Rock Island Auction receives thousands of absentee bids every auction. Using our print catalog and our online website catalog its easy to do.

 

Absentee Bidding Frequently Asked Questions

Read how to create a web account

Read how to submit absentee or telephone bids

 

You do not have to attend our auction to be a successful bidder. This article outlines your options to bid in one of our auctions if you cannot attend.

1. Bid on our website, this is the most popular option. All of our firearms and non firearms can be found in our online catalog. All you need is a website account, its fast, free and secure. All of your information is strictly confidential and will not be shared.

2. Bid by fax, there is a fax form that comes in our printed catalog, or you can download one here. Fill it out and fax it back. Your bids will be entered into our system and you will receive a confirmation of your bids faxed back to you. Fax: 309-797-1655

3. Call us and give us your bids on the phone: 1-800-238-8022 or 309-797-1500

4. Email us your bids: info@rockislandauction.com

The bid amount you give us should be the amount to which you would bid if you were to attend the sale. Click this link for proper Bidding increments, no worries on bid increments, if you bid on our website the bid entry form will let you know if you make a mistake.

We always do our best to buy the items you bid on for less that your top bid. As the auction takes place, you will be competing against the audience, phone bidders, and other absentee bidders. You will pay one bid above the next highest bid, but no more than your maximum. If two absentee bids are received with the exact same amount, the first bid received will take precedence. Absentee bids have an equal chance of being successful as do telephone or in-person bids, yet do not take precedence over any bidding method.

When bidding absentee, you can choose to submit a sealed bid or a telephone bid.  A sealed bid is an amount you authorize us to bid on your behalf.  A telephone bid is telling us which lots you would like to bid on, and you will be called by a representative during the auction and bid live via phone. (when submitting a phone bid it is not required to include a bid amount, however we do recommend including an amount that we can bid you up to on your behalf in the event you cannot be reached during the auction).