I bid by accident, what do I do?

If you’ve accidentally placed a bid, here’s how to handle it based on the type of bid.

The options for retracting a bid before the item is sold depend on the type of auction you’re participating in. Please check first whether the auction is a Live Auction or a Timed Auction, and follow the relevant instructions below.

For Live Auctions - Steps to retract a max bid/autobid:

1. Sign in to your account on the-saleroom.com/ i-bidder.com/ bidspotter.co.uk 
2. Click on 'My Saleroom/’My Bidder'/’My BidSpotter’ 
3. Click on ‘Autobids’.
4. Find the lot you wish to retract and select ‘Retract bid’, then choose a reason from the options provided.
5. Click ‘Retract my bid’.
6. You’ll receive a confirmation message on your screen once your bid has been successfully removed.

• During a Live Auction: If you accidentally place a live bid, contact the auction house immediately to explain the situation. The cancellation of the bid will be at the auctioneer’s discretion. Please find more information on how live bidding works here.

For Timed Auctions - Information on retracting a max bid/autobid:

In a timed auction, you can lower your max bid, but only as low as the current price shown on the lot page. This is because placing a bid in a timed auction is a contractual commitment to purchase the item if you are the highest bidder and the reserve has been met.

If you need to cancel a bid entirely, we recommend contacting the auction house directly to request a cancellation. The decision to approve the request will be at the auctioneer’s discretion. It’s always best to contact them as soon as possible to explain your situation.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team are on hand to help.