How Online Bidding Works

Register and add a card

Create a free account, then add a credit or debit card. A card on file is required to bid: it's how we know a bid is serious, and it's used for invoices that aren't paid another way, as the auction terms explain.

Your card is safe

Card details go straight to Square, our payment processor. Pillar never sees or stores your card number; we only keep the brand, the last four digits and the expiry date.

How max bids work

Enter the most you're willing to pay as your max. We bid for you one increment at a time, only as much as needed to keep you in the lead, up to your max. Nobody else sees your max. If two bidders set the same max, the one who set it first wins.

Soft close: a late bid adds 10 minutes

Each lot has its own closing time. A bid in the last 10 minutes resets that lot's clock to 10 minutes, so nobody wins by bidding in the final second. Bidding on one lot never changes another lot's clock.

Lots close one at a time

Lots close in catalog order, about one a minute, so you can follow the end of the auction and bid on the next lot you want.

Bids can't be taken back

A bid is a binding promise to buy at that price. Check the lot number and amount before you confirm.

Buyer's premium and sales tax

A buyer's premium (usually 15%) is added to each winning bid; every auction page shows its rate. Sales tax is charged on your winning bids and the buyer's premium at the pickup location's rate, unless you have an approved tax-exempt certificate on file. You can upload a resale or exemption certificate from your account.

Paying

You'll get an invoice by email after the auction closes. Pay online with your card, or at pickup; the auction terms list the ways you can pay. There's no fee for paying by card.

Pickup

Pick up at the location and times on the auction page, by appointment if the auction says so. Bring your invoice number. Shipping is available for some items by request; ask us before you bid.

Items left behind

Items not picked up by the end of the pickup window are considered abandoned, as the auction terms explain.

Questions?

Call us at 618-581-3331 or email info@pillarauctions.com.