AMS Auctions

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of computer sytem do I need?

You can use a PC, Mac Tablet or smartphone, if you are using Internet explorer it must be IE9 or above. To listen to live audio you will need Adobe flash player.
To recieve live updates you must remain logged in to the same browser screen. If you switch applications or windows you must reload the site to continue. more...

You system should be up to date with the latest updates from Microsoft, Apple or your operating system vendor. Adobe reader is required for PDF report.

What type of items can be found in the various sales?

Every sale is different, however, below is a good example of the vast range of assets that can often be found at AMS. more...

Machine Tools
Engineering and Woodworking Machinery
Plastic moulding and extrusion machinery
Construction Plant and machinery
Agricultural and Garden Machinery
Garage Equipment
Plumbing and D.I.Y. Equipment
Electrical / Electronic Equipment
Printing Machinery
Scrap Metal and Scrap Processing Machinery
Stock-in-Trade
Commercial and Private Motor Vehicles
Timber and Steel Stocks
Office Furniture and Equipment
Computer Systems and Peripherals
Catering Equipment, Hotel, Restaurant and Bar Fixtures and Fittings
Wholesale and Retail Equipment and Stocks
Household electrical goods
Police Lost and Recovered Property

Do auction items come from legitimate sources?

Yes, sales are typically instructed by: Private Companies disposing of assets (due to relocation, merging, overstocking etc). more...

Insolvency Practitioners (assets from liquidations, receiverships & bankruptcies).
HM Customs and Excise (confiscated or impounded goods)
Finance Companies and Bailiffs (repossessed commercial and domestic goods).
Building Societies and Banks (repossessed goods or properties)

Additionally ex-demonstration and damaged items, catalogue returns, etc.

How do I obtain sales information?

You can visit this website and print any or all of the pages you are interested in at any given time. more...

Alternatively, as a registered user, you will automatically be informed of any forthcoming sales or newsletters that may be of interest. You are also able to choose specific categories for certain items that will be of interest to you. There is also a low cost subscription service so that you don't have to remember when the next sale is due or spend time searching through products. The subscription service automatically sends a printed catalogue through the post. To receive a mailing list application form please contact info@amsauctions.co.uk

What is a Tender Sale?

Usually associated with high value, specialist plant or machinery; tender sales enable you to achieve maximum realisation via written sealed bids. Tender sales can conducted at an AMS warehouse or at your own premises. more...

Tender sales are used when an item appeals to a specialist market, or if it is unlikely to attract a broad spectrum of bidders, or where an asset may be worth considerably more to one specific buyer than another. Bids are submitted via sealed written bids or online, whichever applies to the relevant sale.

What is a Negotiated Sale?

Negotiated Sales are made directly with potential buyers and are not part of an auction process. Asset management companies hold databases of potential buyers around the world and will also market and advertise directly to companies or individuals who may be interested. more...

Sales are negotiated by offering assets for sale subject to a specified price, and negotiating with interested parties on a one to one basis.

The negotiated method of sale is generally used for individual high value assets and complete production facilities where major issues of decommissioning, removal, installation and potential grant aid may be involved.

It is also useful where the seller is keen that a production plant or other asset should only be sold overseas or sold in a specific country or countries.

How it Works?

Attend a live public auction or bid via the website. If you attend a live auction you will need to register your details on arrival. Alternatively you can click here and register for free online bidding, once registered you will be emailed details of forthcoming sales and their viewing days.more...

Bidding online gives you all the excitement of a live auction without ever leaving the comfort of your home or office!

AMS Auctions brings you a wide variety of new and used equipment, including CNC Engineering / Woodworking machinery, Construction Plant, vehicles and lots more…

Auctions generate great excitement because prices are not fixed and bargains can often be found. AMS Auctions brings together many different assets that you can purchase with complete confidence and in an exciting and fun way. Nobody knows the final price until the hammer goes down or the Lot has no further bids placed. Many lots have no reserves, and with the online Sales these run for a period of time (normally two weeks) so you can take your time and carry out your research for the current best market price for a particular item. Once armed with your information, simply access the website, register and obtain your unique bidders number and password.

How to Buy?

Registration is very simple, and it takes less than a minute to get a password. Use your password to login and search the website for what you’re looking for, and start making bids. Registered users have access to their bidding history and My Account (which contains personal details and notification options). more...

You can change your password whenever you like. Once registered it is important to recognise that, you are bound by the websites terms and conditions for the specific sale you are interested in. The Equipment Search facility allows you to simply type in the Manufacturers / Product name, model number or bid identification number of any item you are looking for. If you can't find the product you want, make sure you have registered and AMS will contact you when a new sale is about to start.

Once you have searched the catalogue and found an item (lot) you want to bid for, simply click on the bid button next to the item and follow the on-screen instructions. If you are new to the site you will need to get a password and login before you can bid (see How To Bid). During the closing stages of an auction you will be able to remain logged into 'My Account' and see which Lots are successful and those where you need to increase your bid(s), or in the case of a Tender Sale the maximum bid you have submitted.

If you are unable to attend a Live Public Auction in person, you can leave an online bid. The website will increase to your bid(s) until you win or reach your “maximum bid amount”, (in a similar way to eBay).

Successful bidders will be contacted once the Sale has finished and your preferred method of payment (see How to Pay). Once cleared funds have been received then the item(s) are ready for collection from the location specified. Collection times are then confirmed and agreed with the Auctioneers at a given date and time.

Types of Sale

Sale types are clearly displayed in the Sales Categories area of the website against the individual items for sale. There are up to 4 different types of Sales that might be shown at any one time. more...

1. Live Public Auction Sale
2. Online Timed Auction Sale
3. Online Tender Sale
4. Negotiated Sale

Live Public Auctions or General Sales are open to individuals, traders and companies alike. You can attend the event and bid against other bidders, or you can bid over the internet. You can also place a Maximum bid (maximum amount you are prepared to pay), or increase your bids as you go. Either way you will know if you are the highest bidder. .

Successful online bidders will be contacted to arrange payment and collection within the specified timescale for the relevant Sale.

Prior to a Sale commencing you can login and preview the items coming up for sale, the preview time varies. The Sales will close all Lots at a predefined time specified on the website, however, certain Sales may have time extensions of 5 minutes added to each individual lot if a bid is placed on an item. i.e. Those Lots that do not receive a bid 5 minutes before the Sale is due to end, will automatically close at the Sale End time. Those lots which are having bids placed against will remain open for periods of 5 minutes until no bids are placed in the 5 minute periods. Please ensure you read the specific terms for each Sale.

Online Tender Sales work differently to auctions. The Sales are still open to anyone but are used for specialist or unusual items where the lot may have a significantly higher value to one particular person, but not to another. Tender Bids are also sealed. That means you bid the maximum amount you are prepared to pay and you don't know if you have the winning bid until the end of the sale. You can increase your bid at any time during the Sale but you can't withdraw it once it's made.

Negotiated Sales are another type of sale made directly with potential buyers and are not part of an auction or tender process. Asset management companies hold databases of potential buyers around the world and will also market and advertise directly to companies or individuals who may be interested. Sales are negotiated by offering assets for sale subject to a specified price, and negotiating with interested parties on a one to one basis. The negotiated method of sale is generally used for individual high value assets and complete production facilities where major issues of decommissioning, removal, installation and potential grant aid may be involved. It is also useful where the seller is keen that a production plant or other asset should only be sold overseas or sold in a specific country or countries.

How to Bid Online

In regard to bidding online, the way you place your bids is dependent on the type of Sale you are interested in. In order to be able to bid during a Sale, you must have registered and be logged in before you are permitted to place bids.more...

You can increment any bid in the auction simply by clicking the Bid Now button. The minimum you can increment a Bid is clearly stated against each item and displayed in the Minimum Bid box. If you're immediately out bid you will receive an e-mail from AMS letting you know you have been out bid. During the closing stages of an auction, remaining logged into 'My Account' allows you to see which Lots are successful and those which require increases to win.

NB. You can be instantly out-bid if another bidder has already placed a HIGHER MAXIMUM bid against this item!

That means they have entered a higher amount for this item and the system is automatically increasing their current bid by the minimum amount necessary to remain as the top bidder. You can continue bidding manually by minimal increments until you beat their MAXIMUM bid, or you can place a higher MAXIMUM bid of your own and see if you become the highest bidder.

With regard to the online Tender Sale, you are not aware of the highest bid placed during the Sale, as all bids are sealed and are not disclosed to other users. That means you bid the maximum amount you are prepared to pay and you don't know if you have the winning bid until the end of the Sale. You can increase your bid at any time during the Sale but you can't withdraw it once it's made.

Do you send outbid notification email?

Outbid notification emails will be sent but in the last few minutes of the sale it moves so quickly that these are of no use and slow everything down.
We do not send email outbid notifications in the last 5 minutes of a lot closing or if you have bid within the last 60 seconds. You should monitor the website during these times.

How to Pay?

After a successful bid you will receive an e-mail or telephone call informing you that you have been successful and what you need to do next.

Payment is due immediately and within the time constraints as set out in the terms and conditions of sale. Invoices can be emailed, faxed and a hard copy posted within 24hours. You will be notified when payment has been received. more...

No item(s) purchased will be released from the Sale premises until cleared funds (see below) have been received in full within the given time constraints as detailed in condition 24 within the terms and conditions of the relevant Sale.

PAYMENT METHODS

Bank Transfer

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT ACCEPT CHEQUES, DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS OR CASH

AMS Client Account Bank Details
Lloyds TSB Bank Plc
Account No. 31892168
Sort Code: 30-95-72
Iban: GB37 LOYD 3095 7231 8921 68
Bic/Swift: LOYDGB21108
Fees
Remember there are no hidden extras in any of the Sales held by AMS; all you pay is the "hammer" price plus Buyers Premium plus VAT @ the current standard rate on the overall price. Each Sale has its own clear Key Terms relevant to that particular Sale.

How to Export?

All items purchased from other EC countries and outside the EC, must inform the Accounts department of this intention immediately after being notified of a successful purchase and will be dealt with accordingly. more...

Buyers from outside the EC must supply documentation evidence i.e. Shipping Certificate, Original Bill of Loading clearly stating these items exported.

How to Collect Items?

As stated above, no item(s) purchased will be released until cleared funds have been received in full and within the given time constraints (as detailed in condition 24 within the terms and conditions of the relevant Sale). more...

Please refer to each Sales individual Key Terms and Conditions in relation to Collection of Lots purchased.
AMS will have staff in attendance on site in order to release the item(s) and in the event that you instruct your own haulier please ensure they are aware of any specific removal conditions as set out in the terms and conditions.
AMS use recognised Hauliers / Removal contractors who have provided an excellent service during the course of 15 years of business, details of which can be available on request.