Terms of Service
Bidder Terms
Last updated August 6, 2026 · Running a sale? Read the Auctioneer & Seller Terms
These terms govern browsing and bidding on Going Once. By creating an account or placing a bid, you agree to them.
Each sale also posts its own terms and pickup details on its auction page. Read those before bidding — pickup location and times differ from sale to sale, and the posted details control for that sale.
1. Your account
You must be 18 or older to bid. Register with your real name, a working email address, and phone number, and keep them current — they are how we reach you about wins and pickup. One account per person. New bidder accounts are reviewed by a real person before their first bid, and a valid payment card must be on file to bid. We may decline, suspend, or deactivate an account at our discretion, including for unpaid invoices or interference with bidding.
2. Every bid is binding
A bid is a binding offer to buy that lot. Bids cannot be lowered, retracted, or cancelled once placed — if you are the high bidder when the lot closes, you have bought the item and your card will be charged. Bid only what you are willing to pay, and only on lots you can collect during the sale’s posted pickup window.
3. How lots close
Our auctions are timed sales. Lots close one after another in a stagger, so a sale finishes over a stretch of time rather than all at once. A bid placed in a lot’s final minutes automatically extends that lot’s closing time (the exact window is shown on the lot page), so a last-second bid never wins on timing alone — bidding on a lot ends when the offers actually stop.
4. Max bids
You can enter a maximum bid and let the system bid for you: it places the minimum needed to keep you in the lead, up to your max, and never spends more than it has to. Your max is confidential. If a new bid matches an existing max bid, the earlier bid keeps the lead. Bids placed for you this way are binding like any other, up to your maximum.
5. What you pay
Winning costs the hammer price (your winning bid) plus the sale’s buyer’s premium — a percentage of the hammer price shown on each lot page. Your invoice total is hammer plus premium; there are no shipping or handling charges because there is no shipping. You are responsible for any taxes that may apply to your purchases.
6. Payment
When a sale finishes closing, your winning lots are grouped into a single invoice and the card on your account is automatically charged for the total through Stripe, our payment processor. If the charge does not go through, we email you a secure payment link — pay it promptly, because invoices must be settled in full before pickup. Unpaid invoices may lead to cancelled orders, forfeited lots, and account deactivation, and unpaid lots may be reassigned or resold.
7. Pickup and removal
Every sale is pickup-only, in person, at the location and time windows posted on the auction page (our sales run in the Los Angeles area). Bring your order confirmation; you may send someone in your place if they bring it. You are responsible for packing materials, help with heavy items, and any disassembly or loading — plan for it before you bid. Items not collected during the posted window are forfeited without refund and may be donated, disposed of, or resold.
8. Everything sells as-is
These are estate sales: every lot sells as-is, where-is, with all faults, and without warranties of any kind — including condition, authenticity, fitness for a purpose, or merchantability. Photos and descriptions are prepared in good faith but are not guarantees; the photos are part of the description, so study them and ask questions on the lot page before bidding. All sales are final.
9. Withdrawn lots and errors
We or the seller may withdraw a lot, cancel bids, or void a result affected by a listing error or technical fault, and may extend or reschedule closings when needed. If a paid order has to be cancelled, our responsibility is limited to refunding what you paid for that order.
10. Fair bidding
Do not bid to inflate prices, collude with other bidders, or bid on lots you or your household consigned to the sale. We may void bids, cancel wins, and deactivate accounts involved in bid manipulation.
11. Email
An account comes with transactional email — outbid notices, invoices, receipts, and pickup information. Marketing announcements about upcoming sales are separate, and every one includes an unsubscribe link.
12. Our liability
The platform is provided as-is, and we do not promise uninterrupted or error-free service. To the fullest extent the law allows, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, and our total liability for any claim is capped at the amount you paid us for the order that gave rise to it.
13. Governing law and changes
These terms are governed by California law, and any dispute belongs in the state or federal courts of Los Angeles County, California. We may update these terms from time to time; changes take effect when posted here and apply to bids placed afterward.
Questions about these terms? Email hell@goingonce.co.