SEGODI AUCTIONS 101 & FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PART I: Before You Bid
PART II: The Auction Action
PART III: Other Scenarios
PART IV: Glossary of Auction Terms
- Registration: What do I need to do, and what does “register to bid” mean?
PART II: The Auction Action
- Bidding: How is the stuff sold? Can I just buy stuff outright? How do I bid?
- Payment: When do I pay? What forms of payment do you take?
- Buyer’s Premium & Sales Tax: Why am I paying more than the selling price (what is a Buyer’s Premium)?
- Pickup: I just paid, can I take my item? What if my item doesn’t fit in my car can I get it later?
PART III: Other Scenarios
- Absentee and Telephone Bidding: I can’t be here for the auction, but I really want that item! What can I do?
PART IV: Glossary of Auction Terms
Before You Bid:
What do I need to do?
First, bring your National Identity Card or Passport with you. When you get here, our recommendation is to first look around the showroom a little and see what’s there! If the auction is already going on, listen for a little to get a feel for the auctioneer’s style. Then you should make your way to the auctioneer and register to bid at the auction.
What does “register to bid” mean?
In order to bid at the auction, you need a bidder’s number. That unique number is assigned to you, so anything you bid on and win at the auction will be identified by your number. To get your bidder’s number we need some information about who you are (name, address & Identity number is all we get), and take your phone number and email address. Then we give you a bidder’s number card. It’s that simple and painless. And we NEVER share your info with anyone.
Where does all the stuff come from?
We work with banks, deputy sheriffs, attorneys, liquidators, people settling local estates, people who are moving and downsizing, collectors who want to divest, etc. Rather than them selling their stuff on their own, we sell their items for them in our showroom. That’s how we’re able to offer such a range of merchandise on weekly basis.
What do I need to do?
First, bring your National Identity Card or Passport with you. When you get here, our recommendation is to first look around the showroom a little and see what’s there! If the auction is already going on, listen for a little to get a feel for the auctioneer’s style. Then you should make your way to the auctioneer and register to bid at the auction.
What does “register to bid” mean?
In order to bid at the auction, you need a bidder’s number. That unique number is assigned to you, so anything you bid on and win at the auction will be identified by your number. To get your bidder’s number we need some information about who you are (name, address & Identity number is all we get), and take your phone number and email address. Then we give you a bidder’s number card. It’s that simple and painless. And we NEVER share your info with anyone.
Where does all the stuff come from?
We work with banks, deputy sheriffs, attorneys, liquidators, people settling local estates, people who are moving and downsizing, collectors who want to divest, etc. Rather than them selling their stuff on their own, we sell their items for them in our showroom. That’s how we’re able to offer such a range of merchandise on weekly basis.
The Auction Action
How is property sold?
Most real estate auctions will take place at the premises (where the property is located e.g. Lot 54321 Broadhurst, Gaborone). Movables will be sold in different locations (to be advised well in time through traditional and digital marketing). Items are sold in what the auction industry calls “Lots”, so each item or each group of items that goes up for sale at any one time is considered a Lot. If you want to buy any lot, you’ll have to bid–to compete with anyone else who also wants to buy that lot–by indicating how much you’re willing to pay for it. Our auctions are either “Absolute” auctions, which means every lot sells to the highest bidder, and there is no reserve bid (an amount the lot must meet before it can be sold) OR “Reserve” Auctions, which give the seller the right to accept or reject the high bid unless the high bid is equal to or greater than the undisclosed reserve price agreed upon in advance by the seller and the auctioneer.
Are there any guarantees?
No, there are no guarantees about any item in the auction. Everything we sell came from someone’s home or is a sale in execution (high court matters). You are responsible for examining anything you’re interested in before you bid. All items in the auction are sold “AS IS, WHERE IS”, meaning everything is sold in exactly the condition you see it in.
Can I just buy things like at a store?
No. Everything is sold by bidding during the auction.
Can I bring stuff in to sell?
Everything in the auction is approved prior to the auction by our evaluators. If you have things to sell, send us an email or give us a call to discuss.
Well then, how do I bid?
Here’s a typical lot play-by-play:
The floor announcer picks up an item (say, a ladder-back chair). He/she will describe it briefly, and the auctioneer will “open the bidding” by asking for an amount of money (say P10). If you want the PROPERTY and would pay P10 for it, hold up your bid card. The auctioneer will point or nod toward you to indicate he/she has your bid, and will immediately ask for more money (say P12.50) and look around the room for another bidder. If the auctioneer gets a bid for P12.50, he/she will come back to you asking for a new higher amount (say P15). If you still want the chair for P15, nod or wave your bid card. The bidding will go back and forth with bidders jumping in or dropping out as the asked-for amount gets higher. If you’re the last bidder, you win the lot for whatever your last bid was (also called the “hammer price”). The auctioneer will announce “SOLD!” and will call out your bidder’s number.
I won! Now what?
Congratulations! If your item is small, the auction staff will probably bring it right out and hand it to you. Larger pieces of furniture will be moved to the side away from where they’re selling. One rule applies to both scenarios: you are responsible for your items from the moment the auctioneer says “SOLD” and calls out your bidder number. If the auction was real estate, you will be required to pay a deposit of 10% of the purchase price and you will be required to pay the balance in 30 days from the date of auction either by way of cash or letter of undertaking from your financier. If there are still items you want to bid on, keep bidding. If you’re all finished for the night, make your way back to the office, and we’ll have your bill ready for you.
What forms of payment do you take?
We accept all forms of payment (Cash, bank guaranteed cheque, personal cheque, company cheque, Electronic Funds Transfer, Bank Transfer and debit/ credits cards).
Wait! The invoice amount is more than what I bid. What gives?
Our auction (like other auctions) charges a small fee to the buyer (the industry term is Buyer’s Premium) on top of the selling price of the item. The Buyer’s Premium is a small percentage (in our case 5% exclusive of VAT) of the selling price, which is added to the selling price to get your purchase amount. The auction house keeps this fee, which allows us to keep our sellers’ commission rates competitive so we can keep bringing in great merchandise for you, yet still meet our overhead expenses.
You actually pay this fee all the time on just about anything you buy in a store, but it’s hidden in the already-set store price tag. Since you set the selling price at the auction, the fee is more visible.
What about the State Sales Tax?
Since the auction takes place in Botswana, all the merchandise is sold in Botswana , and is subject to Botswana state sales tax therefore the Purchaser has to make provision (where applicable) for all costs of transfer, including but not limited to Value Added Tax (VAT), transfer duty, stamps and all such other legal expenses as may be incurred to complete transfer.
For movables, now that I’ve paid, can I just take my item(s)?
Absolutely! If you need help loading anything, just ask any of our staff. We’re happy to help.
My item is too big for my car, I have to borrow a truck. When else can I pick it up?
We’re open on Saturdays from 9am - 3pm; Mondays – Wednesdays from 8am - 5pm. It’s really helpful for us if you can have big items removed from the showroom by Wednesday, since we’ll be setting up for the next auction.
How is property sold?
Most real estate auctions will take place at the premises (where the property is located e.g. Lot 54321 Broadhurst, Gaborone). Movables will be sold in different locations (to be advised well in time through traditional and digital marketing). Items are sold in what the auction industry calls “Lots”, so each item or each group of items that goes up for sale at any one time is considered a Lot. If you want to buy any lot, you’ll have to bid–to compete with anyone else who also wants to buy that lot–by indicating how much you’re willing to pay for it. Our auctions are either “Absolute” auctions, which means every lot sells to the highest bidder, and there is no reserve bid (an amount the lot must meet before it can be sold) OR “Reserve” Auctions, which give the seller the right to accept or reject the high bid unless the high bid is equal to or greater than the undisclosed reserve price agreed upon in advance by the seller and the auctioneer.
Are there any guarantees?
No, there are no guarantees about any item in the auction. Everything we sell came from someone’s home or is a sale in execution (high court matters). You are responsible for examining anything you’re interested in before you bid. All items in the auction are sold “AS IS, WHERE IS”, meaning everything is sold in exactly the condition you see it in.
Can I just buy things like at a store?
No. Everything is sold by bidding during the auction.
Can I bring stuff in to sell?
Everything in the auction is approved prior to the auction by our evaluators. If you have things to sell, send us an email or give us a call to discuss.
Well then, how do I bid?
Here’s a typical lot play-by-play:
The floor announcer picks up an item (say, a ladder-back chair). He/she will describe it briefly, and the auctioneer will “open the bidding” by asking for an amount of money (say P10). If you want the PROPERTY and would pay P10 for it, hold up your bid card. The auctioneer will point or nod toward you to indicate he/she has your bid, and will immediately ask for more money (say P12.50) and look around the room for another bidder. If the auctioneer gets a bid for P12.50, he/she will come back to you asking for a new higher amount (say P15). If you still want the chair for P15, nod or wave your bid card. The bidding will go back and forth with bidders jumping in or dropping out as the asked-for amount gets higher. If you’re the last bidder, you win the lot for whatever your last bid was (also called the “hammer price”). The auctioneer will announce “SOLD!” and will call out your bidder’s number.
I won! Now what?
Congratulations! If your item is small, the auction staff will probably bring it right out and hand it to you. Larger pieces of furniture will be moved to the side away from where they’re selling. One rule applies to both scenarios: you are responsible for your items from the moment the auctioneer says “SOLD” and calls out your bidder number. If the auction was real estate, you will be required to pay a deposit of 10% of the purchase price and you will be required to pay the balance in 30 days from the date of auction either by way of cash or letter of undertaking from your financier. If there are still items you want to bid on, keep bidding. If you’re all finished for the night, make your way back to the office, and we’ll have your bill ready for you.
What forms of payment do you take?
We accept all forms of payment (Cash, bank guaranteed cheque, personal cheque, company cheque, Electronic Funds Transfer, Bank Transfer and debit/ credits cards).
Wait! The invoice amount is more than what I bid. What gives?
Our auction (like other auctions) charges a small fee to the buyer (the industry term is Buyer’s Premium) on top of the selling price of the item. The Buyer’s Premium is a small percentage (in our case 5% exclusive of VAT) of the selling price, which is added to the selling price to get your purchase amount. The auction house keeps this fee, which allows us to keep our sellers’ commission rates competitive so we can keep bringing in great merchandise for you, yet still meet our overhead expenses.
You actually pay this fee all the time on just about anything you buy in a store, but it’s hidden in the already-set store price tag. Since you set the selling price at the auction, the fee is more visible.
What about the State Sales Tax?
Since the auction takes place in Botswana, all the merchandise is sold in Botswana , and is subject to Botswana state sales tax therefore the Purchaser has to make provision (where applicable) for all costs of transfer, including but not limited to Value Added Tax (VAT), transfer duty, stamps and all such other legal expenses as may be incurred to complete transfer.
For movables, now that I’ve paid, can I just take my item(s)?
Absolutely! If you need help loading anything, just ask any of our staff. We’re happy to help.
My item is too big for my car, I have to borrow a truck. When else can I pick it up?
We’re open on Saturdays from 9am - 3pm; Mondays – Wednesdays from 8am - 5pm. It’s really helpful for us if you can have big items removed from the showroom by Wednesday, since we’ll be setting up for the next auction.
Other Scenarios
I can’t stay for the auction, but I really want that item! What can I do?
In a nutshell: tell us what item you’re interested in, and how much you’re willing to bid, and we’ll bid for you. We have a proxy bidding form which you can fill out either in-person at the showroom, or online. If you want to bid live during the auction but can’t attend, we can set up a telephone bid. We’ll call you just before your item comes up, and bid with you live on the telephone.
That’s it in a nutshell. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to ask. We love new customers, and are always happy to help a newbie catch auction fever!
I can’t stay for the auction, but I really want that item! What can I do?
In a nutshell: tell us what item you’re interested in, and how much you’re willing to bid, and we’ll bid for you. We have a proxy bidding form which you can fill out either in-person at the showroom, or online. If you want to bid live during the auction but can’t attend, we can set up a telephone bid. We’ll call you just before your item comes up, and bid with you live on the telephone.
That’s it in a nutshell. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to ask. We love new customers, and are always happy to help a newbie catch auction fever!
Glossary of Auction Terms:
Absentee Bid: A bid you place before the auction if you are unable to attend the auction. The maximum amount you’d be willing to pay for an item (AKA: lot). A staff member will do the bidding on your behalf, and we’ll notify you by email after the auction if you were the highest bidder for your item(s).
Absolute Auction: A type of auction in which every item (lot) sells to the highest bidder, with no reserve.
Reserve Auction: A type of auction in which give the seller the right to accept or reject the high bid unless the high bid is equal to or greater than the undisclosed reserve price agreed upon in advance by the seller and the auctioneer.
Appraisal: Segodi Auction conducts Estate Appraisals, which are written and notarized documents prepared by our appraiser listing the fair market value (what people are typically willing to pay) of personal property (someone’s belongings). Typically used for estate tax purposes.
AS IS/Where Is: Auction term used to indicate that all items will be sold exactly how & where you see them at the time they are offered for sale. No guarantees.
Auction: A public sale in which goods are sold to buyers (bidders) competing against each other to until the bidder willing to pay the highest price gets the item.
Bid: The Pula amount a bidder is willing to offer for a lot.
Buyer’s Premium: A percentage of the selling price that will be added to the selling price to determine the bidder’s total purchase price
Consignor: The seller of the items.
Hammer Price: The final bid amount when the auctioneer says “SOLD!”. Many auctioneers actually bang a gavel or other “hammer”-type instrument at that moment.
Knock Down: The end of the bidding, AKA the “SOLD!” moment. Also named from the banging of the gavel when the auctioneer closes the lot.
Lot: One item or group of items that is put up for bid at any one time. For example: a sofa, a 6-piece bedroom set, a tray of costume jewelry, etc. would each be considered one lot.
Personal Property: The actual items someone owns, as opposed to “Real” property, which is land/buildings (i.e. Real Estate).
Reserve: A confidential amount specified in advance of the auction by the seller and/or auction house below which an item may not be sold.
Telephone Bid: Bidding in real time over the telephone during the auction if you are unable to attend the auction in person.
Absentee Bid: A bid you place before the auction if you are unable to attend the auction. The maximum amount you’d be willing to pay for an item (AKA: lot). A staff member will do the bidding on your behalf, and we’ll notify you by email after the auction if you were the highest bidder for your item(s).
Absolute Auction: A type of auction in which every item (lot) sells to the highest bidder, with no reserve.
Reserve Auction: A type of auction in which give the seller the right to accept or reject the high bid unless the high bid is equal to or greater than the undisclosed reserve price agreed upon in advance by the seller and the auctioneer.
Appraisal: Segodi Auction conducts Estate Appraisals, which are written and notarized documents prepared by our appraiser listing the fair market value (what people are typically willing to pay) of personal property (someone’s belongings). Typically used for estate tax purposes.
AS IS/Where Is: Auction term used to indicate that all items will be sold exactly how & where you see them at the time they are offered for sale. No guarantees.
Auction: A public sale in which goods are sold to buyers (bidders) competing against each other to until the bidder willing to pay the highest price gets the item.
Bid: The Pula amount a bidder is willing to offer for a lot.
Buyer’s Premium: A percentage of the selling price that will be added to the selling price to determine the bidder’s total purchase price
Consignor: The seller of the items.
Hammer Price: The final bid amount when the auctioneer says “SOLD!”. Many auctioneers actually bang a gavel or other “hammer”-type instrument at that moment.
Knock Down: The end of the bidding, AKA the “SOLD!” moment. Also named from the banging of the gavel when the auctioneer closes the lot.
Lot: One item or group of items that is put up for bid at any one time. For example: a sofa, a 6-piece bedroom set, a tray of costume jewelry, etc. would each be considered one lot.
Personal Property: The actual items someone owns, as opposed to “Real” property, which is land/buildings (i.e. Real Estate).
Reserve: A confidential amount specified in advance of the auction by the seller and/or auction house below which an item may not be sold.
Telephone Bid: Bidding in real time over the telephone during the auction if you are unable to attend the auction in person.