bidding agent who will be bidding on your behalf, they can also pre-register for the auction by following the appropriate approval and identification procedures.

  IN ROOM BIDDING

• TELEPHONE BIDDING

  For clients unable to attend the auction in person, Menzies offers live bidding via telephone. Menzies can call you directly from the saleroom and bid on your behalf with the auctioneer. If for some reason we cannot contact you through the sale, we recommend you leave a 'cover bid' which we can execute in your absence, to avoid disappointment.

  The telephone bidding service is free of charge; however resources are limited and telephone bids are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each telephone bidder will be called by a Menzies staff member a few lots before the relevant work; once bidding has opened, the staff member will relay bidding activity to the client and place any bids on their behalf in the room. To register for a telephone bid, please complete a Telephone Bidding Form. This form may also be found in our online and printed catalogues, or obtained from our pre-auction viewings. Telephone bids must be submitted no later than 12 hours prior to the auction. Telephone bidders are encouraged to familiarise themselves with Menzies' bidding increments.

  TELEPHONE BIDDING

• ABSENTEE BIDDING

  Absentee bids (also known as written or commission bids) are written instructions allowing Menzies to bid on your behalf on one or more lots up to the maximum amount you specified for each lot. There is no charge for this service. The auctioneer will execute your absentee bid at the lowest possible price, taking into account the reserve price and other bids. If identical absentee bids are left by two or more parties, the first bid received by Menzies will take precedence. Please familiarise yourself with Menzies bidding increments, as dollar amounts placed that are not a standard bid increment will be rounded down to the nearest full bid increment, and if a pre-existing bid of the same value is present the pre-existing bid will be the winning bid. To register for an absentee bid, please complete an Absentee Bid Form. This form may also be found in our online and printed catalogues, or obtained from our pre-auction viewings. Please note that your bid amount is the hammer amount with buyer's premium and GST added where applicable. Absentee bids must be submitted no later than 12 hours prior to the auction.

  If your bid is successful, an invoice will be emailed to you the day following the sale. If your absentee bid was unsuccessful, you will be contacted via phone or email the day following the auction.

  ABSENTEE BIDDING

• ONLINE BIDDING

  Menzies offers online bidding via the third-party platform, Invaluable. The sale is live streamed, bringing the auction room right to your computer or mobile device so you can bid from anywhere. You may also watch the sale without registering. Clients intending to bid online will need to register directly with Invaluable, and we encourage you to register at least 24 hours in advance of the sale so we can process your registration. New clients with Invaluable will be asked to provide credit card details for identity verification purposes and Menzies does not have access to this information. The online bidding service is offered free of charge and Menzies offers buyer's premium parity for online bidding, meaning online bidders will pay the same premium (25% including GST) as the bidders in the auction room.

  Once registered to bid online, you can enter the saleroom from about 10 minutes before the start of the auction, or at any time through the sale. When bidding online, you may either leave a maximum bid (similar to an absentee bid) or bid live in real time. As the services is provided by a third party portal, and over the internet where data-speeds and quality of services vary, Menzies accepts no responsibility for errors or technical issues encountered when using Invaluable.

  ONLINE BIDDING

• ONLINE AUCTIONS

  Menzies online auctions, facilitated by Invaluable, present a curated selection of artworks at appealing price points, catering to both new and established buyers. The entire browsing, bidding, and purchasing process takes place exclusively online, granting you the convenience of participating from the comfort of your home or while on the go.

  For new clients using Invaluable, you will be asked to supply credit card details for identity verification purposes. Please note that Menzies does not have access to this information. In the event of a successful sale, your credit card will not be automatically charged. The day following the sale you will receive via email an invoice for payment.

Successful bidders will be emailed invoices the day following the auction. Please note that Menzies charges 25% buyer's premium inclusive of GST on all successful bids.

Important Reminders:

• You may cancel your bid up until 2 hours before the first lot of the sale's bidding closes. You may only cancel a maximum of 3 bids per auction.
• Menzies employs predetermined bidding increments, please refer to our guide per each sale.
• If a bid is made within three minutes of a lot's designated closing time, three additional minutes will be added exclusively to that lot's closing time. This extension does not affect the closing times of other lots.
• When entering a maximum bid amount, Menzies will strive to execute your bid at the lowest possible price based on competing bids for that lot. In case two or more parties submit identical bids, priority will be given to the first bid received. You have the option to modify your maximum bid amount if the current bid is lower than your desired maximum.

Menzies' Bidding Increments

Bidding generally opens below the estimate and advances in the following increments

• $500 - $1,000 by $50
• $1,000 - $2,000 by $100
• $2,000 - $5,000 by $300
• $5,000 - $10,000 by $500
• $10,000 - $20,000 by $1,000
• $20,000 - $50,000 by $2,000
• $50,000 - $100,000 by $5,000
• $100,000 - $200,000 by $10,000
• $200,000 - $500,000 by $20,000
• $500,000 - and above by $50,000

Occasionally the auctioneer may vary the increments during the course of the auction at their discretion.