FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Buy

Bidding from your computer is the quickest and most reliable method of bidding. You can also bid through the IronPlanet mobile app for additional convenience.

Depending on their needs, sellers can list their equipment in our weekly online or onsite auctions. Whether the auction is online or onsite, bids can be placed online so buyers from around the world can participate.Once payment is confirmed, our integrated transportation partner VeriTread will help buyers transport items from your location or the auction site.

Sorry, this is usually difficult to arrange due to the distribution of equipment at the time of sale. Our independent inspections provide detailed in-depth reports on the condition of the equipment. This is backed up by our IronClad Assurance which lets you bid with confidence, even without needing to see the equipment yourself.

Items in our Featured Auctions and onsite auctions do not have a reserve price.

Our Customer Care Agents and Sales Representatives are ready to help you. Just call 888-433-5426 and we'll do our best to answer your questions.

Retail sales of tangible personal property in most states are generally subject to sales tax. Construction equipment is generally considered tangible personal property. In some instances, retailers must collect use tax, rather than sales tax. A common example of a purchase subject to the use tax is a purchase of an item for use in California from an out-of-state retailer. The tax rate for sales and use taxes are generally the same. More info on Sales Tax More info on Sales Tax in California

How LiveStream Works

a. No, but you can! IronPlanet LiveStream feature a combination of online and on-site buying opportunities.
b. You can bid online or on-site where the auction is being hosted.
c. IronPlanet LiveStream is used by auctions all around the country, giving buyers the opportunity to test drive the equipment or inspect it on their own.
d. To bid on-site, visit the registration table on the auction site and get a bidder number for that sale.ere

a. Only registered and approved viewers have the ability to bid online. (See SalvageSale Registration Requirements)
b. Access the auction on auction day by following the banners on www.salvagesale.com and log in to be taken to the bidding console.
c. If you’ve been approved to bid, simply click the bid button to place your bid. The amount showing on the button will immediately be submitted as a binding bid to the auctioneer via the on-site clerk.
d. The clerk will represent the first received online bid to the auctioneer.

a. When you are the leading bidder, a message will indicate that you are in the lead and the bid button will be de-activated to prevent bidding against yourself.
b. This is also the case if you have placed a pre-bid. The bid button will disable in the bidding console if your pre-bid is in the lead.
c. Conversely, if you are not the leading bidder, a message will indicate you are out. The bid button will be active with the current ask.
d. When you win a lot, you will see a confirmation screen indicating the lot description and the hammer price.

a. Yes. Click the “lock” button in the upper right corner of the bidding interface and your bid button will be deactivated.
b. In order to bid live, simply click the lock again to enable the bid button.

a. The most common reason why a bid is not received is because the auctioneer accepted another bid – either a pre-bid, an online bid that was placed first, or an on-site bid.
b. The second most common reason is when a bid is placed after the auctioneer calls “Sold”. Once the auctioneer says sold, the item is closed.

a. Yes. PriorityBids are placed on the item page during the preview period until the item is placed up for sale.
b. PriorityBids allow your bid to be placed before any other ONLINE bid.
c. The auctioneer determines both the bidding increment and which bids are accepted.

Yes. Simply place a new bid and specify your new maximum amount. You may increase your maximum bid amount at any point during the auction, whether or not you are the lead bidder.

No. All bids placed on SalvageSale or any IronPlanet marketplace auctions are final and binding. You can always increase, but can never reduce or rescind, your maximum bid amount.

a. No. Unlike during an IronPlanet featured auction, the auctioneer sets the increments during live auction. There is no set increment and it changes based on the auctioneer, the pace of the auction, the estimated value of the item, and other factors.
b. However, it is best to bid at round dollar amounts in order to improve the chances of your pre-bid being accepted.
c. Example: As a general rule, the auctioneer will not take a bids at less than $2,500 increments when the bidding reaches $100,000. Therefore a pre-bid of $101,000 will not be accepted.
d. Example: An $11,000 bid is more likely to be accepted than a $10,500 bid, unless the auctioneer cuts the bid increment at that time.
e. The best rule of thumb is to place a pre-bid for the maximum of what you would bid if you were physically at the auction and in round numbers. The auctioneer will only place a bid on your behalf at the then current increment.

Yes. Just place a pre-bid on any item up for preview and when the auction opens, our system will automatically submit your bid for you during the auction.

a. As is the case in Featured Auctions, the PriorityBid placed earlier takes precedence. The second bidder will need to bid higher in order to have the highest PriorityBid. The highest PriorityBid is placed as the leading online bid and is presented to the auctioneer ahead of other online bids.
b. During Live auctions, an online and onsite bid may be placed at the same time. It is the responsibility of the Auctioneer to determine which bid to accept based on their best judgement.

Checkout

There are two important pieces of information that you will need to complete your Checkout process successfully:

  •  Your sales tax exemption certificate, if you believe you are exempt from sales tax.
  •  Buyers exporting equipment will also be asked to declare their US port of export.

If your resale certificate is already on file for your equipment destination state, your resale exemption number will pop-up automatically during Checkout. If your resale certificate is not on file, you will need to provide a copy of your resale certificate using the bar-coded fax form provided for your convenience. You can print this fax form during Checkout and from the Post Sale page. More information can be found here.

If you have your tax exemption status before you start Checkout, the process should take you less than five (5) minutes.

You will be able to access your Invoice immediately after you have completed Checkout.

Please call customer care at (888) 433-5426.

Yes, you can.

You will be able to make changes to your Checkout information up to three (3) business days after the auction. However, if you have completed Checkout and made full payment, you will not be able to modify the Checkout information yourself. You will need to speak with one of our customer care agents to make any modifications to your Checkout.

Call customer care at (888) 433-5426 and they will provide Checkout assistance for you.

During the Checkout process you will be asked if you want to receive transportation quotes for your purchase. You will receive an email from our transportation partner VeriTread notifying you when a carrier has provided a quote. You can access the quotes from your Post Sale page.

If you don't know your delivery destination immediately after the auction, you have up to three (3) business days to complete the Checkout process and make full payment. Equipment must be moved from the seller's yard eight (8) business days after the auction.

To be able to exempt your purchase from sales tax in the equipment pick-up location state, you must provide evidence that you have moved this equipment by common carrier to another state or exported it out of the U.S. More information can be found here.

In the U.S., each state has their individual sales tax regulations. The domestic Bill of Lading (using a common carrier) exempts your purchase from being taxed in the pick-up location state. This Bill of Lading proves that you did not take possession of or use the equipment in the pick-up location state prior to transporting it to your port of export. More information can be found here.

If you are unable to submit your Bill of Lading or a preliminary Bill of Lading showing that the item is destined to a port of export within 10 days, you will be required to pay sales tax. You will need to provide SalvageSale a domestic Bill of Lading showing the City / State equipment pick-up location and Export documents that include the U.S. port of export and the final delivery destination. SalvageSale will not process refund requests received beyond (10) ten-days after the sale. After the ten-day period, the buyer may request a sales tax refund directly from the State where taxes were paid. SalvageSale cannot apply for state sales tax refunds on behalf of buyers. Buyers must work directly with the relevant state. More information can be found here.

Purchasing over the Internet does not exempt you from the payment of sales/use tax. If you have equipment transported to another state for personal use or for use in your business, this equipment may be subject to state and local sales/use tax based on the laws of your delivery destination state.

Payment and Transfer

To pay for an item, go through the Checkout process and make your full payment within 3 business days of purchasing or winning the item. Your invoice with instructions on how to submit a payment will be available immediately after you complete Checkout. Payments can be made by financing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services, wire transfers or by credit card for select items (an additional 2.95% fee from iClosing will apply).

Unless otherwise noted, SalvageSale will send the title to you within 15 business days after the close of the auction. Your title/titling document will be forwarded via a delivery source that will allow you to track your package (Federal Express or some other service). Title inquiries should be sent to titledepartment@ritchiebros.com.

You should locate the tracking number provided on the email you receive when your title is sent. This information can also be found on the "Post-Sale" page. Please query the appropriate delivery service as to the delivery status of your title. If this doesn’t resolve your issues, contact our title department for resolution (titledepartment@ritchiebros.com). Your concern will be followed up by a member of the title team.

SalvageSale provides buyers with a transferable title but we do not provide registration services.

MSO documents are issued by the manufacturer of New Equipment to provide a record of ownership prior to vehicle registration. SalvageSale does not provide an MSO for Used Equipment.

SalvageSale will furnish a valid title from the vehicle's state. Because registration/title requirements differ greatly from state to state, you should contact your local motor vehicle agency for any special out-of state registration requirements. When possible, SalvageSale can assist the Buyer in obtaining other documents necessary for registration.

State requirements differ, so you should contact your motor vehicle agency for exact requirements in your state. At a minimum you should carry a copy of your paid invoice, insurance card and driver's license. Please be aware, some states do require that you obtain a temporary permit (tags) issued by your motor vehicle agency to transport vehicles on road prior to official title registration.

Yes. If a buyer self-transports equipment from a seller premises in any way other than common carrier, equipment acceptance occurs as soon as you remove the equipment from the seller's premise. If when you arrive for self-transport and the vehicle or equipment is not in the same condition as it appeared in the inspection report, do not remove the equipment prior to calling SalvageSale's Customer Care team.

As indicated previously, it can take up to 15 business days after the close of the auction to deliver the title. In cases where the vehicle is being moved to a country outside of the US advance notice will need to be sent to the title department (titledepartment@ritchiebros.com). This will ensure we can provide the necessary paperwork prior to arrangements being made to pick up the equipment for shipment. Failure to provide this notice may result in delays with the delivery of your title.

Buyers are responsible for all liability after driving or directly removing vehicles and trailers from Seller's premises.

The Buyer's name or the Company Name entered at time of registration is the only name SalvageSale can put on the title. When you complete the check out process, you will be asked to confirm which name you want on your title. You will also be asked to verify the mailing address. Contact Customer Care (888-433-5426) if there are any issues with the name (s) on your profile.

PriorityBid

 

PriorityBidSM is our system for placing bids during the preview period of an auction. A significant amount of all bidding in our auctions occurs with PriorityBids; more than 70% of items typically have bids on them before auction day. Because they are placed during preview, PriorityBids have a delayed effect on the price of an item: the price does not change until the auction opens. There are several advantages of using PriorityBids:

  • You do not have to be at your computer on auction day. When you place a PriorityBid, you specify the maximum you are willing to pay for an item. You will be told immediately if yours is the highest bid placed so far, but you will not know how much of your bid amount remains to protect you from later bidders. Your bid amount is confidential and our auction software will keep you in the lead against competitive bids through the preview and on auction day or until your maximum amount is exceeded. If you get outbid by another PriorityBid, an automatic email will immediately be sent to you.
  • You can win the item for less than your maximum amount. In our style of auctions, the price the winner pays is determined by the price the runner-up was willing to pay. The final price is never more than one bid increment greater than the next-highest bid. So, if you have little competition, you can win an item for less than your maximum amount. We recommend you determine your "no regrets" price—the price at which, if someone else were to win, you would not regret the outcome—and then bid one increment below that.
  • Bidding early helps ensure that you are the winner. When competing PriorityBids are placed for the same amount, the earliest bid takes precedence (it has Priority at that price), so submitting your bid early gives you an advantage. You can place a PriorityBid online any time day or night, or by fax during our Customer Care hours.
  • Freedom to keep an eye out for other bargains. PriorityBids give you the freedom to browse and track other items on auction day without worrying about your "must-have" items. Our system acts as your assistant, constantly monitoring your PriorityBids and keeping you in the lead until the price goes beyond your designated maximum bid amount.

As auction day approaches, you can check the status of your PriorityBids in the Buying List of My Account. Make sure your email address and notification settings are correct in My Account Profile so that you can receive outbid notification emails. Before even being outbid, you can increase the maximum on any of your PriorityBids by placing a new PriorityBid on the same item for your new maximum amount (don't worry, you can not outbid yourself). Like all bids, PriorityBids are binding and can not be retracted nor reduced.

Click here toPlace a PriorityBid in the current auction

 

Sales & Use Tax

Retail sales of tangible personal property in most states are generally subject to sales tax. Construction equipment is generally considered tangible personal property. In some instances, retailers must collect use tax, rather than sales tax. A common example of a purchase subject to the use tax is a purchase of an item for use in California from an out-of-state retailer. The tax rate for sales and use taxes are generally the same.

No, sales tax rates and regulations vary greatly from state to state.

No, there are five states that do not have sales/use tax regulations; these are Alaska, New Hampshire, Montana, Oregon and Delaware.

Unless you are a Licensed Vehicle Dealer in the United States, we are collecting sales tax for the state of Florida. However, if you are exporting your vehicle outside the United States, we will refund the Florida sales tax after you send us the corresponding export documents.

**NOTE – You will be charged taxes (VAT) for items located in Mexico and titled vehicles located in Florida. Once proper documentation is provided SalvageSale will issue a refund.

You may be exempt from sales tax if you meet all the following criteria:

  • You are a reseller of like-kind equipment as the equipment you just bought; and
  • You have a valid Seller Permit (or its equivalent) from your state; and
  • You have completed the Exemption or Resale Certificate for your state and submitted it to SalvageSale; and
  • You have submitted a Bill of Lading from a common carrier for shipment of your purchase.

 

If you purchase tangible personal property but intend to resale it yourself, the transaction is not subject to sales or use tax provided the sale is properly documented. As a result, SalvageSale will ask you to provide a Resale Certificate as proof that the property is being purchased for resale.

Resale Certificates apply to a specific item being purchased. The certificate may be in any form, such as a note, letter, or memorandum (for California-related transactions, we have an online Resale Certificate for your use). A new Resale Certificate is required for each purchase. The certificate must contain the following information:

  • The name and address of the purchaser.
  • The number of the Reseller's Permit held by the purchaser (see Note below).
  • A description (including serial number or VIN) of the specific property being purchased.
  • A statement that the described property is being purchased for resale.
    • The certificate must contain words that state the property will be resold or is for resale. The use of words such as "nontaxable" or "exempt" or similar terms is not acceptable.
  • Signature of the purchaser or someone approved to act on his or her behalf.
  • Date certificate was signed.

 

While most states require a Resale Certificate, not all states require a Seller's Permit. If you are a purchaser who is not required to hold a Seller's Permit but wish to make a purchase using a Resale Certificate, you must indicate on the Resale Certificate that you do not hold a Seller's Permit and why a permit is not required.

Some states, such as California, require a Seller's Permit; buyers from such states must always supply a Seller's Permit number on their Resale Certificates.

You should not use a Resale Certificate if there is any question whether you will resell the property. There may be times when you are not sure whether the items you are purchasing are for resale or for personal use. In such cases, you should pay sales tax to SalvageSale. If, at a later date, you resell the item before making use of it, you can take a deduction on the tax return on which you report the sale.

For those states that require Resale Certificates, to support an exemption from the application of sales tax on purchases of tangible personal property, you can usually download forms from the website that supports your particular state's Department of Taxation or Bureau of Equalization.

Some states, such as California, require that an out-of-state buyer provide a Bill of Lading showing that the property was transported out-of-state by common carrier prior to its use.

You may be liable for sales tax--even if your purchase is for resale--if you self-transport your purchase across state lines rather than use a common carrier. This is the case for all equipment located in California, as one example. Unless a Bill of Lading is provided to show that a Common Carrier transported your purchase out of the state from which it was purchased, you are required to pay sales tax in that state, regardless of your resale intentions.

Yes. It is considered a misdemeanor in many states to issue a Resale Certificate to evade payment of tax. Typically, each offense is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to one year in county jail, or both. If you give a Resale Certificate to purchase property that you know at the time will not be resold in the regular course of business, you can expect:

  • Liability for the amount of tax due had the certificate not been used; and
  • Liability for Interest payments on the tax due; and
  • Penalties imposed by your state for intent to fraud or intent to evade tax; and
  • Possible cancellation of your Seller's Permit.

 

Sales & Use Tax in California

California resellers can submit to SalvageSale a completed California Resale Certificate, with their Seller's Permit Number. Each item purchased requires its own Resale Certificate, which is available on our website upon the completion of the auction for an item. Each certificate will include instructions to print, sign and where to fax it to us.

No. Only California retailers who have registered with the State of California and obtained a Seller's Permit can use the California Resale Certificate.

You will find the required form(s) at the California State Board of Equalization website. Complete the documentation that applies to your situation and fax it to SalvageSale immediately after notification of being the successful winner of equipment on which you have bid.

Yes. If you purchase construction equipment that is located in California, your purchase is taxable.

Since you are not a California reseller, SalvageSale initially will have to charge sales tax on your purchase. After you submit either a Bill of Lading or export documents that clearly substantiate that your purchased equipment has reached a destination outside of California, your sales tax deposit will be 100% refunded. Fax your Bill of Lading or export documents with the six-digit SalvageSale Item number to our dedicated fax number 925-225-8620.

Initially, yes, but only as a temporary deposit until the equipment leaves the state. At the time of purchase, you will have to deposit 100% of the applicable California sales tax to SalvageSale. If you use a common carrier to transport the equipment out of California you can will get a full refund of your sales tax deposit after submitting a completed Bill of Lading showing the equipment pickup location and destination.

Wire transfer refunds will be processed within 24 hours (one business day) after SalvageSale receives the Bill of Lading, Resale Certificate, and your wire transfer instructions. Refunds requested paid by company check can take up to 5 business days prior to mailing.

Please upload your Bill of Lading and/or sales tax exemption documents to MyAccount (click here to learn how to upload your sales tax exemption documents)

California does not accept out-of-state Seller's Permit or Resale Certificates as valid documentation of a nontaxable transaction. Only by providing SalvageSale a Bill of Lading showing the equipment moved to a destination outside California can your purchase of equipment located in California be considered nontaxable.

Initially, yes, but only as a temporary deposit. At the time of purchase, you will have to deposit 100% of the sales tax for the other state with SalvageSale. To avoid owing that tax and to get your deposit refunded, you must use a common carrier and move the purchased equipment to a destination within California. Provide SalvageSale both a California Resale Certificate for the purchase and a Bill of Lading from the common carrier and your sales tax will be refunded.

International Exports

No. The seller is not required to load any piece of equipment or attachment into a container. The buyer must make arrangements for loading into containers with the buyer's transportation company.

The seller is not required to dismantle any part of equipment for transportation. However, some sellers or storing agents may offer their services for dismantling for an additional fee. The buyer must make the request with the seller or storing agent. Contact information for the seller will be provided once SalvageSale has received full payment for item(s) purchased. Any additional fees will have to be negotiated and paid to the seller or storing agent. SalvageSale will take no part in arranging dismantling unless otherwise stated on our website.

SalvageSale cannot provide additional dimensions and/or specifications on equipment above that which is provided in our inspection reports. Buyers may obtain dimensions and/or specifications by contacting the original equipment manufacturer, or visiting the manufacturer's website, contacting dealers in your area or doing your own search on the Internet. A buyer should work with their transportation company to review common references for dimensions. The seller may choose to assist you with additional information, but remember, the seller is not required to provide any additional information about the equipment.

SalvageSale will provide you with the seller's contact information once you have made full payment. You can also find this information, after full payment is made, on our website by accessing the Transportation Authorization link located in the Post Sale Info page for that item.

The buyer must remove the equipment from Seller's premises no later than eight (8) business days after the auction closes. After the 8th business day, the seller is allowed to charge the buyer storage fees. After sixty (60) days, the equipment may be deemed abandoned and disposed of with all storage fees and full commissions deducted from proceeds. (Please refer to our Full Length Terms and Conditions: section V. Completion of Transactions under Buyer Removal of Equipment for additional information)

Buyer's Terms and Conditions

To become a Qualified Buyer at SalvageSale in advance of bidding in an auction, SalvageSale requires all buyers from outside the United States or Canada to wire a $2,000 US deposit to receive auction-bidding privileges. If you do not win an item in the auction, the money will remain on deposit with SalvageSale as long as a Buyer wishes to retain auction-bidding privileges. A Buyer may request the return of their deposit from SalvageSale at any time via email. Please note that the deposit will be refunded to the same person/company who sent the deposit. Additionally, please click on the link below, then click on Buyer Qualification Form-International, to complete the form and fax it back to: 1-925-225-8610.

Buyer Qualification Form - International  Español | Français

SalvageSale has available to our buyers through our third party Transportation Partners a list of transportation companies that will assist in overseas shipping. Many of these companies will also provide you with non-binding transportation estimates before the auction and after the auction. Transportation is the responsibility of the buyer, SalvageSale itself does not coordinate or transport equipment. Please contact us if you are interested in receiving more information on transportation.

In addition to the bid amount, you will be responsible for the transaction fee and any applicable state and local sales taxes. Please see Terms and Fees for more information.

Additionally, you will be responsible for the full cost of transportation payable directly to the company you hire to transport the equipment.

Full payment is due to SalvageSale within 3 business days after the auction. You will need to complete our Checkout Process immediately after the auction in order to print an Invoice which correctly recognizes your tax exemption status and delivery destination. Your Invoice will be available to you when you complete the Checkout Process. You will be able to access your Invoice anytime after Checkout by using the Invoice link located in the Post Sale Info page for that item.

Any items not paid within terms will be considered in default and the buyer will be subject to a "Default Penalty" equal to any deficit that may occur when the item is resold plus a 14% commission on the resale price with a minimum fee of $2,000. This fee will be applied separately to each individual unit on which the winning bidder defaults. Please ensure your financing is arranged prior to bidding to ensure that the full payment will be received on time and to avoid any Default Penalties.

If the item you purchase is for export, you will need to complete our Checkout Process after the sale and indicate the port of export and foreign delivery address. Sales tax will not be charged on your Invoice providing you subsequently fax us the final domestic Bill of Lading showing the City / State of the equipment pickup location and Export documents that include the US port of export and the final delivery destination. The Bill of Lading and export documents must also include a description of the equipment including serial number. All documents must be submitted to SalvageSale no later than 5 business days after Equipment is delivered.
**NOTE – You will be charged taxes (VAT) for items located in Mexico and titled vehicles located in Florida. Once proper documentation is provided SalvageSale will issue a refund.

Unless you are a Licensed Vehicle Dealer in the United States, we are collecting sales tax for the state of Florida. However, if you are exporting your vehicle outside the United States, we will refund the Florida sales tax after you send us the corresponding export documents.

**NOTE – You will be charged taxes (VAT) for items located in Mexico and titled vehicles located in Florida. Once proper documentation is provided SalvageSale will issue a refund.

In order to refund sales tax within sixty (60) days of auction sale, you will need to provide SalvageSale a domestic Bill of Lading showing the City / State equipment pick-up location and Export documents that include the US port of export and the final delivery destination. SalvageSale will not process refund requests received beyond (60) sixty days after auction. After the sixty-day period, the buyer may request a sales tax refund directly from the State where taxes were paid. SalvageSale cannot apply for state sales tax refunds on behalf of buyers. Buyers must work directly with the cognizant state.

When submitting a request for a tax refund, please provide your Bank wiring instructions including:

  •  Bank Name
  •  Bank Address
  •  Name on Bank Account
  •  Swift Code
  •  Account Number
  •  ABA or Routing Number

 

The buyer is responsible to arrange transportation and complete any required paperwork for customs. Please contact a customs broker or freight forwarder regarding exact requirements for exporting. As part of our service to the buyer, SalvageSale can provide you with a list of freight forwarders or customs brokers.

The buyer is responsible to arrange transportation. SalvageSale can provide you with a list of freight forwarders or customs brokers prior to the auction. After the auction, you will be able to request transportation quotes from our Transportation Partners directly through the SalvageSale website.

Our terms and conditions state that the buyer must remove the equipment from Seller's premises no later than eight (8) business days after the auction closes. After the 8th business day, the seller is allowed to charge the buyer storage fees. If you leave your equipment on the seller's yard, after sixty (60) days the equipment may be deemed abandoned and disposed of with all storage fees and full commissions deducted from the proceeds of sale. If you are unable to provide documentation of export within 60 days, SalvageSale will not waive sales tax on any future purchases until all outstanding Bill of Lading and/or Export documents are received.