Information for buyers

  • How do I buy from Hotlotz?
    We are an online only auction house. To bid on an item you see in our online auction catalogue, you need to have a Hotlotz account and then register for each auction you want to bid in (both can be done through our website). If you are the winning bidder, the item is yours. You need to pay the closing bid price and buyer's premium. Alternatively, you can buy items for a fixed price in our marketplace.
  • Please see the 'What We Sell' page of our website. We sell a wide range of item categories that include art, furniture, interior décor, jewellery, collectibles, Asian works of art, decorative arts, designer fashion, Peranakan works of art, coins & banknotes, watches & timepieces and wine & spirits. Please note the categories we use for our auctions are slightly different, which you can see under ‘Auction Results’ on our website.
  • No. We do not, and cannot, sell any ivory products at all (including pre and post 1990 ivory) even tiny amounts used in larger items (e.g. handles or stringing in furniture).
  • All items are sold on a consignment basis for our sellers and we do not own any of the items we sell. Most of our sellers are from Singapore and range from individuals to collectors, dealers, corporates, administrators, estates and others. We do not identify our sellers, unless they have specifically agreed that we may do so such as in a private collection sale of a named individual.
  • We generally hold at least one auction a week. All our auctions are online only. You can see our current and upcoming auctions on the Auctions page of our website. You can place bids from the time the auction catalogue is made available, up to and during the auction. Please check the auction catalogue for the auction closing date and time.
  • Auction catalogues are usually published on our website at least 10 days before the closing date for the auction. Please see the Auctions page of our website.
  • The opening bid amount (also the item’s ‘reserve’) is the lowest price that the item can be bought for in the auction. The estimate (low to high) shows the price range in which we think the item will likely sell. Estimates are based on a range of factors including our examination of the item, its provenance and condition, and recent auction records for comparable items. Please note that given the competitive nature of auctions, estimates are often exceeded. The current bid amount is the highest bid once an opening bid amount has been placed. The closing bid amount is the winning bid for the lot when it closes.
  • Items in auction and the marketplace are on view in the Hotlotz saleroom and we encourage you to view items in person. You can talk to one of our friendly valuers and of course seeing is believing! Please do check our opening house on the 'Location' page of the website as well as the auction catalogue for any other information about location and viewing times.
  • No. Our doors are open during our working hours and no appointment is necessary for viewings in the saleroom. Please do check our opening house on the 'Location' page of the website as well as the auction catalogue for any other information about location and viewing times.
  • If you are unable to view in person or you would like addition information about an item, we can schedule a video call with you or provide you with a written condition report. We can also email additional photos or video on request. The catalogue page for each lot also includes an option to ‘ask a question’. If you use this function, it will send an email to the saleroom. Please try to make additional information requests in good time. We may not be able to reply to requests sent on weekends or after any time specified in the auction catalogue.
  • No. We do our best to appraise and catalogue the items, but they are sold ‘as is’. We strongly recommend that you inspect items, ask for more information if needed and make your own assessment before bidding.
  • You can only bid online – we do not offer live, telephone, absentee or any other form of bidding. Once you have a Hotlotz account and registered to bid for an auction, enter the next bid amount which is necessary and click ‘bid’. You will be notified if you are the highest bidder or if you get outbid. Alternatively, you can set a maximum bid amount you are willing to pay.
  • No. Bidding is binding. The outcome of the auction depends on the bidding, so if you place a bid and end up being the highest bidder you are legally responsible to pay for the item. This applies even if you made the bid in error or changed your mind.
  • Yes, you can enter a ‘maximum’ bid. This is the most you are willing to pay for an item. Our bidding platform will then bid intelligently for you, against any other competitors, bidding only enough for you to stay in the lead. Your maximum bid amount remains totally confidential, even Hotlotz does not know what it is.
  • Yes. If you have submitted an amount as your maximum bid and then wish to reduce it, enter your reduced maximum bid amount in the box where you would normally place your bid. You will need to make sure that the reduced amount meets a bidding increment and that it is more than or equal to the current bid.
  • Yes. You can follow items once you have registered to bid in an auction by clicking on the heart button next to the photo of the item in the auction catalogue. You can see your watchlist from your Hotlotz account, under ‘watchlist(s)’.
  • Bids must be placed in incremental amounts (which the system will prompt you to do). Please see the ‘Discover/How to Buy’ page of our website for a list of the increment amounts.
  • The auction catalogue includes a date for the auction and a time when bidding will start to close. Bidding for the first lot in the catalogue is scheduled to finish at that time. Bidding for each lot then finishes in lot number order in intervals of one minute apart. For example: If the published end or close time of the auction is from 6pm, bidding for Lot 1 is scheduled to finish at 6pm, but bidding for Lot 15 would not be scheduled to finish until 6.14pm, and so on. If a bid is placed in the final five minutes before a lot closes in an auction, the bidding period for the lot is extended by a further five minutes. This continues until a full five minutes has elapsed without another bid having been placed. As a result, it usually takes a number of hours after the scheduled time when bidding starts to close for all of the lots in an auction to actually close. Lots may close out of sequence with the number order in the auction catalogue. Bidding remains open for all lots up until their individual finishing time shown on the countdown timer for the lot (which appears from 24 hours before the auction is scheduled to start to close).
  • We charge a buyer’s premium of 30% on top of the closing bid amount for auction items. This includes GST. No buyer's premium applies for marketplace sales as prices are fixed amounts. There may be other fees like shipping charges or storage charges for delays in items being collected. For non-resident buyers exporting items sold in auction, we may be able to zero-rate GST on the 'closing bid' price (this applies to all items except those that are sold by a named seller) and buyer’s premium if certain conditions are met. See the GST section of these FAQs for more information.
  • We accept Mastercard, Visa and American Express, PayNow and bank transfers. A fee of 2.73% (inc. GST) is applied to card payments (only).
  • Some unsold items may be offered for immediate sale with a fixed price in our online marketplace. These items are generally listed in the marketplace within an hour of a sale closing and may be purchased on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. In addition, the marketplace comprises a ‘Clearance’ section with items offered at highly attractive prices. No buyer’s premium is charged on items sold in the marketplace. For other unsold items it may still be possible to buy them if the seller is interested – please get in touch by emailing hello@hotlotz.com.
  • It is not possible to return or refund items, including where you change your mind or decide you do not want the item. Items are sold ‘as is’ with any issues or imperfections, hence we make them available for viewing or can provide further information. If there are issues as a result of our cataloguing, please get in touch with us.
  • We list upcoming as well as current auctions on the ‘Auctions/Auction Catalogue’ page of our website. You can also subscribe for electronic direct mail updates by entering your email address in the ‘Stay up-to-date with Hotlotz’ field on hotlotz.com.
  • What does Hotlotz sell?
    Please see the 'What We Sell' page of our website. We sell a wide range of item categories that include art, furniture, interior décor, jewellery, collectibles, Asian works of art, decorative arts, designer fashion, Peranakan works of art, coins & banknotes, watches & timepieces and wine & spirits. However, we are always interested in other items of quality – if you are unsure if we would sell something, please just contact us by email at hello@hotlotz.com or by phone on (+65) 6254 7616. Please note the categories we use for our auctions are slightly different, which you can see under ‘Auction Results’ on our website.
  • First, just get in touch about what you may want to sell – either by phone (+65) 6254 7616 or email at hello@hotlotz.com, or using the ‘sell with us’ function for 6 or less items. We will let you know if your items are suitable for sale by Hotlotz. Once we have then appraised your items, we will send you a sales contract to review and e-sign. It will record things like the relevant auction, the estimate, the opening bid, our seller’s commission and fees, and your instructions if the item is unsold.
  • Please give us as much information as possible. As well as a description, include any relevant information you have such as the condition, dimensions, weight, material, medium, maker, artist, provenance, history, ancillary items, etc. If you have any paperwork (like receipts, certificates, etc.) do let us know. Clear colour photos are also useful, front, back and of any relevant detail such as signature, maker’s mark or any damage.
  • You can discuss any condition issues with one of our valuers. Any condition issues with items we sell are detailed as part of our auction cataloguing.
  • We typically take items into our Singapore saleroom so that they can be inspected, catalogued and photographed. We will advise you if/when we need to do so. Please do not send us items, or bring in items for appraisal or consignment, before being requested to do so or confirming with us first.
  • Yes. If you are considering selling with us and it is an item we think appropriate for sale at Hotlotz, our appraisals, estimates and valuations are free of charge and with no obligation to sell with us. We also do standalone professional valuation work at charge.
  • After submitting items for review using ‘Sell With Us’, you will receive an email to confirm we have received your request. Our valuers will then review your submission and inform you by email if your item is suitable for sale at Hotlotz or not and any next steps. This process usually takes between one and two weeks.
  • As we do not have a corporate WhatsApp or similar messaging account at this stage, our preference is for you to send any information via ‘Sell With Us’ or by email to hello@hotlotz.com. Please do discuss this with us if needed and we will try to be of assistance.
  • Absolutely! Large consignments are where we really excel, given the size and experience of our valuation team. Please send us an introductory email to hello@hotlotz.com outlining your circumstances for our consideration or give us a call on (+65) 6254 7616. Appraisers with responsibility for special projects, including Private Collection, Estate Services, Business Sellers or Home Contents will then contact you.
  • Yes. We are generally happy to come to you. It may depend on an initial assessment of your item(s) including the number and nature of them.
  • No. We can only work for you on a consignment basis, meaning we try to sell the item on your behalf. The item remains yours until we sell it.
  • Various aspects will affect the item’s value, such as auction records for similar items, quality, condition, size, weight, maker, artist, provenance, history, rarity, exhibition and publication history, ancillary items, and paperwork (like receipts, certificates, etc.).
  • It will vary by individual item and what someone is prepared to pay for it. We can provide you with a free appraisal and valuation for any items we typically sell.
  • Estimates are based on the experience of our valuations team and what we believe the item will sell for at auction. They also take into account auction records for similar items and factors including condition, rarity, certification and available provenance. Given the competitive nature of auctions, estimates are often exceeded.
  • Auction pricing is based on prices achieved at auction, not what the item might fetch in a retail environment (which might be considerably higher). We tend to be conservative about auction pricing, both to drive interest and competition for the item and because we would rather under promise and over deliver.
  • Yes. We will agree with you an ‘opening bid’ or reserve amount, which is the minimum price at which we can sell an item. This will be recorded in your sales contract. It is better to set a lower opening bid amount in order to drive interest and competition for the item, which will increase the sale price.
  • Before an item can be included in an auction, it needs to be appraised, catalogued and a sales contract prepared and agreed. The sales contract will also specify the auction the item will appear in, based on the most appropriate category of auction and our auction calendar. As we generally work on commission, it’s in our interests to list and sell your item as soon as possible.
  • Yes. Items are made available for viewing by buyers in our Singapore saleroom (unless agree with you otherwise) while the auction catalogue is online or in the marketplace.
  • We will provide you with a receipt for any items in our possession. These are kept at our saleroom, which has high standards of security and we provide insurance (covered by our insurance fee) unless you do so and provide us with a liability waiver.
  • All of our auctions take place using an industry-leading global platform. We also use electronic direct mail, platforms such as Google, Facebook and Instagram and newspaper and trade publication advertising. In addition, we adopt specific marketing campaigns for particular auctions.
  • No, you grant us exclusivity whilst an item is in auction or on sale in our Marketplace. If we discover your item on sale elsewhere we will withdraw it from sale and you will be invoiced for a withdrawal fee.
  • Yes, but you will be charged a withdrawal fee of $60 (inc. GST) as recorded in your sales contract. If you withdraw the item after the relevant auction catalogue has been published, an additional amount of 20% of the low estimate amount for the item specified in your sales contract will apply. This fee will be invoiced and must be paid before you collect your item.
  • The day after the auction closing date, you will receive an email notifying you whether (or not) the item(s) sold and the closing bid price(s) achieved. Please note the closing bid price includes GST which is the responsibility of the buyer, but the GST amount will then be removed and we use the GST exclusive price for the seller. You can also check the status of your consigned items at any time in the overview section of your Hotlotz account. We also publish auction results on the ‘Auctions/Auction Results’ page of our website.
  • What happens if an item does not sell will be agreed with you in your sales contract. We usually list items for one auction only. Items that are unsold in auction can be given a ‘second chance’ and offered for immediate sale with a fixed price in our online marketplace. The marketplace is particularly useful for sellers who do not want unsold items returned. We do not charge you any seller’s commission or insurance fee if the item is unsold.
  • Payments (or settlements) usually take place within 21 days of the auction’s closing date. Settlements are made by bank transfer into your nominated bank account. Please note that you are responsible for accurately recording your bank account details in your online Hotlotz account dashboard. You will receive a ‘Settlement Statement’ by automated email confirming that the transfer has taken place. A copy of the statement will also be filed in your online dashboard (Simply log in and go to My Account; Paperwork; Settlement Statements). Payments can only be made to the bank account of the individual or organisation named as the seller in the sales contract and your Hotlotz account. You must ensure that you have recorded your full legal name (exactly as it's written in your passport) in your Hotlotz account and that it matches with the sales contract and bank account name. Please update your profile if that’s not the case.
  • If your settlement is delayed it may be for a number of reasons. Typically it is because the bank account names does not match the name of the seller in the sales contract and your Hotlotz account. You must ensure that you have recorded your full legal name (exactly as it's written in your passport) in your Hotlotz account and that it matches with the sales contract and bank account name. Please update your profile if that’s not the case. Settlements will also be delayed if we are waiting for payment from a buyer. We have very robust processes in place to ensure that settlements are made in a timely manner but occasionally buyers can be slow to pay their invoices for example if they are away. Buyers who renege on purchases are extremely rare as they are banned from future bidding with us and our global platform partner, the-saleroom.com. This acts as a deterrent. We never dispatch items without receiving a cleared payment. In the unlikely event that any buyer reneges on a sale we will offer the item to the underbidder, if one exists.
  • We charge seller’s commission, only once an item sells. The rate is either a percentage agreed with you for auctions and recorded in your sales contract, or a uniform 21.8% (inc. GST) for marketplace sales. A minimum amount of commission, which is $45 (inc. GST), applies in all cases (in order to cover our costs of sale). We apply the commission per lot, which might have one or more items. Other fees may apply, such as an insurance fee of 1.64% (inc. GST), a withdrawal fee of $60 (inc. GST), or fees related to shipping, certification or professional cleaning.
  • We charge a minimum seller’s commission fee of $45 (inc. GST) per item sold. This is outlined in your sales contract. This is to cover our costs of sale, in case the % rate of seller’s commission ends up being lower than $45 (inc. GST) and therefore does not cover our costs.
  • All sales in Singapore are generally subject to GST, which is the buyer’s responsibility. To meet price display rules, the price of each item has to have GST applied and the GST has to be included in the auction ‘closing bid’ price or marketplace ‘buy now’ price. The price of the item will therefore be less than the auction ‘closing bid’ price or marketplace ‘buy now’ price once that GST is removed. This GST exclusive price is the amount we settle to the seller for the item, after deductions for our commission and fees. Where a seller has agreed to be named, Hotlotz may not have to charge GST on the item – in which case the buyer will still pay the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price and the seller may need to account for the GST. In this case, Hotlotz will settle the full amount of the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price to the seller for the item, after deductions for any commission and fees.
  • The seller’s commission and insurance fees that we charge are calculated on the price once the GST on the item, which is the buyer’s responsibility, is removed. This applies to all items except those that are sold by a named seller where GST on the item is not chargeable by Hotlotz so the commission and fees that Hotlotz charges are calculated on the full amount of the auction 'closing bid price' or marketplace 'buy now' price. Our commission and fees are also subject to GST, which is the seller’s responsibility.’
  • No, it will not change the amount that you are settled. We can remove – or ‘zero rate’ – GST (where it is chargeable by Hotlotz) for an auction buyer who is not a resident of Singapore provided export criteria stipulated by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore are met. In short, Hotlotz must manage the export and it must take place within 60 days of the auction sale date. Whether such GST is payable or not affects the buyer, but not the seller or the amount settled to the seller. GST charged on our commissions and fees can never be zero-rated.
  • The insurance fee is for the insurance we provide. If you do not wish to pay the insurance fee, you must provide insurance and sign a liability waiver.
  • Where a seller has agreed to be named, Hotlotz may not have to charge GST on the item – in which case the buyer will still pay the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price and the seller may need to account for the GST. In this case, Hotlotz will settle the full amount of the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price to the seller for the item, after deductions for any commission and fees. The commission and fees that Hotlotz charges are calculated on the full amount of the auction 'closing bid price' or marketplace 'buy now' price.
  • How soon do I need items I have bought to be collected?
    We ask that you do so within 7 days. We may charge storage fees if items are not collected in good time. Items may be collected from our Singapore saleroom the day after the auction ends, provided we have received cleared payment. However, please note we are not open for clients on a Monday. Please contact the saleroom if you need help organising shipping.
  • We can try to help you with any collection/drop-off or shipping arranged by you, but please give us as much notice as possible of anything needed. If you have large or heavy items, or delicate items that require specialist packing, please ensure that you have adequate manpower and packing materials. We provide limited, often recycled packing materials, and whilst we will always try our best to help, it’s not always possible.
  • Clients benefit from our internal logistics team who can manage all domestic and international shipping for you. You will be offered this service at the relevant time. We can provide you with a quote from our trusted shipping companies if needed (and typically we just need the full address including post code).
  • If you are arranging someone else to collect your item or your own shipping, please send us a confirmation email authorising us to accept or release the item and include the name of the third-party and the proposed date and time.
  • Many buyers collect their items in person or arrange their own collection or shipping. Also, delivery costs would vary greatly because of the size of items or delivery location. Our preference is to give buyers the choice, rather than effectively charging everyone something for delivery within our pricing.
  • Is GST payable on an item itself?
    All sales in Singapore are generally subject to GST, which is the buyer’s responsibility. To meet price display rules, the price of each item has to have that GST applied and the GST has to be included in the auction ‘closing bid’ price or marketplace ‘buy now’ price. The GST exclusive price is the amount we settle to the seller for the item, after deductions for our commission and fees. Where a seller has agreed to be named, Hotlotz may not have to charge GST on the item – in which case the buyer will still pay the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price and the seller may need to account for the GST. In this case, Hotlotz will settle the full amount of the auction 'closing bid' price or marketplace 'buy now' price to the seller for the item, after deductions for any commission and fees.
  • Your bid amount includes any GST. It is a requirement for us in Singapore to have all pricing inclusive of any GST. Accordingly, all estimates, opening bid amounts, bidding increments, closing bids and marketplace prices that are displayed or quoted in any correspondence are always inclusive of any GST.
  • The price of items in the marketplace is fixed and inclusive of any GST.
  • We are required in Singapore to charge GST on the buyer's premium. Our buyer’s premium of 30% on top of the closing bid price for auction sales includes the GST.
  • GST can be zero-rated for auction items if the buyer is non-resident in Singapore and Hotlotz manages the export process for the items and the export is carried out within 60 days of the auction date. This applies for GST on the closing bid price (for all items except those that are sold by a named seller where GST is not charged by Hotlotz) and the buyer’s premium. In any other scenario, GST will usually be applied. Buyers of goods bought in auction who have indicated in their Hotlotz account that their country of residence is not Singapore will be contacted after the sale by Hotlotz client services to discuss the export of their goods.
  • Yes. GST can only be zero-rated for auction items if Hotlotz manages the export process.
  • No, you have to pay the full 'buy now' price (inclusive of any GST) for all items in the marketplace. Hotlotz is exploring participation in an electronic ‘Tourist Refund Scheme’. This will enable a tourist who makes a purchase from Hotlotz and departs with the goods from Singapore via Changi International Airport or Seletar Airport, to be eligible to claim a GST refund under the scheme.
  • Please let us know. If your Hotlotz account shows you are non-resident, you will be contacted after the auction anyway. You will be asked to confirm that you are non-resident and provide an overseas shipping address. You will also be asked to instruct Hotlotz to manage the export process on your behalf, and for it to take place within 60 days of the auction closing date. If you agree, Hotlotz will send an email with a link to a zero-rated GST invoice (where GST is chargeable by Hotlotz). Payment of that invoice is then due immediately.
  • Yes. We are required in Singapore to charge GST on the seller’s commission and any other miscellaneous charges like insurance fees.
  • Yes, Hotlotz has been GST registered since January 2021. Our GST registration number is 201524698M.
  • When I try to register for an auction or place a bid, I am presented with an ‘Invalid phone number format’ error. How do I fix this?
    This error occurs when there is no number (or an invalid number) in your Hotlotz account. To check this visit this link (https://www.hotlotz.com/account/profile) and click ‘MANAGE’ under your personal details to edit them. If a phone number has been entered, sometimes re-entering the country code and number can fix the error. If you still receive the error after following the above steps, reach out to help@hotlotz.com.
  • Firstly, check your spam/junk folder as there is a good chance the email could end up there. If it isn’t there then you can send a request to help@hotlotz.com.
  • Manage your communication preferences by signing into your account, going to 'My Account' then Account/Preferences. You can also unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each email.
  • No. Our website is fully dynamic meaning we do not need an app.
  • Send your issue/question to help@hotlotz.com. Please include your phone number so our IT support can call you back.

Next Auction

Jewellery & Watches - November

TIMED AUCTION | Jewellery & Watches - November

BIDDING ENDS ON SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER

FROM 6PM (SGT) / 10AM (GMT) onwards

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  • Hotlotz is registered with the Ministry of Law (PS20190001021) and licenced by the Singapore Police Force (L/LL/004682/2024/P).
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