Frequently Asked Questions
Only registered bidders can participate in our online auctions. To register, select the “For Bidders” link on our home page and then select “New Bidder Registration”. Enter your contact information. When you submit the form a message will appear to give you instructions on how to submit your $100.00 deposit.
To reveal the answer to any of the following frequently asked questions, simply click on the question.
After you have registered online, you must send us a cashier's check or money order for $100.00. Please be sure to include your email address with the cashier's check or money order so we know which account to activate. As soon as we receive your deposit, we will send you your bidding number via e-mail and you will be activated to bid.
You may also utilize Pay Pal to submit your $100.00 refundable deposit. When you register, a link to Pay Pal will be provided at that time.
We require each bidder to post a $100.00 refundable deposit to ensure that each of our bidders is a valid, qualified bidder. This deposit method has been implemented for the protection and security of each of our bidders. Each bidder knows that all bidders are valid and that they have met the same requirements that you have to be able to bid online. The $100.00 deposit is fully refundable. It activates your account and you can then bid on any of our auction items in all online auctions conducted. You can either leave the $100.00 in your online account, which will keep your online account active so you do not have to post the $100.00 each time you want to bid, or you can apply the deposit to your purchase. The only instance in which your deposit would not be refunded would be if you failed to pay for any items won under your bidding number.
Just e-mail us with your account information and we will be happy to refund your deposit.
Select the auction you would like to view. When the bidding for the auction is open you will have the opportunity to enter Your Bid or your Maximum Bid for each item. Enter your bidding number and password at the bottom of the screen to submit the bid(s). You will then review your bid for accuracy. If you have made an error in your bid, this is your only chance to correct it. If your bid is correct as displayed, you will submit again for your bid to be registered.
Each auction has a contact person for that particular Seller. If you have any questions about an item, please contact the Seller.
A Maximum Bid is the highest dollar amount you are willing to pay for an item. IMPORTANT: YOU DO NOT NEED TO PLACE A STANDARD BID IN ORDER TO PLACE A MAXIMUM BID. Here is an example of using the Maximum bid feature: If you enter a Maximum bid the system will automatically bid on your behalf up to your Maximum bid amount. For example let's assume that the next bid requirement is $100.00, you enter a Maximum bid of $400. If no other bids are placed on that item you will be the winner at your $100 bid. If another bidder places a bid of $200 on the item you will now be winning at the $200 plus 1 increment level (for example: $200 + $10 = $210).
You can also raise your Maximum Bid WITHOUT having to raise your own bid! Our Maximum Bidding Tool will now allow you to raise your Maximum Bid. For example, you originally placed a Maximum Bid amount of $50.00 and now you want to increase the maximum bid to $100.00 - all you need to do is submit another bid for the $100.00 bid in the "Maximum Bid" box. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PUT A BID IN THE "STANDARD BID" BOX.
The Bid Increment is the minimum dollar amount required to raise the bid. Bid Increments will typically be in $5.00, $10.00, $20.00, $50.00 or $100.00 increments. You can bid higher than the minimum bid, or you may enter a Maximum bid, but you may not bid in denominations less than the set Bid Increment.
Each auction will end at a specified time. However, we use an auto-extend feature. With this feature, the bidding will remain open on any item that has received a bid within the last 5 minutes of its scheduled closing time. Once 5 minutes has elapsed without any bidding activity the bidding on the item will be closed. If there is more than one item in an auction the auction will have staggered ending times. When you click on "ALL ITEMS" in the Category List the first item that appears will close first. Each item will close one minute after the previous. For Example: If the auction is closing at 1:00 pm, the first item closes at 1:00 PM. The second item closes at 1:01 PM. The third item closes at 1:02 PM. This will continue until all items have closed. Also note that extended bidding is still in place. Therefore, if the first item goes into extended bidding the second item will still close at 1:01 PM and the third item will still close at 1:02 PM, etc. (unless they also go into extended bidding) while the first item is still in extended bidding. This scenario applies to all lots. If you have any questions regarding extended bidding, please contact us.
The Auto-extend time feature will leave the bidding open for any item that has received a bid within the last 5 minutes of its scheduled closing time, even if the original ending time has been reached.
During the bidding process you will need to refresh or reload your page to ensure you are viewing the most current bidding screen.
If you are the high bidder, the system will send you an Invoice via email when the auction ends. The Invoice will have complete instructions on payment.
When you win an item you will receive an Invoice via email which will give you complete details of your purchase. Payment in the form of a cashier's check or money order is to be sent next day delivery (overnight) to Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. All payments totaling over $10,000.00 MUST be paid with a single cashiers check or via wire transfer. We also accept Zelle, Wire Transfers, Cash, or Funds from your Refundable Deposit. WE DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS.
* To receive our Zelle account information, please reply to your invoice. LIMITED TO PAYMENTS UP TO $5000.00.
* To request wire transfer instructions, please reply to your invoice. NO LIMIT. There is NO fee for domestic wire transfers of any amount. There will be a fee for international wire transfers and that information will be provided upon request.
* To apply your refundable deposit towards this purchase, please reply to your invoice. LIMITED BY AMOUNT IN DEPOSIT AND NO OTHER WINNING BIDS. If we use a portion of your deposit for payment your account will be deactivated until such time as your deposit account is brought back to its required level. On occasion, we may use your deposit to process a paid receipt on or before the stated due date.
Please note that some of our sellers collect their own money; in such cases it will be clearly stated in the auction terms and on your invoice where the payment is to be sent and what forms of payment they accept. It is your responsibility to read each auctions Terms and Conditions to verify this information. For payments sent to us, our mailing address is below:
Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc.
1650 W. Virginia St., Suite 104
McKinney, TX 75069
If you want to pay in person you may visit our office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Important: Payment for all auction items must be received within four (4) business days of the close of the auction. Any payments not received within the (4) business days may result in a bidder being banned permanently from our auction site.
Yes you can. As long as you are not currently winning any other auction items OR have any outstanding invoices with us, you can request that your deposit be applied to your purchase. You can do this a couple of ways. If you registered with the intent of making a single purchase and you won the item, you can simply send in the invoice total less your $100.00. When we receive the payment, we will take the $100.00 out of your deposit and apply it towards the purchase along with your other form of payment.
If your total purchase is less than your $100.00 refundable deposit, you can email us through our "contact us" link and request that we make your auction payment with your deposit funds. You can also reply to your invoice and request the same. Many bidders do request that we use their deposit for small purchases. Then they will send us a cashier's check or money order via regular mail to replenish their deposit. Once we receive it, the account is reactivated. This is a faster, less expensive way to pay small invoices using your deposit funds.
Please note that any time a bidder's deposit falls below the $100.00 required amount, the account will become inactive. Also, if you email and request that we use a portion of your deposit towards a purchase, you will need to let us know if you want the remainder of your deposit refunded to you. We do not automatically refund partial deposit amounts unless specifically requested by the bidder.
Yes, those instances include, but may not be limited to the following:
Your payment has not arrived by the due date.
There are sufficient funds in your deposit to cover the amount due.
You have no other outstanding invoices with RBAI.
You are not currently winning on any other auctions.
In the event we use your deposit as payment, you will receive a paid receipt from us and your account will be deactivated until such time as you replenish the refundable deposit. In addition, if we issue a paid receipt out of your deposit, we will process the payment with sales tax included, if applicable, and there will be no refunds of sales tax if and when the actual payment arrives. The only instance we will not include sales tax in your payment under these circumstances is if we have a pre-approved resale or exemption on file for your company AT THE TIME THE RECEIPT IS ISSUED and the items being purchased on the invoice match the type of items your form has been approved for.
All information provided is intended to be used as a guideline only. Any questions regarding tax laws in the State of Texas should visit the state's website at https://comptroller.texas.gov. Any questions regarding tax laws in the State of Florida should visit their state's website at floridarevenue.com. As a sales and use tax permit holder, Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. (RBAI) MAY accept your request for an exemption of sales tax but we are not required to do so. In the event your request for a sales tax exemption is denied, RBAI will provide purchasers with a Form 00-985 Assignment of Right to Refund for sales tax paid for Texas auctions only. RBAI will not facilitate refund requests for sales tax paid in Florida or any other state.
In order to claim an exemption from sales tax for resale purposes, you will need to have a Sales and Use Tax Permit issued by the state in which you are located. Since laws vary from state to state in regards to the requirements for purchasing tax free, it is the purchaser's responsibility to know the laws of the states in which you are doing business. The information we provide in our Q&A section is general information and could change based on specific instances. If you have questions regarding a specific purchase you plan on making, please call and we will give you any information available to us.
FOR PURCHASES MADE IN TEXAS AUCTIONS, any bidder claiming resale on taxes must complete the Texas Sales & Use Tax Resale Certificate (Form 01-339 - This form can be found on our website by clicking on the Help Menu and then Forms.) If your business is located outside the State of Texas, you must also send us a copy of your sales and use tax permit issued by your home state. For all bidders claiming resale, the name and address on your permit must match your bidder profile or it will not be accepted. All previously submitted resale forms are kept with the specific auction for which they were submitted so you must send a new form with each payment. In addition, bidders may only use their sales tax permit to purchase items that would be sold in the normal course of their business type. If you are unsure what this means, please ask us before you make a purchase as our determination of this will be final.
We will not refund sales tax paid after a paid receipt has been issued so please ensure that your resale certificates are properly completed and submitted with your payment. Any requests for refund of sales tax after the sale is completed will be issued a Form 00-985 Assignment of Right to Refund in lieu of a refund of sales tax paid. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Please note that state law says we MAY accept your permit, but are not required to accept your permit and all decisions regarding sales tax exemptions will be at the sole discretion of Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. and our decision will be final.
FOR PURCHASES MADE IN FLORIDA AUCTIONS, Florida residents must provide us with a signed and dated copy of their Florida Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax (Form DR-13). For dealers located outside the State of Florida, those bidders will be required to sign and complete a statement included on their invoice that states all items purchased will be removed from the State of Florida and resold within six months. In addition, out of state dealers will be required to provide us with a copy of your Authority to do Business in your home state, which is generally a copy of your Sales and Use Tax Permit or Motor Vehicle License issued by your home state. For all bidders claiming resale, the name and address on your permit must match your bidder profile or it will not be accepted. All previously submitted resale forms are kept with the specific auction for which they were submitted so you must send a new form with each payment. In addition, bidders may only use their sales tax permit to purchase items that would be sold in the normal course of their business type. If you are unsure what this means, please ask us before you make a purchase as our determination of this will be final.
We will not refund sales tax paid after a paid receipt has been issued so please ensure that your resale certificates are properly completed and submitted with your payment. Any bidders requesting a refund of sales tax paid in the State of Florida will be referred to the Florida Department of Revenue for those refunds. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Please note that state law says we MAY accept your permit, but are not required to accept your permit and all decisions regarding sales tax exemptions will be at the sole discretion of Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. and our decision will be final.
All information provided is intended to be used as a guideline only. Any questions regarding tax laws in the State of Texas should visit the state's website at https://comptroller.texas.gov. Any questions regarding tax laws in the State of Florida should visit their state's website at floridarevenue.com. As a sales and use tax permit holder, Rene' Bates Auctioneers, Inc. (RBAI) MAY accept your request for an exemption of sales tax but we are not required to do so. In the event your request for a sales tax exemption is denied, RBAI will provide purchasers with a Form 00-985 Assignment of Right to Refund for sales tax paid for Texas auctions only. RBAI will not facilitate refund requests for sales tax paid in Florida or any other state.
Exemptions for sales tax can be obtained for various reasons. The main type of exemptions granted are for governmental entities (state, municipal, school districts, etc.) or for non-profit organizations, charitable, religious or educational organizations and being granted an exemption from sales tax varies from state to state. The information below pertains to Texas and Florida only. We DO NOT allow exemptions for any reason on purchases made from auctions that we conduct in other states.
FOR PURCHASES MADE IN TEXAS AUCTIONS, only Texas governmental entities are automatically exempt from sales tax. All other entities must file and receive authorization for sales tax exemptions specifically from the State of Texas. If your entity has not received this specific authorization, you will not be able to claim an exemption for sales tax. To verify if your entity has a sales tax exemption with the State of Texas, please go to https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/exempt/search.php
(If you are claiming an exemption for agricultural or timber production purposes, please see the section regarding agricultural exemptions for more information about those exemptions.)
Any bidder claiming exemption on taxes must complete the Texas Sales & Use Tax Exemption Certificate (Form 01-339 Back -This form can be found on our website by clicking on the Help Menu and then Forms.) For all bidders claiming exemption, the name and address on the state's records must match your bidder profile or it will not be accepted. All previously submitted exemption forms are kept with the specific auction for which they were submitted so you must send a new form with each payment.
We will not refund sales tax paid after a paid receipt has been issued so please ensure that your exemption certificates are properly completed and submitted with your payment. Any requests for refund of sales tax after the sale is completed will be issued a Form 00-985 Assignment of Right to Refund in lieu of a refund of sales tax paid. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Please note that state law says we MAY accept your exemption, but are not required to accept your exemption and all decisions regarding sales tax exemptions will be at the sole discretion of Rene' Bates Auctioneers, Inc.
FOR PURCHASES MADE IN FLORIDA AUCTIONS, bidders wishing to claim a sales tax exemption for any auctions in the State of Florida will be required to submit a signed copy of your Consumer's Certificate of Exemption DR-14. This includes all governmental entities, non-profit, religious, educational or any other type agency wishing to claim a sales tax exemption. Please note that in Florida, only the federal government is automatically exempt from sales tax. All other entities including but not limited to governmental agencies (state, municipal, etc.) and non-profit, religious or charitable foundations must apply for an exemption directly from the State of Florida at which time, once approved, will receive a Consumer's Certificate of Exemption DR-14. THERE WILL BE NO EXEMPTIONS ON SALES TAX ALLOWED FOR ANY REASON IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CONSUMER'S CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION (DR-14). THIS APPLIES TO ALL BIDDERS REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED.
We will not refund sales tax paid after a paid receipt has been issued so please ensure that your Consumer's Certificate of Exemption Form DR-14 is properly completed and submitted with your payment. Any bidders requesting a refund of sales tax paid in the State of Florida will be referred to the Florida Department of Revenue for those refunds. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Please note that state law says we MAY accept your certificate, but are not required to accept your certificate and all decisions regarding sales tax exemptions will be at the sole discretion of Rene' Bates Auctioneers, Inc. and our decision will be final.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all purchasers, including non-Texas residents, must have a valid Ag/Timber Number issued by the Texas State Comptroller to claim exemption from Texas tax. Purchasers who do not have a valid number must pay tax to suppliers at the time of purchase. The purchaser may then apply for a number, and, upon approval, may submit a refund claim for the purchased item directly to the Comptroller's office. Purchasers who do not have a valid registration number at the time of purchase may not request a refund directly from the supplier. THERE WILL BE NO AGRICULTURE OR TIMBER EXEMPTIONS ALLOWED WITHOUT THIS REGISTRATION NUMBER. In addition to the valid Ag/Timber Number, bidders must also complete the Texas Agriculture Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate (Form 01-924 - This form can be found on our website by clicking on the Help Menu and then Forms.) This form should be properly completed and sent in each time a bidder wishes to claim an agricultural exemption on purchases.
Please note that some items DO NOT qualify for sales and use tax exemptions for agricultural purposes, even if you have the registration number. If we deny your request for a sales tax exemption, at your request, we will provide you with a Form 00-985 Assignment of Right to Refund and you may apply for your sales tax refund directly from the State of Texas. For information regarding sales and use tax in Texas, go to https://comptroller.texas.gov.
FOR PURCHASES MADE IN FLORIDA AUCTIONS - To claim an exemption of any type for auctions located in the State of Florida, you must have the Consumer's Certificate of Exemption (Form DR-14) issued by the Florida Department of Revenue. No agricultural or farm exemptions will be allowed without this form.
All information provided is intended to be used as a guideline only. Any questions regarding tax laws in the State of Texas should visit the state's website at https://comptroller.texas.gov. Any questions regarding tax laws in the State of Florida should visit their state's website at floridarevenue.com. As a sales and use tax permit holder, Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. (RBAI) MAY accept your request for an exemption of sales tax but we are not required to do so. In the event your request for a sales tax exemption is denied, RBAI will provide purchasers with a Form 00-985 Assignment of Right to Refund for sales tax paid for Texas auctions only. RBAI will not facilitate refund requests for sales tax paid in Florida or any other state.
Yes. Texas sales tax is due when the customer picks up or takes delivery of a taxable item in Texas. State law states that once a customer exports the item to another country, the retailer MAY refund the tax collected if the customer gives acceptable proof of export certifying that the merchandise was taken outside the United States. However, since we do not facilitate the shipping of any items sold on our website, we do not accept exemptions for this reason. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL NOT ISSUE REFUNDS ON SALES TAX PAID FOR ITEMS EXPORTED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. BIDDERS PURCHASING ITEMS FOR EXPORT MUST PAY THE SALES TAX AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. WE WILL, HOWEVER, BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHT TO REFUND IN LIEU OF A REFUND OF SALES TAX PAID, UPON YOUR REQUEST. (If you are a Retailer based in Mexico, please see the following question for instructions on what is required in lieu of paying the sales tax in Texas.)
All information provided is intended to be used as a guideline only. Any questions regarding tax laws in the State of Texas should visit the state's website at https://comptroller.texas.gov. As a sales and use tax permit holder, Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. (RBAI) MAY accept your request for an exemption of sales tax but we are not required to do so. In the event your request for a sales tax exemption is denied, RBAI will provide purchasers with a Form 00-985 Assignment of Right to Refund for sales tax paid for Texas auctions only.
Yes. The Border States Caucus (Texas, Arizona, California and New Mexico), together with the United Mexican States have programs which promote trade in the southwest region of the United States of America in accordance with the objectives set out under NAFTA. The caucus has developed the Border States Uniform Sale for Resale Certificate (Form 01-909) which can be found under our Help Menu which simplifies these transactions. Businesses buying goods for resale in these states which will be transported across the national border to Mexico may use this certificate in lieu of a state resale certificate. Goods are materials and other tangible property. The certificate must be completed by the buyer and given to the seller. The certificate must be completed in its entirety and the customer must provide us with a copy of their Federal Taxpayers Registry (RFC) identification number for retailers based in Mexico. We cannot accept any incomplete documents as they may be invalid. In addition, the name and address on your RFC number must match your bidder profile exactly or it will not be accepted.
If you are a Mexican retailer, you may also provide us with a properly completed Texas Sales and Use Tax Resale Certificate (Form 01-339) along with a copy of your RFC number. If you are a retailer based in Mexico, we will accept either form as long as they are filled out in their entirety and all information is valid and matches your bidder profile. In the event we deny your request for a sales tax exemption, we can provide you with an Assignment of Right to Refund Form 00-985 and you may request your refund directly from the State of Texas.
All information provided is intended to be used as a guideline only. Any questions regarding tax laws in the State of Texas should visit the state's website at www.window.state.tx.us. As a sales and use tax permit holder, Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. (RBAI) MAY accept your request for an exemption of sales tax but we are not required to do so. In the event your request for a sales tax exemption is denied, RBAI will provide purchasers with a Form 00-985 Assignment of Right to Refund for sales tax paid for Texas auctions only.
1650 W Virginia St, Ste 104 McKinney, TX 75069 (972) 548-9636
TX LIC 12100; TX LIC 15025; AL LIC C140;
FL LIC AB55; FL LIC AU2085; FL LIC AU4025
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