How to Bid


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In Person

We hope that you will plan to attend our auction, and encourage you to arrive at least forty-five (45) minutes before the auction begins in order to complete bidder registration and receive your bidding number. Many seasoned auction veterans make a point of arriving early in order to allow themselves plenty of time to register and preview the lots which will be offered. Walker's will ask you to provide your name, address and telephone number. For those who qualify for a tax exemption, in addition to the above registration, you will be asked to provide applicable information such as PST and GST identification numbers, and/ or embassy number.

Once the auction begins, the auctioneer will look for an opening bid on each item. When you want to bid on an item, raise your bidding number and wait for the auctioneer to acknowledge your bid. When someone else raises their bidding number after you, the auctioneer will acknowledge them as the current high bidder and their bid amount will stand until another interested party raises the bid. This process will continue until one bidder stands unchallenged. The auctioneer will then give fair warning of his intention to sell the item to the final bidder. If no further bids are forthcoming, the auctioneer will declare the item sold and ask the successful bidder for his bidding number.

Should the item have a "reserve" (minimum price that the seller has indicated will be acceptable), which is not met, the auctioneer will advise that the item has not been sold and may indicate this with the word "pass".

Absentee bid

When you can't make it to the auction in person, a Walker's agent will bid on your behalf, with your prior written authorization. Alternatively, you may arrange to bid by telephone.

An absentee bid is your written instruction directing Walker's to bid for you on one or more lots---up to the maximum amount that you specify for each lot. Walker's staff will strive to obtain each item for you, for the lowest possible amount, based upon competing bids and any minimum prices.

Please bear in mind that in addition to the successful bid amount, the buyer is required to pay a buyer's premium and applicable sales taxes. Shipping costs will also be the buyer's responsibility.

You can arrange for an absentee bid by completing our Online Absentee Bid Form or downloading and completing our PDF Absentee Bid Form. These forms can be faxed or mailed or presented at the Registration Desk prior to the start of the auction. You may also telephone our offices with your instructions.

IMPORTANT: Our forms include a "PLUS ONE" column which authorizes Walker's representative to place one (1) additional bid in excess of your specified "TOP BID". If you do not wish to be bound by this additional bid , write "NO" in the "PLUS ONE" column, for each applicable lot.

We require that Absentee/Telephone Bid requests reach our offices at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the auction. Please view Frequently Asked Questions.

Telephone bid

We are pleased to be able to offer you the convenience of live telephone bidding. On the date of the auction, a Walker's representative will contact you, by telephone, when the lot in which you have indicated your interest is coming up for sale. The Walker's representative will relay your bids to the auctioneer during the bidding on your lot.

You can arrange for a telephone bid by completing our Online Telephone Bid Form or downloading and completing our PDF Telephone Bid Form. These forms can be faxed or mailed or presented at the Registration Desk prior to the start of the auction. You may also telephone our offices with your instructions.

We require that Absentee/Telephone Bid requests reach our offices at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the auction.

You may wish to consider an "Emergency Back-Up" bid which is a pre-arranged bid amount that a Walker's representative may execute on your behalf in the event that you cannot be reached by telephone when your item comes up for auction.

Please note that since telephone lines are limited, telephone bidding will be agreed to at the discretion of Walker's. Once the maximum number of telephone bids have been reached for a given lot, Walker's cannot accept additional telephone commitments.

Keep in mind that the Walker's representative will be speaking to you from a noisy, bustling auction hall. Please speak loudly, if you cannot be heard, you could miss the chance of bidding.

Walker's makes every effort to contact telephone bidders with sufficient time and warning, however, due to unforeseen circumstances such as faulty telephone connection, overloaded cellular networks, or close proximity to previous bidder, bidding could already by underway at the time we reach you. Jump right in!! Please view Frequently Asked Questions.