Buying at our auctions

Mainland Auctions provides an easy service for buyers at our on-site auctions and online. We can provide guidance through the auction process to ensure you have an easy and enjoyable experience. We run auctions at our rooms located at 29 Elgin Street, Sydenham, Christchurch and also at various on-site locations. If you would like to be informed about upcoming auctions, please sign up for our auction alerts. We can also send you specific information about upcoming auctions that you have expressed an interest in.

How to bid

In the traditional auction process, if you are able to attend the auction in person, you can register on the day and we will assign you a bidding number. If you will be absent from the auction you can register an absentee bid prior to the auction and you will be contacted by one of our staff members to confirm your details and to guide you through this process. If you wish to bid on an item online, please follow instructions under the TradeMe terms and conditions.

Absentee Bidding

You may choose to place an absentee bid if you are unable to attend the auction in person. Please fill in our absentee bid form specifying the item you wish to bid on and the price you wish to pay. Prior to placing an absentee bid please read the terms and conditions of the auction sale you wish to place an absentee bid in. If you have any further questions about this process please ring our office for assistance.

Phone Bidding

If you are unable to attend an auction in person you can bid by phone during the auction with the help from one of our staff members. Please contact the office for assistance.

We advise that you have physically inspected the item that you wish to purchase prior to placing a bid. Purchase of item/s without prior viewing are made at your own risk.

Searching for items

If you have a particular type of item that you would like to purchase, please contact us.

Buyer's Premium

A Buyer's Premium is a levy charged by the auction house which is paid by the buyer in addition to the hammer price. The Buyer’s Premium is inclusive of GST. Unless stated otherwise our Buyer’s Premium is 17%. Please see the terms and conditions of the auction.

Selling at our Auctions

We will work with you to guide you through the auction process from the beginning to the end. There are many ways that we are able to sell goods on your behalf that will ensure you reach the best potential for your items in today’s market.

We offer traditional auctions, either on-site or in our auction rooms, and online. We will advise you as to the most suitable option for selling your goods. With our years of experience in the auction industry we can manage both small auctions and larger auctions.

We are well connected within the community and have good relationships with our clients in various industries which enables us to reach potential buyers for your goods.

We advertise an upcoming auction widely and in a number of ways including through our website, e-mail, Facebook and the local newspaper, ensuring we reach all the potential buyers for your item/s. We will discuss the most suitable advertising methods for your auction.

Please contact us today to discuss how we can assist you with selling your items.