ONLINE AUCTION Q & A

-Where do I bid?

   Rapid Fire Auction Services auctions are held at  rapidfireauctionservice.hibid.com. Click the link to go to the Rapid Fire bidding site.  If you do not see an auction listed, we are between auctions and are currently preparing one to post.  Follow the Rapid Fire Auction Services Facebook page and this website for announcements of new auctions. Preview a small sampling of items that will appear in the sale are as they are cataloged or find all items on the bidding website close to the auction launch. You can also sign-up for our e-newsletter list by requesting to be added by e-mailing: rapidfireuctionservice@gmail.com. 

-How often do you hold auctions? 

   Currently, Rapid Fire holds about one auction or month and a half. Larger estate sales may require additional time. Family-owned & operated, all facets of the auction process are handled personally by owners, Lenny & Kendal Miller. Purchased as a retirement business in 2019, the Miller's are still working in the corporate world while growing their auction business. 

-Do you have a mailing list? 

   Yes! Send us a quick e-mail at rapidfireauctionservice@gmail.com and request to be added to our e-mail blast of auction notices. We won't sell your information and you can opt out at anytime. 

-Are you going back to live auctions? 

   No. We have discovered that buyers enjoy the convenience and comfort of bidding from home. Consignors are appreciative of the extra time that online auctions allow their items to garner the best possible prices.   

-How do you consign with Rapid Fire Auction Services?

   We welcome estates contracted through a designated executor/executrix as space  allows. Appointments required. Moving, remodeling, or downsizing? Consider a Living Estate. Items from consignors are also accepted. Call (812) 571-0455, (812) 660-0463 or e-mail rapidfireauctionservice@gmail.com for more info. We can auction overstock or liquidate merchandise for businesses. Need more info? Consultations are free, as are visits by the owners to the homes/storage areas of potential auction items. 

-How/What do you charge? 

   Rapid Fire's commission is determined by whether the consignor/executor delivers their items to the auction house at 10430 US 421 N., Milton, KY, or if we pick-up items at your home/business. Due to the high cost of fuel, a gas charge will be added for long distances. An additional fee is charged if Rapid Fire has to pack items.  The commission fee is determined by the the amount each auction items sells for and how it was received in the auction house. Currently we do not charge a fee for items that do not sell.   

-When can I drop off items for consignment?

   Due to limited space, appointments are required for drop-offs. There are also times when we are unable to take items due to the large volume of consignments to be prepared for auction. Please call Lenny at (812) 571-0455 to discuss the best time to bring in auction items. With limited space, we are unable to be utilized as a storage facility. At times, we maybe be unable to accept items immediately.  All executors/consignors are required to sign a contract at the time of drop-off or pick-up before we can auction items. 

-What is a Buyer's Premium? 

   A buyer's premium is the percentage charged to the buyer of an auction item configured from the "hammer price" the item sells for. This amount goes to the auction house and helps cover the costs of hosting online auctions. A monthly software user fee, a unique per-bid charge, a percentage of the auction total paid to HiBid, and advertising expenses are a few of the costs of running online auctions. We have been informed that HiBid is raising their rates on Oct. 1, 2021. Currently our BP is at 10% but this may be changed in the near future. Auction items are also subject to 6% KY sales tax. 

-Can you have an auctions on-site? 

   Yes! We have access to multi-state licensed auctioneers/bid callers who can help with on-site auctions. Covid-19 guidelines will be followed for live, in-person auctions. Along with a commission, expenses can include additional auctioneers, clerks, cashiers, ring men, set-up/clean-up staff, and advertising fees. A portable toilet and food should also be considered.  The owner of the property where the auction is to be held should have adequate insurance to cover the auction company, outside contractors, and multiple bidders who attend the on-site auction. 

-How soon do my items go to online auction? 

   It depends on the items and where we are in the auction process. Rapid Fire deals with multiple consignors who may have similar items to auction. In order to appeal to a variety of online bidders, auction items may be pulled from several consignors to make up an online auction.  Seasonal items typically sell better closer to the opening of the season. We greatly appreciate your items being clean and ready for the cataloging process. 

-Are there items you won't accept?

   Yes. If items require too much time to make them presentable to sell--or look like items that won't bring at least five dollars--we may have to decline. We realize used items  are going to have wear and/or a natural charm. Clean, nicely presented items are more desirable to online bidders and make the cataloging process move quicker. 

   If items have a history of bringing no bids or very low bids, we may decline to sell those particular items. Fine china, clear glassware, some collectibles figurines, Avon bottles, some dolls, clothing (some vintage may be accepted) and other items have proven to bring little or very low bids. Opened personal items and/or household cleaners (as examples) will also be turned down.

   We cannot accept antlers, mounted wildlife, bottles of alcohol/wine, mattresses, some upholstered furniture, or used medical equipment such as breathing machines, etc.  Guidelines can vary from state-to-state so items that may be sellable in IN may not be in KY.  We kindly ask you to clean your items both for sanitary reasons and to help speed the auction cataloging process.

  Items that are excessively dirty or soiled will not be accepted. 

-Can you place a reserve on my items?  

   Yes! All auction items begin at $5 unless the consignor requests a reserve price. In these instances, the starting bid will begin at $5 and a notice will display that the item has a reserve. This reserve price must be given to the auction house before the opening of the auction. Be sure to consider the auction house commission when determining a reserve.  All items start at $5 and go up in $1 increments until the bid reaches $100. 

-Do you purchase items outright? 

   It depends on the item(s), the price, and where they are located. If we feel that the price is not within our budget or that we will be unable to make a profit, we will decline outright purchases.

-What happens if the bidding software goes offline during the auction?

 Rapid Fire has no control over any software issues that HiBid may experience by hosting online auctions.  Should an auction go offline during the bidding process, Rapid Fire will determine to extend the auction or restart the auction from scratch. The decision will be made based  on the length of time the auction is down and what information can be recovered by HiBid. If Rapid Fire's auction is down, most likely any auction service that uses the HiBid platform will be offline as well. 

What if my auction item(s) don't sell?  

   Non-selling items will be returned to the consignor--or if permitted by their owners, donated to a not-for-profit organization.  The consignor is responsible for picking up non-selling items even if they were originally picked up by the auction house.  Non-selling items are taken to the Salvation Army, or any charitable organization .  If you are notified that you have non-selling items at the auction house for pick-up, you have 14 days to collect them before they will be disposed in a way  to recoup our storage costs. 

-What if a winning bidder doesn't pick-up their items? 

   Bidders enter into a binding legal contract to pay for their auction wins. Occasionally, buyers don't pick-up or pay after the close of the auction. Should this happen, we make several attempts to contact them to pay. If unable to collect, we will re-auction items still in our possession. Any bidder(s) with a questionable online bidder's rating--or not located within drivable distance--will be is removed from the bidding process.  If we have any issues with a bidder, they are banned from bidding on our future auctions and are reported to HiBid. A note is added to their account for other auctioneers should they wish to take their own precautions. Special Facebook pages were also created to add "deadbeat bidders" names and addresses to warn other auctioneers. We can also proceed with legal auction through the courts. 

-When do I get paid for my consignment/estate items?

   Kentucky law states that an auction house has up to 30 days after the close of the auction to pay an estate owner/consignor. We like to pay our consignors as soon as possible. however, we must wait for all bidders to pay and winning bidder checks to clear the bank.  Once ALL online auction items in a sale are paid for we generate a statement showing what was sold and less the consignor's fee. You can opt to have your check mailed or pick it up directly from the auction house. Prompt pick-up by winning bidders is essential for fast turnaround of payments. 

-Do you accept firearms on consignment? 

   Yes! Rapid Fire works with a licensed FFL Dealer who stores firearms and processes all required transfer fees . A paper trail will follow the firearm from your hands, to Rapid Fire, and to the FFL holder's establishment. After being photographed and cataloged for auction, the gun will be available for preview at Humphrey's (Carrollton, KY) during their regular business hours. The winning bidder pays Rapid Fire Auction Services and picks up the firearm at Humphrey's during their normal business hours. Any transfer fees are the responsibility of the gun buyer and are paid directly to the gun dealer.  Background checks are also performed by the FFL agent. 

Contact us at rapidfireauctionservice@gmail.com or (812) 571-0455 or (812) 660-0463 for more information.