How Blind Auctions Work

A blind auction (also called a sealed-bid auction) is the fairest way we know to sell used equipment. Here's exactly how it works, start to finish.

1. Register and get approved

Create a free account, confirm your email address, and our team approves your account for bidding — usually within one business day. Approval keeps the bidder pool serious and protects sellers from fake offers.

2. Inspect the listing

Every machine page includes the full photo set, walk-around videos where available, complete specifications, hour readings, and honest condition notes including known issues. If you have questions, our support team works six days a week and can get answers from the field rep before you bid.

3. Place your sealed bid

Enter the amount you're willing to pay and submit. Your bid is confidential: other bidders cannot see it, and you cannot see theirs. You can place more than one bid before the deadline if you want to raise your offer — every bid is timestamped and recorded.

4. The auction closes

Each auction has a fixed closing date and time, enforced to the second. Once it closes, no new bids get in — and there's no reason to snipe anyway, since nobody can see the bids to react to.

5. The winner is selected and notified

Our auction team reviews all sealed bids and selects the winning offer — normally the highest qualified bid. If you win, you're notified by email with your invoice and next steps. If you don't win, your bid simply expires; nothing is charged.

6. Pay and take delivery

Payment is due by bank wire within 48 hours of the winner notification. Once payment clears, we arrange transport to your location — delivery is billed at a distance-based rate that we help subsidize — we quote it to your location before you commit, typically within 3–7 business days for road routes. Title and ownership documents transfer with the machine.

Why sealed bids are better for buyers

• No bidding wars. You pay what the machine is worth to you — not $100 more than a rival's ego.
• No sniping. Last-second software can't beat you, because nobody can react to your bid.
• One decision. Inspect, decide, bid, done. No babysitting the auction clock.

Ready to try it? Register to bid or browse the live auctions.