FAQ

Questions before you bid

How bidding, fees, shipping and import duties work at LiveBrandAuction. If your question is not here, write to us.

Accounts and bidding

How do I start bidding?

Create a free account on My account and confirm your email address. Our team approves every new bidder before the first bid. One account covers every LBA sale, for your bids and your invoices.

Do I need a separate account to watch the Hong Kong sale?

Yes. You bid on this website, but the Hong Kong sale is shown live in our live room, which needs its own free account.

In which currency do I bid?

Hong Kong dollars (HKD) are our base currency. Online, you bid in the currency of your region, set from the country on your account: HKD for Hong Kong and Macau, CNY for mainland China, JPY for Japan, GBP for the United Kingdom, EUR for the euro area, AUD for Australia and USD for every other country. You cannot change it yourself; if your country is wrong, contact us before you bid.

Can I bid below the reserve price?

Yes. Every lot has a confidential reserve price and you may bid below, at or above it. Some lots sell below their reserve, depending on the consignor, but a low bid has a higher chance of being outbid.

When do pre-bids close for the Hong Kong sale?

At 09:00 Hong Kong time on the 4th, 24 hours before the sale. Every lot is offered in the live sale, where your highest pre-bid competes with bids in the room.

What happens to my pre-bid in the live sale?

Your highest pre-bid is carried into the live sale and competes with bids in the room. In the room, a pre-bid can only be outbid by a bid at least 10% higher than the pre-bid (one increment more is not enough).

Can your staff bid for me?

Yes. Send us your maximum bid per lot and our staff bid for you (proxy bidding). Lots won this way carry an extra 2% of the hammer price. We do our best but cannot guarantee that a proxy bid is executed.

How does LBA Japan · Always Open work?

It is our permanent online sale, with new lots every week. A lot is awarded 24 hours after its last bid, and every new bid restarts the 24-hour clock. The winner is notified by email and each lot won is invoiced separately.

Can LiveBrandAuction refuse or remove a bid?

Yes. We may refuse or remove a bid if we consider it not trustworthy, or if shipping to the bidder would be impractical or impossible. The next highest valid bid then leads.

Prices, fees and payment

What will I pay for a Hong Kong lot?

Everyone pays the hammer price plus a 5% participation fee (buyer's premium).

If you bid in HKD, shipping is added, and taxes, import duties and insurance may apply. If you bid in another currency, shipping and import duties to your country are already included in the price.

What will I pay for an LBA Japan · Always Open lot?

The price you see, in your currency, with shipping from Japan included. Import duties are paid by the buyer.

Are there fees to take part?

Online participation is free. In the Hong Kong saleroom: HKD 200 attendance (paddle and lunch included), HKD 500 annual membership, and HKD 500 registration after your first three auctions. Proxy bidding adds 2% of the hammer price on lots won.

When do I have to pay?

We send the invoice by email, and payment is due within 3 business days of the invoice. Late payment may accrue interest of 1.5% per month. We invoice only the lots you win.

Shipping and collection

How are Hong Kong lots shipped?

If you bid in a currency other than HKD, shipping is included. If you bid in HKD, we ship with UPS or another approved provider, you can arrange your own carrier, or you can collect free of charge at our saleroom in Tsuen Wan.

How are LBA Japan lots shipped?

From Japan with FedEx, and shipping is included in the price.

Who pays import duties?

Hong Kong lots bought in a currency other than HKD: duties are included. Hong Kong lots bought in HKD and LBA Japan lots: duties are paid by the buyer. They depend on the item, its materials, origin, value and your country, so we cannot estimate them; please check with your customs office.

Can I collect my lots in Hong Kong?

Yes, collection at our saleroom (701B Block B, Po Yip Building, Tsuen Wan) is free. Please collect within the period we tell you; storage fees may apply after that.

The items

Are the items authentic?

Every item is inspected and authenticated in-house before the sale. We work only with carefully selected, trusted suppliers and auctions. Our authenticity guarantee has no time limit: see Authenticity and claims and section 5 of our Terms.

What do the condition grades mean?

Every lot has a grade from N (new) to BC (needs repair), with photos and a description. Grades describe condition, not authenticity. See the grading guide, with real examples and prices.

Can I return an item?

Returns are accepted if the item does not match its description (contact us within 10 days of receiving it) or if it is confirmed as not authentic under our guarantee (no time limit). You can make a claim on our Authenticity and claims page. See section 11 of our Terms for the details.

Where can I see what lots sold for?

Every result is public: see past results by sale and the price guides by brand and model.

Contact

How do I contact you?

Write to support@livebrandauction.com or use the form on our contact page. A member of the team replies, usually within 24 to 48 hours.