What does shipping actually cost if I win?
If you win an item that ships, you pay the actual shipping cost plus a $5 handling fee per invoice. That handling can run higher if a lot is big, awkward, or hard to pack safely. And it gets billed separately from what you paid for the item itself, which surprises folks, so here's how the whole thing works.
We run our online auctions on the HiBid platform, and we try to be as straight with you about costs as we are about the items themselves. Shipping is one of those things worth understanding before you bid, not after.
Why does shipping show up on a second invoice?
When one of our online auctions closes, your card is charged through HiBid for whatever you won. That first invoice covers the items and the auction fees. Shipping isn't on it yet, because we don't know the exact cost until we've packed your box.
Once the sale is done, we pack your shipment and make a label through Point to Ship. After that label is made, you'll get a second email with the shipping details and a separate invoice covering the freight plus the $5 handling. So two charges, two emails, in that order. If you're new to bidding with us, the walkthrough on how online bidding works covers the front half of that process.
That's the setup, no surprises, just billed in two pieces because that's the honest way to do it when the real cost isn't known until the box is packed.
Which items can actually be shipped?
Not everything ships, and this matters more than the dollar amount. Smaller items, yes. When shipping is available on a sale, it says so right there on the auction page. Furniture, tools, equipment, anything big or breakable is pickup only.
It really comes down to the item. If shipping is the only way you can get something, call the office at 605-431-9330 or email us before you bid. We'd much rather sort it out ahead of time than after you've won it and it turns out we can't safely put it in a box. This comes up a lot with our shop and tool auction listings in South Dakota, where a good share of the lots are pickup only by their nature. Same goes for an estate auction in southwestern South Dakota, where the big pieces usually stay on the property and get picked up there.
It's preferable if you'd rather come get your winnings. Bring help, straps, and a truck or trailer that fits.
What about damage and fragile items?
Here's the part to think through before you bid on anything delicate. We pack carefully, but we aren't responsible for damage in transit. That's spelled out in the auction terms and legal details too.
So if you're bidding on something fragile or valuable, ask us about insurance before the item ships. A quick chat now beats opening a broken box later.
If you've got other questions about buying with us, the full frequently asked questions page covers registration, payment, and pickup, and you can always call. We've helped plenty of folks through all of it, and we're happy to help you too.