Frequently Asked Questions

Sellers' Frequently Asked Questions:

How soon after I drop my item off do you post it online for sale?
How long will it take for my item to sell?
Are there limits to the items you'll sell?
When will I receive payment for selling my item?
What happens if my item doesn't sell?
Who pays for the cost of shipping the item?
Can I donate my proceeds to a charity?
Why should I use On The Block Auction instead of having a garage/yard sale?
How do I know I'll get the best price for my item?
What if the bids on my item are too low?
Can I set a minimum selling price for my item?
Can I withdraw an item once it's listed for sale?

Buyers' Frequently Asked Questions:

How long after an auction ends do you ship my item?
What if there is something wrong with my item, can I return it?
Can I cancel my bid if I made a mistake?
What forms of payment do you accept?

Sellers' Questions
 
How soon after I drop my item off do you post it online for sale?
Our policy is to have every item posted within 3 business days of receipt. In the event that our research shows an item has a better chance of selling for a higher price by posting it at a later date, perhaps due to a holiday, On The Block Auction reserves the right to post it at a later date.
 
How long will it take for my item to sell?
In general, we will list your item for seven days. Most items will sell during this period, but sellers also have the option of selecting one of our premium services which include a second 7-day auction. For more information on the Premium Services, please see the Auction Fees section.
 
Are there limits to the items you'll sell?
Items or groups of items sold through On The Block Auction should have an estimated eBay sale price of at least $50. If you don't know the value of your item, bring it in for our experts to review, call us at 303-782-3646, or email your inventory list to auctions@ontheblockauction.com.

In addition, all items must be allowed within eBay's selling guidelines (eBay Policy).

Generally, items should also be within standard shipping limits:
Weigh less than 150 pounds
Measure less than 130 inches in length and girth combined. To find this figure, add the two shortest sides of the item, multiply by 2, then add the longest side.
 
When will I receive payment for selling my item?
In general, you will receive payment within about thirty days from the time the item is dropped off, or about 14 days after the item is sold.  In the unlikely event that your item doesn't sell, you have the option of re-listing it, picking it up or having us donate it for you.
 
What happens if my item doesn't sell?
If your item doesn't sell, you have the option of picking up the item within ten days after the end of the auction. We also can donate your item to a charitable organization on your behalf.
 
Who pays for the cost of shipping?
The shipping and handling costs of all auctions are paid by the winning bidder. This amount is added to the final selling price of the auction.
 
Can I donate my proceeds to a charity?
Yes. When you come in, just let us know which charity you would like to donate to and we'll forward you the receipt after the item sells and the proceeds have been sent to the charity.
 
Why should I use On The Block Auction instead of having a garage/yard sale?
Using On The Block Auction to sell your goods is the easiest and most profitable way to sell your items. The purpose of an auction is to have people bid against each other to increase the value of the item. This generally isn't the norm at a garage or yard sale, which is why garage sales typically only provide a return of $.10 to $.20 on each dollar. At On The Block Auction, our sales return as much as $.70 on the dollar.
 
How do I know I'll get the best price for my item?
The advent of eBay and other online auction sites has greatly enhanced the ability of people to get fair prices for items they are selling. On The Block Auction attempts to improve upon this through the services that we provide, such as professional-quality photographs, detailed descriptions and our knowledge of the online auction business. Because items are sold on the open auction market, On The Block Auction cannot guarantee that your item will sell for a specific price.
 
What if the bids on my item are too low?
eBay and other auction sites are competitive marketplaces, which means that the majority of the bidding and the largest price increases occur in the last few minutes before the end of the auction. Once an auction is in progress, On The Block Auction will not cancel an auction. We allow the market forces to apply and the competitive bidding process to drive the price of the item higher. On The Block Auction offers premium services that allow a Seller to set the minimum selling price or "reserve" price for any auction.  If a Seller wants to ensure that an item achieves a specific dollar amount, then we encourage you to utilize this service.
 
Can I set a minimum selling price for my item?
Yes. Sellers using On The Block Auction's Premium services are able to set a minimum selling price or "reserve" for any item. Although minimum selling prices provide a "safety net" for which an item must sell, they can limit bidding activity.
 
Can I withdraw an item once it's listed for sale?
No. Once the item has been accepted for sale, we will not withdraw the item or cancel the auction.

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Buyers' Questions
 
How long after an auction ends do you ship my item?
Our policy is to ship all items within 2 business days after the receipt of payment from the buyer.
 
If there is something wrong with my item, can I return it?
On The Block Auction makes every attempt to honestly and accurately describe each item it sells. We also encourage all potential bidders to contact us during the auction to ask specific questions before placing a bid. In the unlikely event that the item you received is not as described, then we will gladly accept the return of the item, minus shipping costs, within seven days after you receive the item. Unfortunately, because On The Block Auction is a consignee of the item, we cannot accept items for return after seven days.
 
Can I cancel my bid if I made a mistake?
On The Block Auction follows eBay guidelines for canceling bids. For more information, please see eBay's Policy on bid retraction.
 
What forms of payment do you accept?
Currently, On The Block Auction accepts any form of payment that PayPal supports, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express and electronic funds transfer directly from your checking account. On The Block Auction believes PayPal offers the widest range of services with the greatest protection for both the seller and buyer. Using PayPal is traceable, convenient, provides automatic payment tracking--and is covered up to $200 through eBay's Fraud Protection Program. Additional limited protection is also offered through PayPal's Money Back Guarantee. Please contact eBay or PayPal for additional information.

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