Auction Terms & Conditions
General auction terms and conditions.
These general provisions explain recurring rules. Every auction may add, replace or modify terms through its catalog, platform, bidder agreement, important information, announcements and invoice.
What you should know
- Registration and bids
- Buyer’s premium, tax and payment
- As-is, where-is inspection responsibility
- Removal, default and site safety
Direct answer
Do not use this page to guess a buyer’s premium, payment deadline or removal date. Those facts vary. Before bidding, read the specific auction’s complete terms and important information. If the sale-specific documents conflict with this general page, the authorized sale-specific documents control.
Last updated: July 14, 2026
1. Scope and order of authority
These are general terms for auctions involving Sterling Machinery Auctions LLC. The responsible auctioneer, seller or platform may be identified differently in a specific sale. The auction catalog, bidder agreement, platform terms, lot page, important information, authorized announcements, invoice and written amendments are incorporated as applicable.
Sale-specific provisions control over this general page. Authorized announcements or posted corrections may control over earlier descriptions to the extent stated in the auction terms.
2. Registration, eligibility and authority
- Bidders must provide accurate information, satisfy age and legal-capacity requirements and complete requested identity, payment, deposit or financial verification.
- A person bidding for a company or third party represents that they have authority to bind that principal and may be jointly responsible where the terms provide.
- Registration may be approved, limited, suspended or denied in the auctioneer’s discretion consistent with law and the sale terms.
- Bidders are responsible for credentials, devices, connections and activity through their account and must report suspected compromise promptly.
3. Bidding and sale conduct
- A bid is a binding commitment subject to the auction terms and cannot be casually withdrawn.
- The auctioneer may regulate bidding, set increments, resolve disputes, reject bids, reopen bidding, group or regroup lots, offer bulk combinations, withdraw lots and correct errors as permitted by the terms.
- Lots may be sold with reserve, subject to seller confirmation or other stated conditions. The highest displayed bid is not necessarily an accepted sale until the applicable condition is satisfied.
- Timed auctions may use staggered closing and automatic extensions. Live webcast auctions may involve internet delay; the auctioneer’s record controls.
- Collusion, bid manipulation, false identity and interference with the auction are prohibited.
4. Buyer’s premium, taxes and total price
The successful buyer pays the winning bid plus the published buyer’s premium and all applicable taxes, fees and charges stated in the sale documents. Rates can differ by platform, payment method or onsite/online participation.
Tax is collected unless Sterling receives timely, complete and acceptable exemption documentation. Buyers remain responsible for the accuracy of certificates and for use tax, duties, export charges or other obligations not collected.
5. Property condition and buyer inspection
- Unless an express written warranty states otherwise, property is offered as is, where is, with all faults and without implied warranty of merchantability, fitness, condition, accuracy, safety or compliance, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
- Descriptions, photos, videos, measurements, hours, mileage, year, model, capacity and condition statements are provided to identify property and may contain errors or information supplied by others.
- Buyers are responsible for inspection and for determining condition, completeness, title issues, application, safety, code compliance, export eligibility, rigging and transportation.
- A power-up, video, demonstration or statement that a machine was operating does not establish accuracy, full functionality or future performance.
- Only items specifically included in the lot description transfer. Background items, data, programs, software, passwords, intellectual property and licenses are excluded unless expressly included in writing.
6. Payment and wire security
- Full payment must be made by the method and deadline stated in the auction-specific terms and invoice.
- Funds must be received, verified and cleared before release. Screenshots, payment orders and pending transfers are not cleared funds.
- Sterling Machinery Auctions LLC will not unexpectedly change payment instructions. Buyers must independently verify any wire using a known phone number such as 626-444-0311.
- Third-party payments, split payments, credit cards, checks or financing require express approval when permitted.
- The buyer is responsible for bank fees, currency conversion and other payment costs unless the sale documents state otherwise.
7. Title, risk, release and removal
- Title and risk of loss pass as stated in the sale-specific terms; they may pass at acceptance, invoice, payment or another defined event.
- No property may be removed until full cleared payment and authorized release. Buyers and contractors must present required documentation.
- The buyer is responsible for disconnecting, rigging, loading, transportation, permits, insurance and restoration unless a lot expressly includes a service.
- Removal must occur during published hours, by appointment and before the final deadline. Approved riggers or certificates of insurance may be required.
- Buyers and contractors must comply with site safety, PPE, security, lockout/tagout, environmental, floor-protection and cleanup rules.
- Fixtures, utilities and property not purchased may not be altered or removed. Damage caused during removal is the buyer’s responsibility as stated in the terms.
8. Default, abandonment and remedies
Failure to pay, remove, provide required insurance or comply with the terms constitutes default. Remedies may include cancellation, retention of deposit or payment, resale, recovery of deficiency, storage, interest, legal fees, removal, disposal, site-damage costs and suspension from future auctions, as allowed by the sale terms and law.
Property remaining after the removal deadline may be deemed abandoned and handled as provided in the specific terms. The buyer remains responsible for resulting costs and liabilities.
9. Safety, indemnity and third-party services
Inspection and removal sites are industrial environments. Visitors enter subject to site rules and assume ordinary risks to the extent permitted by law. Minors may be prohibited. No person may operate, disconnect or move equipment without authorization and appropriate qualification.
Riggers, carriers, inspectors and other third parties are independent providers unless a written agreement says otherwise. Referrals are not warranties. Buyers should verify licensing, insurance, experience, equipment and contract terms.
Indemnity, liability limitations, dispute procedures, governing law, venue and time limits are set by the auction-specific terms and applicable law.
10. Export, data and restricted property
- Buyers are responsible for export controls, sanctions, end-use, customs, permits and destination restrictions.
- Computers and controls may contain seller or customer data. Buyers must follow written data-removal instructions and acquire no rights to excluded data or intellectual property.
- Software and licenses transfer only when expressly authorized and legally transferable.
- Vehicles, titled assets, firearms, chemicals, regulated equipment or other special property may require additional documents and restrictions.
11. Errors, severability and contact
Sterling may correct typographical, clerical, technical and catalog errors and issue authorized updates. If a provision is unenforceable, it will be limited or severed to the extent allowed while the remaining terms continue.
Questions must be raised before bidding. Contact Sterling Machinery Auctions LLC through the Contact Us page or at 626-444-0311.
Related auction resources
Use these pages to continue without starting over.
Frequently asked questions
Are these the final terms for every auction?
No. They are general provisions. The sale-specific catalog, platform, bidder agreement, announcements, invoice and written amendments control.
Are auction machines sold with a warranty?
Unless an express written warranty says otherwise, used auction property is commonly sold as is, where is, with inspection and suitability responsibility on the buyer.
Can the auctioneer group or withdraw lots?
Many sale terms authorize grouping, regrouping, bulk offers, withdrawal and correction. Review the specific terms and announcements.
What happens if I miss removal?
Default, storage, abandonment, resale, disposal and damage provisions vary. Contact the removal coordinator immediately, but do not assume an extension.
Should these general terms be reviewed by counsel?
Yes. Sterling should have counsel confirm that the published language matches current contracts, platform practices, jurisdictions and actual auction procedures.
Questions about this page or an auction?
The catalog and sale-specific documents control each transaction. Contact Sterling Machinery Auctions LLC before bidding or sending funds if anything is unclear.
