Your Complete Guide

New to Auctions?
We'll Walk You Through It.

Whether you're bidding for the first time or joining us online from across New Zealand, everything you need is right here.

How It Works Ways to Bid Fees Explained Payment & Collection Glossary FAQs

How It Works

Buying at auction is straightforward — four steps and you're done.

1

Register & Browse

Create a free account on our auction platform. Browse lots, save favourites, and request condition reports on anything that interests you.

2

Inspect or Inquire

View lots in person at our Dunedin rooms during preview days, or email us for a detailed condition report and additional photos.

3

Place Your Bid

Bid live online, leave a maximum bid in advance, phone us on auction day, or attend in person at 922 George St — your choice.

4

Pay & Collect

Pay within 5 days of the auction. Collect from our rooms in Dunedin or arrange freight — we're happy to assist with packing and shipping.

Two Ways to Bid

Whether you're in Dunedin or anywhere in New Zealand, we make it easy.

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Bid Online

Our online auctions run on the Auction Mobility platform — a trusted, purpose-built auction system used by hundreds of auction houses worldwide. You can bid in real time, leave a maximum bid, or use our free mobile app.

Powered by  Auction Mobility — trusted worldwide
  • Register free at live.proctorauctions.co.nz or via the Proctor Auctions app
  • Browse the full lot catalogue with photos and estimates
  • Leave a maximum bid and our system will bid on your behalf up to your limit
  • Bid live in real time on auction day from any device
  • Get instant outbid notifications by app or email
  • Available from anywhere in New Zealand and internationally
Register to Bid Online →
🍎 App Store ▶ Google Play
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Bid In-Room

Join us at our auction rooms at 922 George St, Dunedin for the full auction house experience — competitive atmosphere, the chance to inspect lots up close, and bidding with a raised hand or paddle.

  • Register at the door on auction day — bring photo ID for your first visit
  • Inspect lots in the rooms during our preview day beforehand
  • Bid live by raising your hand or paddle when the auctioneer calls your lot
  • Speak with our team for guidance on any lot before bidding
  • Pay and collect your items the same day
  • Can't stay for the whole auction? Leave an absentee bid with our team

Auction Rooms: 922 George St, Dunedin

Phone: 03 425 7300  ·  Ronnie: 021 477 682

Preview days are listed on each auction — check the auction listing for times.

View Upcoming Auctions →
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Prefer to Bid by Phone or Absentee Bid?

If you'd like to bid by phone during a live auction, or leave an absentee (commission) bid in advance, simply contact us before auction day. One of our team will call you at the relevant lot or execute your bid for you. Contact us →

Understanding Fees

No hidden surprises — here's exactly what you'll pay.

Fee Amount When Charged
Buyer's Premium 15% + GST (17.5% incl. GST) On every lot won
GST (on premium) 15% Included in the above
Online Bidding Fee Nil Free to register & bid online
Freight / Shipping At cost Only if you request delivery
Storage (after 7 days) On request If collection is delayed
Note on Buyer's Premium The buyer's premium is charged on top of the hammer price (the winning bid). The premium is 15% + GST, equalling 17.5% in total. GST applies to the premium only — not the hammer price on most antique and second-hand goods. Contact us if you need a GST invoice.

A Worked Example

Say you win a lot with a hammer price of $500. Here's what you'd pay:

Your Total Cost Breakdown

Hammer Price (winning bid) $500.00
Buyer's Premium (15%) $75.00
GST on Premium (15%) $11.25
Total Payable $586.25

Your maximum bid on our platform should reflect what you're willing to pay at hammer — remember to factor in the premium when setting your limit.

Any Questions? Contact Us →

Payment & Collection

Once you've won, here's how to complete your purchase.

Payment

  • When to Pay Payment is due within 5 days of auction close. Invoices are sent by email promptly after the auction.
  • Bank Transfer (Preferred) Our bank details appear on your invoice. Please use your invoice number as the reference.
  • Cash & EFTPOS Accepted in person at our rooms. EFTPOS and cash available on collection days.
  • Credit Card Available on request — please contact us. A processing fee may apply.

Collection & Shipping

Collecting in Dunedin

Once payment clears, your items are ready to collect from our rooms at 922 George St. We'll confirm collection days and times with you after the auction.

Can't Make It In? We Ship Nationwide.

We're happy to arrange freight for out-of-town buyers — just let us know when you win. We work with trusted couriers for smaller items and freight carriers for furniture.

  • Small items (jewellery, collectables) — packed & couriered NZ-wide $25 flat rate
  • Medium items (art, ceramics) — carefully packed & couriered NZ-wide $50 flat rate
  • Furniture & large lots — freight on request, quote provided
  • International shipping — contact us for a quote

All prices include packing and are NZD. Furniture and oversized lots quoted individually.

Auction Glossary

A quick reference to the terms you'll encounter at auction.

Hammer Price

The final bid accepted by the auctioneer, marked by the fall of the hammer. This is the price before buyer's premium is added.

Buyer's Premium

A percentage added to the hammer price that forms part of your total cost. At Proctor Auctions, this is 15% + GST (17.5% in total).

Reserve Price

The confidential minimum price below which a vendor will not sell. Not all lots have a reserve. If bidding doesn't reach the reserve, the lot is "passed in."

Estimate

Our pre-auction guide to the expected hammer price range, based on comparable sales and market knowledge. Not a guarantee of outcome.

Absentee Bid

A maximum bid you leave with us in advance. Our auctioneer bids on your behalf up to your limit, buying as cheaply as competition allows.

Maximum Bid

The most you're willing to pay at hammer. On the online platform, the system automatically bids on your behalf up to this amount.

Passed In

A lot that didn't meet its reserve and wasn't sold. Passed-in lots may sometimes be purchased by negotiation after the auction — ask us.

Provenance

The documented history of an item's ownership. Strong provenance can significantly increase the value and appeal of antiques, art, and militaria.

Lot

A single item or group of items offered for sale under one lot number. Some lots include multiple pieces sold together.

Catalogue

The list of all lots in an auction, with descriptions, photographs, and estimates. Our catalogues are available online before each auction.

Preview / Viewing

A session before the auction where bidders can inspect lots in person. Previews are free and open to all — no obligation to bid.

Attribution

The assignment of a work to a particular artist or maker. Phrases like "attributed to" or "in the manner of" indicate degrees of certainty in our cataloguing.

Frequently Asked Questions

For online auctions, yes — you'll need to register a free account on our Auction Mobility platform at live.proctorauctions.co.nz before placing any bids. We recommend registering a few days before auction day in case any ID verification is needed. For in-room auctions, you can register at the door on the day — just bring photo ID for your first visit.
Absolutely — and many of our buyers are from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and overseas. All our auctions are available online via our Auction Mobility platform and free mobile app. You can bid live in real time, leave a maximum bid in advance, or ask us to bid by phone on your behalf.
No problem at all. Once payment has cleared, we can arrange courier or freight delivery to anywhere in New Zealand. For smaller items like jewellery, collectables, and art, we use tracked and insured couriers. For furniture and larger lots, we can arrange freight on request. Shipping is charged at cost with no markup — just let us know when you win and we'll send you a quote.
Not necessarily. Some lots have a vendor's reserve (a confidential minimum price), while others are offered without reserve and will sell to the highest bidder regardless of price. The catalogue will note where lots are offered without reserve. If you're unsure, feel free to ask us before bidding.
In online auctions, the system automatically resolves ties in favour of the bidder who placed their maximum bid first — so bidding early with a genuine maximum bid works in your favour. In the room, the auctioneer has discretion to determine the successful bidder.
All lots are sold as described and on an "as is, where is" basis. We strongly encourage you to inspect lots in person during preview, request condition reports, and ask any questions before bidding — once the hammer falls, the sale is binding. If there is a material discrepancy between the catalogue description and the item, please contact us promptly and we'll do our best to resolve it fairly.
On auction day, the auctioneer takes bids from people in the room and from online bidders simultaneously. Our Auction Mobility platform shows you the current bid in real time. If you're the highest online bidder when the hammer falls, you win the lot. You'll receive an email confirmation immediately after the auction and an invoice will follow shortly after.
We're always happy to help. Call Ronnie on 021 477 682, phone the rooms on 03 425 7300, or email us at info@proctorauctions.co.nz. There are no silly questions — we'd rather you bid with confidence.

Ready to Start Bidding?

Register free and browse our current auction lots — it only takes a minute.

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