North State Auctions - Searching and Browsing

One thing that makes www.northstateauctions.com a unique auction site is the wide variety of items offered for sale. Our auctions span nearly every industry imaginable and each auction can have anywhere from one to a thousand items for sale.

To find items you want to bid on, try browsing or searching.

Browsing for an item is the easiest way to explore the range of items that are for sale. To browse, just click on the title of an auction you're interested in. You'll be taken to the first page of items for sale. If there are a lot of items, then you'll see more pages to browse through. You can sort the pages by title, lot number, ending time, the current bid amount, and you can also sort by featured items.

Searching for an item is best when you're looking for a specific item that you can describe using only a word or two. To begin searching, just click on the title of an auction you're interested in. Enter a word or two to describe the item in the search box, which is located near the top left of the auction page you're viewing. The search box looks like this:

Alternatively, you can just enter the lot number of the item you're looking for and hit the "Go" button..

When you click an item title (from your search results, for example), the item listing page displays. From this page you can watch an item, bid on an item, add an item to your favorites, or ask questions about an item.

As a buyer, you should thoroughly study this page before placing a bid. Be sure to read the item description, view all the item pictures, and read the terms and conditions of purchase. Learning everything you can about an item before you commit to buying it will help make your buying experience more enjoyable.

For a breakdown of the item listing page, review this image and the information below:

1. An item's current bid is the amount that has already been bid on an item. If you wish to place a bid, it will have to be higher than this amount.
2. When you are ready to place a bid on an item, enter the amount you are willing to pay in the box where it says "Your highest bid".
3. Make sure that the amount you have typed is correct, then place your bid by clicking on the button that says "Place bid".
4. The title, lot number and location of the item is shown above the lead picture.
5. The time between the moment you open the item page until the bidding period is over is shown as the time remaining. Whether it's one day, one minute, or one hour, that's how much time you have to submit your bid.
6. The minimum bid is the lowest acceptable bid price that will be accepted by the system for this item. You can always submit a higher bid, but you cannot submit a lower bid.
7. The person who is currently in the lead with the highest bid price is known as the high bidder. If you don't see your username here, then you are not winning the bid.
8. To be fair, the high bidder can only be outbid by the current bid increment. This amount changes depending on the size of the bid. A simple formula to remember is: CURRENT BID + BID INCREMENT = MINIMUM BID
9. If there has been a lot of competitive bidding on the item, then the number of bids will be high.
10. A bid history will show a record of what bids have been placed so far by different bidders.
11. Your proxy bid is only shown if you are the lead bidder and have placed a proxy bid by entering a bid amount greater than the minimum bid. No one else can see this information.
12. After you load the item listing page, the information can only be updated by refreshing the page. To see the most current information for an item, be sure to refresh the page.
13. You can keep track of individual items by adding them to your favorites. You can then view all of your favorites on a separate screen. This is the best way to stay on top of items that you are interested in.
14. If you have any questions about an item that aren't answered on the item listing page, be sure to ask us before you place your bid.
15. We strive to post multiple photos for each and every item listed. Be sure to view all pictures before you place your bid.
16. The item description contains relevant information about the item you are viewing. Read this information carefully before you place your bid.
17. If an item listing page has been updated since it was posted, then the updated information will appear at the bottom of the page. Read these updates carefully before you place a bid.
18. Important information about the entire auction (of which this item is a part of) is shown to the left of the item listing. This information applies to the entire auction, not just the item you are viewing. Please be sure to read this information carefully before you place your bid.

At North State Auctions, we believe that informed bidders become happy buyers. That is why we strive to provide our bidders with an accurate and comprehensive description of all auction items. To do this we provide all information that might be relevant to the specific item as well as photo galleries and often videos.

In addition to viewing items online, bidders are encouraged to inspect items in person whenever it is feasible. Almost all of the auction items listed with North State Auctions are available for inspection during a designated inspection period.

With our attention to the details we provide online and our personal customer service, we try as hard as possible to help you make good purchasing decisions.

If you need more information about any of our items, please contact us and our customer service team will be happy to assist you.

A proxy bid is the highest amount you are willing to pay for an auction item. In response to other bids, the auction system will automatically increase your bid in the smallest increment possible (up to your proxy bid amount) in order to maintain your lead position.

To get a proxy bid you simply enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay into the bid form just as you would any other bid. If your bid is more than one bidding increment above the current high bid you will get a proxy bid unless another bidder has a proxy bid in place that is higher than the amount you enter.

At the end of the auction, the winning bidder pays only the lowest winning bid possible. That means that you can win an auction item at a price less than your proxy bid amount.

Your proxy bid amount is kept confidential from other bidders.

Note: After watching hundreds of auctions and talking to thousands of bidders, we think using proxy bids in your bidding strategy works best for most people. It eliminates some of the pressure and reduces the risk of "sniping", where other bidders slip in slightly higher bids in the last seconds of bidding.

In order for North State Auctions to accept your bid on an auction item, your bid must be higher than the current bid by a specific amount. This number is called a "bid increment".

For instance, if the current bid on an item that you wish to bid on is $4,500.00 then you must bid at least at least $4,550.00 for our system to accept your bid.

Bid increments are predetermined based on the current bid. As the bid amount increases, so does the increment.

The table below shows how our bid increments are determined.

Note: A bidder may be outbid by less than a full increment. This would happen only if the lead bidder's proxy bid beats the second highest bid by an amount less than the full increment.

For example, if the lead bidder has a proxy bid of $4,025 and you place a bid for $4,000, the lead bidder will outbid you by $25 instead of the usual $50 increment.

Our goal is to provide a user-friendly marketplace for auction buyers that is easy, secure, and fair. Here are the basics of bidding to help bidders get the most out of our auctions:

• Register - Before you can bid, you must first register to use the website. Registration is a simple and secure process, but if you need help, just contact us and we'll guide you through it.
  

• Read - Familiarize yourself with the auction items you are interested in before you place a bid. Be sure to read the item description and view all of the pictures. Feel free to ask us questions too. Learning everything you can about an item before you commit to buying it will help make your buying experience more enjoyable.
  

• Bid - After you have signed in to the website using your username and password, you're ready to bid. When you are ready look for a box like this one on the item listing page:
  
  
  
  Type the amount that you are willing to pay for the item into the box, then click on the button that says "Place Bid". The minimum bid is shown below the box, but you can submit a proxy bid by entering an amount larger than the one shown.
  

• Win - After submitting your bid, you will see a message telling you whether you are winning or losing. If your bid was too low, consider placing another bid. If your bid was high enough to put you in the lead, then you can still be outbid by someone else. As long as the item is still open for bidding, you can change your bid amount.
  
  Depending on your communication settings, our system can send you an email if you ever get outbid on an item. You can also track the items you are bidding on through the "My Account" section of the website.

  If you have any questions about our bidding process, feel free to contact us

Here is a brief overview of the six different sections that you can access through "My Account"

1. Personal information - By providing up-to-date contact information, your online bidding and buying is sure to be smooth and fast. You can view and edit that information here, along with changing your username and setting a new password.
2. Email bulletin options - Never miss another bid by signing up for the Auction Bulletin. From here, you can select the types of email notifications you'll receive. You can also choose to receive none at all.
3. Credit cards - To ensure fair bidding, users are required to maintain a valid credit card on file in order to bid. This section will allow you to add, change, or remove credit card information that you have registered.
4. Invoices -After you win items at an auction, you can pay for them here. You can also review and print all of your past invoices from this section.
5. Recent bids - For active bidders, this is the best place to keep track of the items you are bidding on. Your current bid status for recent items is shown here, along with other important information.
6. Favorites - If you're following different auction items by adding them to your favorites, this is where you go to view them. You can also remove items that you're no longer interested in.

Once an auction has concluded, buyers are notified via email that an invoice has been created for their purchases. Invoices may be paid quickly online using MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express. Buyers wishing to pay by cashier's check, or wire transfer should make sure that their payment is received by North State Auctions before the payment period is over. Once funds are verified, purchased items are released to the buyer for removal as per our removal policy.

• When all items from the auction are closed we will send you an email with a link to your invoice.
• Click on the "MY INVOICE" link in the email.
• Log in if prompted to do so.
• Next, click on "Pay Invoice Now" and follow the on-screen instructions.

Call our office between 8am and 5pm Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. Our phone number is 530-868-7188.

Buyers must provide payment in full, including applicable taxes and fees, before the specified payment period is over. The payment period varies between auctions, but it is usually two business days.

Ownership of auction items is transferred from the seller to the buyer as soon as a copy of the buyer's fully paid invoice is presented for item removal.

Titles for vehicles are released to the new owner when the vehicle is picked up or via certified mail within 5 business days of receipt of payment.

North State Auctions does not provide any vehicle registration services. However, we understand that some titles may need additional documents to ensure the proper transfer. Please notify North State Auctions within 10 business days of receipt of title if any additional documentation is required. Documentation assistance requests made after the 10 day grace period will be addressed at our convenience.

NOTE: Buyers are responsible for all applicable fees associated with a vehicle title.

Credit Cards
Registration with North State Auctions is free, but we do require a valid credit card to be on file for all of our users. This assists us with bidder verification and ensures that our auctions aren't unfairly manipulated by false bidders. Unless you authorize a charge however, your card will never be charged for anything.

Buyer's Premiums
Some auctions inlude a buyer's premium. Buyer's premiums are clearly posted when they apply. When calculating the final price, the buyer's premium is added to the selling price before sales tax is calculated.

Convenience Fee
Some auctions will include a convenience fee for using the online credit card payment system.

Sales Tax
Sales tax rates vary by region. North State Auctions collects all applicable taxes on behalf of sellers. Buyers with resale licenses or tax-exempt status should submit relevant documentation prior to invoicing. International and out-of-state purchases may qualify for a sales tax refund when a valid bill of lading is presented along with the request. North State Auctions does not collect sales tax on titled vehicles. Purchase prices for vehicles listed with North State Auctions do not include licensing, registration, and sales tax fees.

Please read the terms and conditions of each auction to see what buyer fees apply, if any.

For questions about our policies, contact us or call us at (800) 499-9378.

Due to the short time frames associated with the auction process, be sure to read the removal times and restrictions before bidding. We advise buyers to make use of available inspection periods in order to determine their removal requirements. Item removal is often rushed, and may require extensive planning on the part of auction buyers. There may also be parking restrictions, or vehicle limitations. Please come prepared.

Security Deposits

Buyers may either pick-up auction items themselves or contract with a third party to arrange for item removal, packing, rigging, or shipping.

Important: If the person picking up and removing items from an auction location will be someone other than the registered buyer, the registered buyer must establish that person or company as an "Authorized Agent" by completing the "Agent Release Authorization form." (Acrobat PDF)

NOTE: Buyers are not limited to using these suggested companies. Feel free to find your own packaging or shipping company. Regardless of the vendor used, the buyer remains responsible for adhering to the removal deadline and restrictions posted for that auction.

Below is a list of companies with whom we have had some experience. For questions or concerns regarding transportation services, please contact us .