How do I register to buy?
To bid on and buy art, you will be required to provide a login name, password, e-mail address and credit card number (for identity verification only). You will also need to create a user screen name (this is different from your login name and helps protect your privacy). Join now.

How do I sign up as a seller?
To become an artnet seller you must first be approved. You will need to provide certain information, after which your application will be reviewed by artnet. To apply, click here.

Who are artnet's sellers?
Every artnet Online Auctions seller has been approved by artnet after a thorough review. Many artnet sellers are galleries and dealers with whom artnet already enjoys a business relationship. artnet's goal is to create a marketplace for the secure buying and selling of works of art, and the company is careful to admit only sellers whose practices and reputations are consistent with artnet's own stature within the art world.
 
I’m outside the United States. Can I sell on artnet?
Art dealers from around the world are invited to apply to sell on artnet Online Auctions.  
Click here to begin the seller application process.

Is there a fee to get started?
There is no fee to register as a buyer. In order for artnet to provide assurance to our sellers, all bidders credit cards must be properly verified.  This process includes $1.00 of your available credit being put on hold for up to 10 business days during buyer registration or seller verification.

For sellers, listing fees and commission rates are explained during the application process.

How do I search?
The basic search function is located at the top right of every page. For more refined results, click Advanced Search.

Can I search by Auction ID?
If you know the unique auction ID of an item, go to the Advanced Search page and use the “Quick Find” box at the bottom of the form.

How do I browse by category?
Click Browse Auctions (in the main navigation), then select either an artist or a category such as Photography, Prints, Paintings, Works on Paper or Sculpture.

How do I browse by artist?
You can browse by artist in two ways: 

1. Click Browse Auctions in the left navigation. There you will find a list of artists whose work is currently for sale on artnet Online Auctions.
2. Click Advanced Search and begin typing the name of the artist into the appropriate field. The system will suggest matches. Select the name you want, then click Search.

What is a Market Performance Report?
Market Performance Reports are a proprietary, fee-based service provided by artnet.com. The seven charts in each artnet Market Performance Report compile yearly auction market information from artnet’s Price Database on over 4,300 of the most important artists driving the global public auction market. These charts provide information which assists collectors, appraisers, advisors, curators, financial institutions and art investors, and track such market trends as liquidity, volatility, sales volume and pricing for artworks of interest.

When you view lots at auction, you may be shown a Market Performance Report providing relevant information for that particular artist and work.

How do I use the Messaging Center?
Click My Account, then the “View Messages” button to access your Messaging Center. New messages are also indicated in the upper right-hand corner above the search field on any artnet Online Auctions Page.

How do I contact artnet?
Contact us via e-mail or give us a call at +1 877-388-3256 in the US or +49 (0) 30 2091 7850 in Germany. Please provide as many details about your concern as possible, such as dates, auction IDs, user screen names and anything else needed to help us answer your question.

How are featured lots chosen for the artnet Online Auctions homepage?
Featured lots are selected by the artnet Online Auctions web team.

How long do featured lots remain on the homepage?
There is no set length of time for which a lot remains featured on the home page, but typically they are featured no longer than the duration of an auction.

What happens if a featured lot on the homepage sells?
Lots featured on the home page are, by definition, available for sale. If a featured lot sells, it will no longer be featured on the home page, nor will it be displayed anywhere on the site as available for sale.

How do I know what an item is worth?
Valuation is by its nature subjective. To provide guidance, artnet has supplied helpful information, when available, on the lot detail page, including the artist’s past sales results and market trends graph.

How do I bid?
Bidding is secure and easy. On the lot detail page, click the “Place Bid” button. This will open a form into which you can enter your bid amount. You must be a registered user of artnet Online Auctions. Not a member?  Join now.

How does the SmartBid service work?
When you bid on an auction, you are asked to provide your maximum bid.  This is the amount that you are willing to pay for the lot.  The artnet SmartBid service automatically bids on your behalf, as needed, up to your maximum bid.  This includes bidding on your behalf to meet the reserve price at auction close in the event that there are no other competing bids.

How does reserve work with the artnet SmartBid service?
If there are no competing bids, the artnet SmartBid service will bid on your behalf up to the reserve price at the close of the auction.

How do I “Purchase Now”?
You may only “Purchase Now” if the seller has enabled this option. This will be indicated on the listing. When you click a “Purchase Now” button, you will be redirected to a confirmation page.

How do I cancel/retract my bid?
A bid can be retracted within 15 minutes of placing it, unless the auction has less than one (1) hour remaining. Retract a bid by contacting artnet at one of the numbers below. This is the only way to retract a bid.

If you are within these guidelines, please contact a coordinator by calling +1 877-388-3256 in the US or +49 (0) 30 2091 7850 in Germany.

How do I view the auctions I’m currently bidding on?
Go to your My Account page, click “All Buying,” then “Active Bids.”

How do I add an item to my Watch List?
On the lot detail page, click “Add to Watch List.” To see the lots you are watching, go to your My Account page and click “All Buying,” then “Watch List.”

How do I contact the seller?
You may send the seller a message using the Messaging Center or make contact through a link on that specific seller’s profile page.

What is a bid alert?
Bid alerts are generated automatically and inform you when you’ve been outbid, won an auction or received an offer. To view your alerts, go to your My Account page, click “All Buying,” then “Alerts.”

How do I see what lots I did and didn’t win?
Go to your My Account page and click “All Buying,” then “Items Won” Or “Items Not Won.”

What are the shipping policies?
Every seller is required to post detailed shipping information for his or her lots. Shipping costs are partially dependent upon the buyer’s location. If you have questions, contact the seller.

Why did the auction end with the winning bid between two increments?
The winning bid was from a buyer who used a bidding agent. The auction system will accept a bidding agent’s bid of any amount over the current bid as a final bid of an auction.

How can I pay for an item I’ve won?
Each seller has specific payment options for his or her lots. If the information provided by the seller is not clear, please contact the seller.

What is the buyer’s premium? How am I charged for this?
artnet charges each winning buyer a commission payable to artnet known as buyer’s premium. Currently, a 10% buyer’s premium is charged on all winning transactions – this premium is based on the winning bid amount (e.g., if the winning bid was $1,000, the buyer’s premium will be $100, payable to artnet). Once the auction closes where you are the winning bidder – your credit card on file with artnet will be charged the buyer’s premium, which is currently 10%. If the charges are declined, artnet will contact you via e-mail. Please update your e-mail address should it change, as it is the primary communication venue between you and the auctions platform. Should you have any questions, contact us via e-mail or give us a call at +1 877-388-3256 in the US or +49 (0) 30 2091 7850 in Germany.

Is artnet in US dollars ($), and how do I convert currencies?
Currently, all items must be listed in US dollars ($). artnet will calculate and display the corresponding amount in Euros (?) based on the previous business day’s rates as reported on http://oanda.com/

How do I list an item for auction?
On the Manage Auctions & Inventory page, select “Enter a New Lot” and follow the directions. You must be a registered seller to list an item for sale.

What do I do if I can’t find my artist?
If your chosen artist is not in the artnet database, you must contact us by e-mail or call us at +1 877 388 3256 in the US or +49 (0) 30 2091 7850 in Germany.

How do I add/upload photos to my lot?
In step five of the “Enter New Lot” process, you will have the opportunity to upload image files from your computer to artnet Online Auctions.

Can I edit or remove photos from my lot?
Once your lot has been approved for auction by artnet, you cannot edit or remove any photos. Please contact us or call us at +1 877 388-3256 in the US or +49 (0) 30 2091 7850 in Germany if you must make changes to a live listing.

Can I change the order of photos in my listing?
Yes. During step five of the “Enter New Lot” process, after your photos have been uploaded, you can change the order by using our advanced drag and drop capability. However, if your listing has already been approved by artnet, no changes can be made.

I’m having trouble uploading my pictures. What should I do?
We’re sorry you’re having difficulty. The most common reason for having trouble is that your image size is too big. If the image file size is larger than 500k, you will need to shrink the image using image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. Still having problems? Contact us or give us a call at +1 877 388-3256 in the US or +49 (0) 30 2091 7850 in Germany.

What does “Relist” mean?
If a lot does not sell at auction, it can be set to automatically list again at a later date. This option can be activated when a seller creates a new listing by selecting the “Relist” feature during step four of the “Enter a New Lot” process.

How do I delete a listing?
Visit your seller inventory page and click the “X” next to the listing you wish to delete. You cannot delete a live auction; however, you can delete “Purchase Now” items even when they are live. Note: If you need to stop a standard live auction, you must contact us or call us at +1 877 388 3256 in the US or +49 (0) 30 2091 7850 in Germany.

If I delete a listing, is my listing fee refunded?
If the listing has been reviewed and accepted for auction by artnet, the fee is nonrefundable. If the listing has not yet been reviewed, then it may be deleted at no charge to you.

How do I contact the buyer?
You may send the buyer a message using the Messaging Center or make contact through a link on that specific buyer’s profile page.

How do I view my sold lots, pending lots and current lots?
Visit your Manage Auctions & Inventory page.

How do I view my invoices?
Visit your My Account page and click “Invoices and Payments.” Current invoices will be available on the fifth business day of the month and will cover all fees and commissions for the previous calendar month.

How do I pay my artnet fees?
Sellers can make payments for current and past invoices via the “Make a Credit Card Payment” link found on the Invoices and Payments page. If you select the “Automatically Charge My Card” option, artnet will charge all outstanding auction fees for the prior month to the credit card on file. artnet will continue to charge your credit card each month until you cancel this option.

How do I leave feedback about a buyer or seller?
You may leave feedback for a buyer or seller after your transaction is completed. Return to the lot detail page and click “Leave Feedback” to open a form which allows you to provide a rating and brief written comment.

How do I view my feedback?
Access your feedback from your Profile page.

Can I remove negative feedback?
Generally no, unless it has been left as the result of a misunderstanding. Contact us if you have concerns about this matter, and our customer service staff will be happy to assist you.

I’ve left negative feedback by mistake or for the wrong person. What should I do?
Contact us, and it will be withdrawn.

I believe I’ve received unwarranted negative feedback. What should I do?
Contact us, and our customer service staff will be happy to assist you.

I never received a confirmation e-mail. Where is it?
With today’s anti-spam filters, sometimes legitimate e-mails don’t get through. Check your junk mail or spam folder. Alternately, you may have mistakenly typed in the wrong e-mail address. If you cannot find your confirmation e-mail, you may need to complete and submit your application again. You can always contact us, and a Client Services Representative will be happy to assist you.

I forgot my password, username and/or e-mail address. What should I do?
Contact us, and we will be happy to provide them to you.

I’m a buyer and would like to update my public profile.
Click My Account to edit your public profile, contact information and password.

I’m a buyer and would like to change my account information. How do I do that?
Visit your My Account page to access or change your buyer profile and contact information.

I’m a seller and would like to update my seller profile.
Visit My Account and select “Seller Profile.”

I’m a seller and would like to update my billing or account information. How do I do that?
Visit your My Account page to access or change your seller profile, contact information and billing information.

Can I change my screen name?
Please contact us for help changing your screen name.

How do I change my password?
Go to your My Account page and click “Change Password.”

How do I change the e-mail and/or mailing address for my artnet account?
Go to your My Account page, click “Contact Information” and enter your new addresses.

How do I close my artnet account?
A Client Services representative will be happy to assist you with closing your artnet account. Please contact us.

I received a notice that my credit card expired. What should I do?
Go to your My Account page, click “Billing Information” and enter a valid credit card.

Why is my credit card being declined?
Credit card validation is done by a third-party service. Occasionally credit cards are declined because the card issuer suspects fraudulent activity, or because a credit limit has been reached. You should contact your credit card company for an explanation. Meanwhile, please try another card.

What steps can I take to protect myself when buying on artnet Online Auctions?
All artnet sellers are individually authorized by artnet. Most sellers are well-known members of the art community with whom artnet has done business previously. Your best protection is to follow the Terms of Use and conduct all business regarding the sale via artnet Online Auctions. And, of course, gather all information that you need – e.g., previous sales by the artist, damage reports, etc. As per the artnet Assurance Policy, if you buy an item that is not delivered as indicated in the description, the sale can be rescinded and your purchase price refunded.

I have a dispute with another artnet Online Auctions member. What should I do?
Most disputes occur due to misunderstandings between the buyer and seller. First, try to communicate directly with your trading partner to resolve the issue. In extreme cases, artnet may become involved to mediate a dispute.  If you would like additional information, please e-mail us or call us at +1 877 388-3256 in the US or +49 (0) 30 2091 7850 in Germany.

How do I report an item that seems to be violating artnet rules and policies?
If you see an item violating our Terms of Use, please contact us directly.

Why was my account suspended?
There are a few reasons why your account may be suspended from artnet Online Auctions. Contact us to discuss your account suspension.

As a buyer, how do I report a problem with an item?
If an item you paid for was not shipped by the seller, is significantly different than described or arrives damaged, please contact the seller directly.

How do I report a seller or buyer for not completing a transaction?
Please contact us immediately.

How do I get refunds for transactions gone awry?
In most cases, the seller should refund your purchase price. In extreme situations, artnet will become involved to help resolve the dispute. Please contact the seller directly.

What is the Beta version of artnet Online Auctions?
Beta is a test version of the site that is functional for the general public to use, although users may still encounter issue while transacting on the website or using its features. Companies launch in “Beta” to identify all the problems that only become apparent when a large number of outside users access the site.