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THE MACHINEBLUE BOOKResearch · Market · Ownership
BUYING AT AUCTION

The Machine Tool Auction Buyer's Field Manual

The Machine Blue Book · Published November 2026

Compiled by Bronto, our AI research assistant, from the sources listed below; checked against them and reviewed by our editor before publication. How we make these pages.

Answer: Industrial auctions sell as-is, where-is, with no warranty and no returns. You pay the hammer price plus a buyer's premium, usually within a day or two, then remove the machine yourself by a hard deadline at your own rigging expense. The rules live in each auction's terms page. Read them before you bid, every time.

What does "as-is, where-is" actually commit you to?

Everything. Purple Wave's terms state that every item is sold "AS IS" without warranty, disclaiming implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, and note that listed mileage or hours may not be accurate (terms accessed November 9, 2026). BidItUp Auctions Worldwide's terms for a 2026 sale put it the same way: all assets sold "As-Is, Where-Is" with no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding condition, fitness for purpose, or merchantability. The Maynards and Biditup terms for a 2020 machinery sale go further: all lots sold as-is, where-is "AND WITH ALL FAULTS WITHOUT EXCEPTION."

By bidding, you accept the item's condition, known and unknown. There is no cooling-off period and no recourse if the spindle is seized. That is why the inspection window matters more than anything else in this manual.

What is a buyer's premium, and what do auctioneers charge?

The buyer's premium is a percentage added to your winning bid, payable to the auctioneer. It varies by auction house and by sale, so always confirm the rate for the specific catalog. Published examples, each named and dated:

AuctioneerPremiumSource and date
Purple Wave10% added to the winning bidpurplewave.com terms, accessed November 9, 2026
Biditup Auctions Worldwide / Maynards Industries18% on all online purchasesBidSpotter-hosted terms for the Small Precision Tools (Gaiser) sale, auction dated March 17, 2020
BidItUp Auctions WorldwideRate set per sale; terms direct bidders to "the specific auction catalog for final rates"BidSpotter-hosted terms for the Xalt Energy sale, auction dated April 3, 2026
BigIronVaries by auction and lot; shown on each lot pagebigiron.com/learnmore, accessed November 9, 2026

Two practical consequences. First, your real ceiling is bid plus premium plus sales tax plus rigging plus freight, so work backward from the amount you can actually spend. Second, premiums differ enough between houses that the same hammer price is not the same deal.

When can you inspect, and what should you do with the window?

Inspection windows are short and scheduled. The Maynards and Biditup Gaiser sale, for example, published three preview days in the week before the auction, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm or by appointment. That is typical of the format: a few days, business hours, bring your own flashlight and indicator.

Use the window to run the under-power protocol where machines are still connected (see our Under-Power Inspection Protocol). At plant-closure sales, machines are often still wired; at warehouse sales they often are not, and you should treat them as unverified.

How fast must you pay?

Faster than you think, and the penalty clauses are real.

Have the wire approved and the funds positioned before you bid, not after you win.

How do removal and rigging deadlines work?

You remove what you buy, by a date, at your own expense, and the deadlines can be tight.

Before you bid on anything that needs a rigger: call a rigger, confirm they can hit the window, and get the quote. Loading "included" at a dock is not the same as a machine skated out of a basement. Our rigging directory and freight, permits and rigging guide cover the move itself.

When does title pass, and when does risk pass?

Purple Wave's terms are explicit: title and risk of loss pass to the buyer upon close of the auction and receipt of the item, and risk also passes if the buyer misses the removal deadline. In practice, the moment the hammer falls, insure it like it is yours, because contractually it nearly is. Titled assets (trucks, some equipment) are mailed after payment verification; machine tools generally transfer by bill of sale, so confirm what paper you will receive.

Pre-bid checklist

  1. Read the full terms for this specific catalog. Note premium, payment deadline, removal deadline, and loading provisions.
  2. Compute your all-in ceiling: maximum bid plus premium plus tax plus rigging plus freight plus the repairs you found at inspection.
  3. Inspect in person or send someone; if the machine cannot run, treat it as unverified iron.
  4. Get a rigging quote that fits the removal window, in writing.
  5. Confirm payment method and limits (wire approved, card caps noted).
  6. Confirm what documentation transfers: manuals, backups, tooling listed in the lot.
  7. Decide your limit before the sale and stop there. The premium does not pause for excitement.

FAQ

Is the buyer's premium negotiable? Not for buyers at posted-terms auctions. It is set in the catalog terms.

Can I get a refund if the machine is not as described? The terms quoted above say no: as-is, where-is, all faults, and Purple Wave explicitly warns hours and descriptions may be inaccurate. Your protection is inspection, not recourse.

What happens if I win and do not pay? Default clauses apply. Purple Wave's posted example: a 15% default fee plus storage, resale losses, and collection costs.

Sources

Corrections welcome: research@themachinebluebook.com