How to Buy

Canada’s oldest and most diverse auction house, Waddington’s offers the very best across a wide range of categories, including Canadian, Asian, International, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Art, Decorative Arts and Design, Fine Jewellery, and Fine Wine and Spirits.

Featuring close to 100 auctions throughout the year, bid with confidence on www.waddingtons.ca anytime, anywhere. Connected to a global network, our team of experienced specialists looks forward to assisting you with virtually everything you may want to sell, buy or have appraised.

We are also the go-to auction company in Canada for unique estate and specially curated auctions. Every item offered is carefully researched, catalogued and presented, and our specialists are always pleased to provide further information including condition reports when desired.

More questions? We invite you to browse our FAQ.

Interested in bidding in our Fine Wine & Spirits auctions?

Visit wine.waddingtons.ca to find out more!


Find Out About Our Auctions

Our website allows you to search for specific items, artists or artworks.

Sign up for our email alerts to find out about upcoming auctions and events and to ensure that you never miss another auction.


How to start bidding

Please note we moved to a new auction platform on May 10, 2024. You will require a new account to bid in our auctions.

If you have not created an account, please create an account on www.waddingtons.ca in order to bid.

You can also register to bid while browsing an auction.

  1. Register. Don’t wait to register. Leave yourself plenty of time before the auction closes, to make sure your registration is approved and your bids are placed. Create your account here, or click ‘Register to bid’ on the lot page. You’ll be asked to provide a bit more information about yourself. Registration is easy and free.
  2. Check your email. Once your registration has been approved, you’ll receive an email notifying you that you are now able to bid. Your status will remain ‘pending’ until you are approved.
  3. Place your bid. You can place a bid as soon as the auction is posted. You can also add a reminder to your calendar so that you don’t miss an auction.

In addition to bidding on www.waddingtons.ca, you can also bid via the Invaluable platform but please note that you will require a separate login account to bid on invaluable.com.

On the go? We have an app for that!

We invite you to use our mobile app, available for iOS and Android, downloadable on the App Store and Google Play.

Find out more about the app here.


SOME NOTES ON BIDDING

Once your account has been created, you can place online bids anytime up until the end time for the desired lot.

  • Our online auctions are known as “timed sales” meaning that they will be available for bidding as soon as they are posted.
  • Lots will close consecutively at timed intervals of 1 minute.
  • Lots may go into ‘overtime’ if a bid is received in the final five minutes of the auction. The countdown clock is reset an additional five minutes, until no further bids are received.
  • You can also leave ‘absentee’ or ‘max’ bids by entering the maximum amount you would like to bid up to; the software will bid on your behalf up to that amount.

 


Payment & Getting Your Purchased Item(s) Home

Once your invoice has been paid in full, you can either pick up your purchased items or arrange for shipping. .

Items purchased must be picked up no later than 10 days after the auction has closed. Items not picked up within that time period may be subject to storage fees on a per lot basis at $15/week, unless other arrangements have been made with Waddington’s.

Note: Waddington’s does not undertake packing or shipping.

The purchaser must arrange for the services of an independent shipper and is responsible for all shipping, insurance expenses and any necessary export permits that may apply. We will, on request, provide names of professional packers and shippers but are not responsible for the service or have any liability for providing this information.

Reliable pre-auction estimates of shipping costs from our Toronto office may be obtained from:

PakShip
T: 905-470-6874
F: 905-470-6875
T: 416-293-8225
[email protected]
www.pakship.ca

Safer Shipping Inc. (Formerly Envoy)
T: 416-299-3367
[email protected]
www.safershipping.ca

Please note information regarding specialised shippers can be provided by department specialists.

Pick Up & Shipping from Vancouver

Please note that lots in our Waddington’s West auctions are located in Vancouver, BC.

When contacting the shippers please have your invoice number and item information ready. Contact is best via email.

The UPS Store 424
T: 604-559-5446
[email protected]

PakMail
T: 604-472-6245
[email protected]
www.pakmailcanada.com

Additionally, contact us to find out more about the inter-office shuttle between our Toronto and Vancouver offices.