Frequently Asked Questions

A: For the integrity of our auction and our bidders we don’t disclose reserve prices.

In an auction, "reserve not met" means that the bidding has not reached the minimum price set by the auction house, known as the reserve price. The reserve price is the lowest amount that the auction house is willing to accept for the item. If the bidding does not meet or exceed this price, the item will not be sold.

Confidentiality: The reserve price is confidential and not disclosed to bidders. The reserve price protects the seller from having to sell an item for less than its value or their desired amount.

What does reserve not met mean?

In an auction, it means that the highest bid has not reached the minimum price (the reserve price) set by NY Elizabeth. In this case, the item will not be sold unless a bid meets or exceeds that reserve price.

If bidding does not reach that threshold, the auction ends without a sale on the day of the auction when it goes live for everyone to bid. Placing an absentee bid doesn't make you a winner or loser; the winner is announced after the live auction has ended. 

A: If your account is not verified, you have an open dispute,  or you have no payment history please email us the following by going to contact page of nyelizabeth.com.  Include your full name, address, mobile number, a form of identification, and the catalog you need approval, and the amount you are requesting. You would need to send us a bank wire deposit or sign up for our Tier 1 or 2 membership.

A: We do not provide phone support as we have found that email support allows us to provide the fastest and most effective assistance. We understand that waiting on hold can be frustrating, and we strive to offer you the best support experience possible. 

A: Due to the large number of auctions we have monthly, we no longer offer additional images. We believe if you can't make a decision to bid based on the images we provide, then it's best you don't participate in bidding for that particular lot. Also, please note that if you click on an image, it will enlarge, which is a higher resolution.

Absentee Bidding

Bidders may place absentee bids in advance of the live auction. Our hassle-free absentee bidding system ensures you get the best prices. Be sure to submit your maximum bid amount before the live auction begins. Your bid stays at the lowest minimum amount required to keep you in the lead, and increases (up to your max amount) only if another bidder places a competing bid. A common strategy among bidders is placing a lower absentee bid followed by a live bid during the auction.

Live Bidding

This is the preferred method of bidding when you bid live during the auction. Live auctions begin at the time indicated on catalog and item pages. To bid live, simply visit the catalog or item at the indicated auction time, and click ‘Enter Live Auction’. You will be taken to the bidding console where the live auction is taking place. Simply wait for the lot number and happy bidding.

A. Clients that bid and win on Live Auctioneers, Invaluable, Lot-tissimo, and The Saleroom will incur a 4% surcharge.  If you bid directly from NY Elizabeth, there is no internet surcharge

A. We offer two tier membership. Tier 1: $120 annual membership,  instant approval to our upcoming auctions with up to $5000 bid limit, after auction offers for jewelry and handbags.

Tier 2: $480 annual membership,  instant approval to our upcoming auctions up to $25k bid limit, Up to 12 monthly  certificate of authenticity and insurance appraisal pdf from NY Elizabeth  with any jewelry, watch or handbags from our auction or private sales. After auction offers for all categories.

You must be invited to our membership program

A. We don't share certificate of watches as they contain the serial number of the watch.

A. If you are a dealer and have a resale certificate please email us a copy of your certificate in pdf format and your identification card to [email protected] prior to the auction date for your resale certificate approval.

A. We don't remove the frames of paintings to measure the canvas only.  Certain paintings from our private sales and above certain pricing will  include both measurements with the canvas and the frame measurements.  

A. This could have multiple reasons, either the lot was sold and payment was not received, the lot reserve was not met and was sold to the floor, or a client (dealer) purchased it and wanted to re-list it again. 

Q. Could there be a delay for my vehicle, which I won and paid for to ship to me? 

A. Winning Bidders Please note: CHP requires  vehicle safety inspection of 8–12 weeks for certain vehicles if shipped within the United

Q. Are your vehicle descriptions accurate?

A. The vehicle description is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it was posted to our auction. All information provided is true to our best efforts but not guaranteed, and we assume no liability for any omissions or errors.

Q. I reside in California and am looking to bid on a vehicle in your auction can I bid?

A. If you are a CA resident and looking to place a bid in our auction, please contact us first at [email protected] and let us know the link to the vehicle, so we can check to see if it will pass CA smog.

Q. I placed an absentee bid, and it says reserve not met?

A. NY Elizabeth's consigners reserve the right to lower or raise the reserve price of a lot. Please only bid with the intention of winning. Winning bidders are determined when the auction goes live and the lot hammer is placed on that specific lot.

The attributions included on the descriptions will follow the below examples:

“Attributed to Pablo Picasso” - In our opinion, on the basis of style, the work can be ascribed to the named artist but less certainty as to authorship is expressed than in the preceding category. 

“Studio of Pablo Picasso” - In our opinion, a work by an unknown hand in the studio of the artist, which may or may not have been executed under the artist's direction. 

“Circle of Pablo Picasso” - In our opinion, a work by an as of yet unidentified but distinct hand closely associated with the named artist but not necessarily his pupil. 

“Style of or Follower of Pablo Picasso” - In our opinion, a work by a painter working in the artist's style, contemporary or nearly contemporary, but not necessarily his pupil. 

“Manner of Pablo Picasso” - In our opinion, a work in the style of the artist and of a later date. 

“After Pablo Picasso” - In our opinion, a copy of a known work of the artist. 

Please note that the term “signed and/or dated and/or inscribed” means that, in our opinion, a signature and/or date and/or inscription are from the hand of the artist. 

The term “bears a signature and/or date and/or an inscription” means that, in our opinion, a signature and/or date and/or inscription have been added by another hand

NY Elizabeth Bidders FAQ: Accidental Bids

Q. Are all live auction bids binding, even if they were accidental?
Yes, all live auction bids are binding. This includes accidental bids, regardless of the circumstances. Clients are responsible for ensuring the security of their devices during the auction.

Q. What happens if my child, pet, or someone else places a bid on my device?
We’ve had clients report bids placed by children, cats, dogs, and even horses. However, you are still fully responsible for any bids placed through your account. Always ensure your device is secure and properly positioned during live auctions.

Q. Can I cancel an accidental live bid?
No, you cannot cancel live bids under any circumstances. Once submitted, they are considered final and binding.

Q. What should I do if I realize I've accidentally placed a bid?
Unfortunately, accidental live bids cannot be undone. If you win the lot, you are obligated to complete the purchase under NY Elizabeth’s terms and conditions.

Q. Can I cancel an accidental absentee bid?
Yes, if you placed an absentee bid by mistake, you can cancel it up to 48 hours before the auction begins.

6. How can I cancel an absentee bid?

1. Log in to your account where you placed your bid.
2. Go to your dashboard.
3. Select the lot and locate your absentee bid.
4. Follow the prompts to cancel the bid before the 48-hour deadline.

What steps can I take to avoid accidental bids?
• Always double-check your bid before confirming.
• Secure your device to prevent accidental interactions.
• Familiarize yourself with the platform’s interface before participating in live auctions.

Does NY Elizabeth make any exceptions for accidental bids?
No exceptions are made for accidental bids during live auctions to maintain fairness and integrity for all participants.

In the event of nonpayment, your invoice will be subject to a $1450 legal fee, a 25% cancellation fee, and an additional $150 administrative fee to offset our losses. 

For further questions or concerns, please contact NY Elizabeth’s Customer Support team. [email protected]

NY Elizabeth Retracted Bids for Reserve lots 

For lots subject to a reserve, NY Elizabeth reserves the right, in its sole discretion and in consultation with the item seller, to retract a bid placed from the floor in order to facilitate a sale below the stated reserve price. This may occur to retract a previously entered floor bid used as a lottery reserve to enable a sale below the stated reserve price. This may be used solely to facilitate a legitimate transaction where the seller has agreed to accept a lower final bid amount. All bidders are expected to place bids with the genuine intention of completing a purchase. Placing bids without the intent to win is strictly prohibited and may result in the removal of bidding privileges. In the event a winning bidder attempts to retract or cancel a bid, NY Elizabeth reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the final bid price, plus an administrative fee and Internet fee, in its sole discretion.

NY Elizabeth Bidders IP Address logs for bidder identity

At NY Elizabeth, we take the integrity and security of our auctions seriously. To help ensure a fair and trustworthy bidding environment, we utilize multiple tools to verify bidder activity, including the tracking of IP address history and bid patterns. Each time a bid is placed, the Live Auctioneers system logs the bidder’s IP address along with the time and device used. By analyzing both historical bid activity and network behavior, we can identify and prevent fraudulent actions, safeguarding the experience for all our clients.