Buying & Selling
Bidding
Bidding with Rago is secure and simple. We offer various bidding methods for your convenience and make registration as easy as possible.
Create Account
Create Account
First, you will need to create an account with Rago. You can do this by selecting the user icon in the top menu or you will be prompted to create an account when registering for any of our upcoming auctions.
Register for Auction
Next, you need to register for a specific auction. Select the register button from our upcoming auctions page or from the top of any auction catalog page. You will also be prompted to register if you place a bid on any item and have not done so yet.
Submit Bids or Bid Live
Once you've registered for a sale, you can submit your maximum absentee bid(s), arrange for phone bids on the day of sale, and/or return to our website to bid live online. Alternatively, you may download a faxable bid form.
Join us day of sale!
All auctions are open to the public. Registration only takes a matter of minutes and can be completed when you arrive on the day of sale—all you need is photo identification and a credit card. Auctions take place at our New Jersey gallery located at:
333 North Main Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530
If you have any questions regarding bidding, we are available to assist.
Bid Department
bids@ragoarts.com
t 609 397 9374
f 609 397 9377
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Buyer's Premium?
The Buyer's Premium is a fee paid on top of the hammer price for all lots sold at auction. The Buyer’s Premium is 26% of the Hammer Price (or part thereof) up to and including $700,000, 20% of the Hammer Price (or part thereof) in excess of $700,000. An additional premium will be added to any successful bid accepted through a third-party site.
Can I watch the auction live online?
Yes. On the day of the sale we will have a link to the live video feed for the sale available from our homepage, auction calendar and auction catalog pages. If you create an account and register for a sale, you can also bid in the sale live in real time.
How do I register to bid live online?
Bidding live online just got easier. Create an account with us here, register for the sale then return to ragoarts.com on the day of sale to watch and bid live during the auction.
Please note that you do need to register for each auction that you would like to participate in. With a Rago/Wright account you bid live during any sale as well as leave (and adjust) absentee or phone bids in advance of the sale and view condition reports for your lots of interest.
How do I register to bid by absentee, phone or in person?
To register for phone or absentee bidding, you must create a user account. You can do this here, by selecting the user icon on the top menu, or you will be prompted to create an account if you choose to register for any of our auctions and don’t yet have one. You will be asked to provide an address, billing details and credit card information; all of these details will be transmitted confidentially into our secure database. Once an account is created, you can leave bids on individual items, request phone lines, view condition reports and bid live in real time from over the internet from your desktop computer or mobile devise.
Alternatively, you can contact our bid department at bids@ragoarts.com or 609.397.9374. Or if you prefer, download a faxable bid form and fax it to 609.397.9377.
What bidding method is right for me?
Absentee
Absentee bids—also referred to as left, order or commission bids—allow you to place a maximum bid amount on individual lots. During the sale, Rago will bid on your behalf up to that amount, making every attempt to secure the lot at the most competitive price.
Why absentee bid? Absentee bidding allows you to participate in the auction up to a set amount, even if you are unavailable on the day of sale.
Phone
When bidding by phone, Rago will call you during the sale just before your specified lots are to be auctioned. This enables you to bid live, with a Rago phone representative acting as liaison between you and the auctioneer. When phone bidding, you are bidding in real time as if you were in the auction room. Because it is live, you do not have to reveal, or determine, your maximum bid until you are bidding.
Why phone bid? If you are unable to attend the auction, this method allows you to bid most competitively and with the most control over your activity. You can go head-to-head with other bidders as if you were present in the room.
Online and Mobile Bidding
On the day of the sale you can bid live during any auction from your desktop computer or mobile device! Bidding live online allows you to participate in real time no matter where you are physically located. Plus, by bidding live, you do not have to reveal, or determine, your maximum bid until you are bidding.
In addition, Rago auctions are posted to third party sites such as Bidsquare, Live Auctioneers, Invaluable and Artsy. These sites will administer registration, process and execute all bids and your bids will be electronically transferred to Rago during the sale. Please note there is an additional fee for using a third party for bidding.
Why bid online or mobile? Online and mobile bidding allows you to follow the auction in real time and to bid live at your discretion during the sale or to submit absentee bids in advance.
Bid in person
You can come to the live auction on the day of sale: it is free and open to everyone. Registration takes a matter of minutes and all you need is photo identification and a credit card. You will receive a paddle and can then bid on any lot in the sale by simply raising your paddle when the lot opens. Auctions take place at our main gallery located at 333 North Main St. Lambertville, New Jersey.
Why bid live? Being at the auction also gives you the most control in bidding and the most knowledge about any competitors.
Can you explain how to submit bids?
You can submit bids directly via the item page for any lot in our upcoming auctions! Just click the bid button to the right of the item image and a window will open to walk you through the bidding process and options. If you have not yet logged in or registered for a sale, you will be prompted to do this first. If you are logged in and registered for the sale you will be asked to select your bid method, phone or absentee.
If you select Phone bidding, Rago will call you on the day of sale for that item and you will be asked to provide at least one Day of Sale telephone number where you will be reachable on the date of the auction. We encourage you to leave more than one number and/or to leave a backup bid for us to execute on your behalf in the event we are unable to reach you.
For Absentee bidding, enter your MAXIMUM bid amount (not including the buyer’s premium) for each item. Rago will bid competitively on your behalf. All left bids must be on increment to the following schedule:
| Bid | Increment |
|---|---|
| $25–300 | $25 |
| $300–1,000 | $50 |
| $1,000–2,000 | $100 |
| $2,000–3,000 | $200 |
| $3,000–5,000 | $200/$300/$300/$200 |
| $5,000–10,000 | $500 |
| $10,000+ | $1,000* |
| * additional increments will be at the discretion of the auctioneer. | |
If a bid is placed off increment, the bid will be rounded down to the nearest on-increment dollar amount. If two identical absentee bids are registered by different bidders, the bid received earliest will prevail.
Will I receive confirmation of my bids?
Yes. After each left bid, or phone bid request made via our website, you will receive a confirmation for each lot. If you contact the Rago Bid Department directly by email or phone, you will also receive a bid confirmation detailing the lots you wish to bid on.
It is important that you review all bid details—whether it be the bid confirmation emails, or viewing the details on your my page when you are logged in to our website—as it is your opportunity to review all critical information to ensure it is correct. This will also serve as the official bid form for your records. This step is quick and easy, though very important, so review the bid information thoroughly and reply accordingly.
When will my lot come up at auction?
The activity on the day of sale will set the pace but generally we expect an auction will move at a rate of 60–80 lots per hour. Our auctions typically start at ten or eleven eastern time starting with lot 100 or lot 1. On the day of sale you can follow the auction live at ragoarts.com or you can call the gallery at 607 397 9374 to check in.
When will I know if I was successful?
Within a couple of hours of the sale conclusion, the sale results will be posted on our website at ragoarts.com. Additionally, if you are the successful bidder you receive an invoice that includes all the information you need to make payment and begin the shipping process, within 24 hours of the auction.
View Upcoming Auctions