FAQs

• You will need approval for each auction you sign up to. This is a manual process within office opening hours, Monday to Friday 8am -5pm, excluding bank holidays.
• Allow enough time to sign up and be approved to bid in the sale as any pending bids placed in the last few minutes of a sale ending may not take effect.
• If your account has been blocked or banned, you may need to contact us for further assistance. Please allow enough time to resolve any issues.
• All overseas bidders will be sent an email that outlines the sale terms and requests the bidder to reply, agreeing they can meet the sale deadlines and confirming their contact details and VAT number (EU only) so they can be approved to bid. Please allow enough time for this process.
• While you’re waiting for approval you can place pending bids on lots, which will only take effect once you have been approved. 
• Once you have been approved you will receive notification. We recommended checking your bids placed once you have been approved.

• If you are having difficulties verifying your card number, you may need to reset your password with your card provider.
• If you are having difficulties adding a card to your account and are encountering a system error message, please contact us for assistance.

• Have you registered and signed up to bid for the sale?
• Have you been approved to bid? If you have placed a pending bid on a lot, this won’t become active until you have been approved. 
• Are you trying to place a bid which is off increment? Each lot has a specific increment, so please make sure that your bid, even if a maximum bid, is a multiple of this increment.
• Have you placed a bid lower than the starting price? If so, it will not be accepted. Please increase your bid to the starting price.  

No, the system will not permit bids for less than the stated bid amount for the lot.  

If a bid is placed within the last 10 minutes of the lot closing, bidding will continue for a further 10 minutes until the final bid is placed. This is to prevent ‘sniping’.

• A watch list helps to monitor lots in a sale, so if you do not want to bid straightaway you can keep an eye on the lot and bid nearer the time.  
• To watch an item, click on the blue ‘Add to watchlist’ link for the lot in question on the main lot listing.  
• To view the items you are currently watching, go to ‘Your account’ and select ‘Watchlist’.

• On the left-hand side of the lot, you can see if you are leading on a lot or have been outbid.
• You will also receive email notifications.

• A ‘maximum bid’ is the maximum net amount you are prepared to pay for that lot. Please note that VAT and fees will be added on top of this amount.
• Once a maximum bid has been placed, other bidders may bid up to or over your maximum amount.  You can reduce your maximum bid, but only as low as the current price showing for that lot.  Alternatively, you can increase your maximum bid at any time before the lot ends.

• Increment = The set next amount needed to be bid on.
• Reserve = The amount (net) that the client is prepared to accept as the winning bid for that lot. If the reserve is not met when the lot closes, the manager dealing with the sale will contact the highest bidder first to see if a value can be agreed for that item.
• Hammer price = The net price the lot is sold for (VAT and fees will be added on top).
• Maximum bid = The maximum net amount you are prepared to pay for that lot.  
• After sale = The sale of an unsold lot once the auction has ended.
• Buyer’s premium = The percentage for sale charges (net), which is added on top of the hammer price.

If you are successful you will be required to pay the buyer’s premium plus VAT on top of the hammer price. If the lot description advises that a charge (lift out/deposit) applies to the lot, this will also be added – please refer to the lot description prior to bidding.

• Viewing is highly recommended to ensure you are satisfied with the condition of the item. Please note that items may not advise certain specifications or be missing tooling, chargers, packaging, manuals, etc., so please check before bidding if unsure.
• If you are unable to attend the viewing day and have a question regarding a lot, please contact us prior to bidding. 

To ask a question, please go to the lot in question and click the ‘Ask a question’ link. Alternatively, please telephone us on (0)23 8046 1643 or email us: mbaaccount@lsh.co.uk

Any specific technical enquiries will be forwarded to the manager dealing with the sale to review and respond.

• You can get someone to register or bid on your behalf, but you must ensure you are fully aware of the lot details and sale terms and that your representative knows what to bid on and bidding limits. Any bids placed incorrectly cannot be retracted once the sale has ended.  
• Alternatively, you can place a maximum bid on the lot in advance, reviewing your bids placed and increasing any maximum bids before you are unavailable. 
• We are unable to place bids or accept offers over the telephone.  

• The payment methods we accept are by bank transfer (BACS/Chaps), although some sales will permit cash payments taken to site during collection to a certain limit. This will be stated on the sale.  
• Please note that we do not have the facilities in place to accept credit or debit card payments (the card used when registering to bid is for name and address validation purposes only).
• Purchasers who make over-the-counter payments at the bank will have their collection stalled until the payment has been confirmed as a legitimate cash payment.
• The bank account and payment details will be provided on the covering email that accompanies your pro-forma invoice confirming the amount due.   

• When the sale has ended, select the ‘Won lots’ option listed in the ‘Your account’ drop down, located in the top right of the screen.  
• As per the sale terms, all winning bidders will be notified by email usually the working day after the sale has closed, as soon as we have received the confirmation to invoice. You will not receive an email notification as soon as the lot has ended.
• Invoices are sent by email, using the email address you registered with. The bank details for payment will be in the main part of the email, as well as collection information. The invoice will be attached.
• If you have not received your invoice, please check your junk email in the first instance. Also check which email address you registered with in case this differs (i.e. an old email being used).

• If you are arranging for your items to be financed, please advise us before you bid so that we are aware.  
• Please ensure the finance company will be able to meet the payment deadline as this and the collection dates cannot be extended. 
• Please ensure that you satisfy yourself of all required information for your finance company, such as model/serial numbers, year of manufacture, etc. Please ask in advance for any missing details before the bidding or sale ends, as missing information may affect your finance request. Viewing is highly recommended.
• As soon as you receive your invoice, please ensure your finance company makes immediate contact with us so that the relevant invoice can be raised promptly. If this is delayed, your collection period may be reduced. Please ensure you keep in contact with both the finance company and us to ensure that you meet the relevant sale deadlines.  
• Please note that if your finance fails and payment is not made, the default will sit with you.

• Staff on site will be unable to assist with carrying items to your vehicle, so please ensure you bring help if required.  
• Please ensure your vehicle is suitable to transport the item and that you have any required tooling or equipment to assist with your removal.

• A friend or colleague can indeed collect on your behalf. When they collect please ensure they bring a copy of your invoice to show the items you have purchased, as well as any required PPE to access the site. If the sale specifically requests photo ID, please ensure they take this with them as well.
• If a courier is arranged, please ensure they have a copy of your invoice so they know what they are collecting, along with the required PPE to access the site and any photo ID if requested. Please ensure the porter on site is made aware and that the courier knows to collect within the set dates and times.  Please be aware that items will not be packaged and that the courier is aware of this. There are no printing facilities on site so it may be difficult to print labels, so the courier may need to take any labels with them.   

• Once the invoices have been emailed to all successful purchasers, anyone who is required to provide a risk assessment and method statement (RAMS) prior to the collection of their goods will be emailed templates and instructions to assist them should they not have their own templates to use.
• This documentation is to advise the manager, site representative or health and safety representative how you intend to remove the lot safely from the site and the equipment or certification you have in place to do this. 
• Please forward this as soon as possible, allowing enough time for the manager or health and safety representative to review and respond and for any further information or documentation to be provided prior to collection within the set clearance dates and times.  

• Some lots may advise that there is a health and safety requirement needed to be made prior to the first use of this item and that the purchaser needs to sign a declaration to say that they will get the item tested prior to use. We ask for a declaration to be signed to confirm you understand that the item requires testing and that you will ensure that this is done.  
• If the lot description advises that a declaration needs to be signed, a copy of this declaration form will be emailed to you as soon as your pro-forma invoice and payment/collection details have been emailed to you. Please sign and return by email where possible, although a copy will also be attached to your pro-forma invoice on site and can be completed and signed at the point of collection.  Alternatively, you can take a signed copy with you upon collection and hand it to the porter at the site.

Usually, if you are handling the collection and export of goods this means they will be travelling by road or ferry, to be collected by the purchaser. In this case, you will need to give the purchaser the following documents:

The CMR note – this must be a legible, original non-negotiable copy, which states the following:

• LSH’s details as the exporter
• Collection address
• Purchaser’s details
• A full list of equipment
• Registration of the vehicle
• LSH invoice number
• Date of collection from site
• Haulage company (if applicable)
• Date of delivery, signed/stamped by purchaser

A completed LSH pro-forma certificate of shipment by the purchaser

The documents you need will depend on the way the goods are being removed from the UK. If you are transporting goods by road, the haulage company should supply a CMR and the details listed above will apply. You will also need to provide:

• Certificate of shipment from the haulage company
• A copy of the haulage company’s invoice to the purchaser if possible – this confirms the connection
• A completed LSH pro-forma certificate of shipment by the purchaser

If you have instructed a freight forwarder, this generally means the goods are being shipped. In this case you will need to supply a Bill of Lading – this must be an original non-negotiable copy, which states the following:

• LSH’s details as the exporter
• Collection address
• Purchaser’s details
• Full list of equipment – abbreviations aren’t accepted, such as just “machinery”
• Container number or seal number
• LSH’s invoice number
• Date of collection from site
• Shipper’s details
• Date of shipment

A completed LSH pro-forma certificate of shipment by the purchaser

A copy of an export declaration – a document supplied by customs in the country the goods have been exported to

This normally applies to purchasers who are shipping their goods via a freight forwarder. In this instance a Bill of Lading (BOL) will be required. The BOL generally details all the equipment bought and shipped whether from an LSH sale or another seller. In this instance, you will need to supply: 

A Certificate of Shipment from the freight forwarder that details the list of equipment sold by LSH, along with the invoice number

A completed LSH pro-forma certificate of shipment by purchaser

Valid transport paperwork, such as one of the following:

• Road freight: CMR consignment note
• Sea freight: Bill of Lading
• Air freight: Airway bill
• Postal freight: Commercial invoice
• Private vehicle: Freight in baggage declaration (SAD Form C88)

Which can be supported by:

• Customs declaration (Customs entry form)
• Freight forwarder’s certificate of shipment
• Travel invoice/Ferry booking confirmation/Boarding card
• Packing list (Mandatory)
• Delivery receipt
• Self-certification letter

It is not necessary to supply every document listed above, but providing as much documentation as possible supports the claim for zero rating.