Understanding why Auction Houses can’t accept every item.
At Abbeys Auctions, the team works hard to strike a careful balance between sourcing interesting, good-quality stock and ensuring vendors are not left disappointed.
If you’re unsure whether your items are suitable, Abbeys encourages people to send photos for assessment. Even if the item isn’t a good fit today, market trends change – and something that’s out of fashion now could become collectable in the future.
When it comes to selling unwanted items, many people turn to auction houses as a trusted and transparent solution. But it can be disheartening to hear that your items aren’t suitable for auction. So why do auction houses say no?
Hugh Farrelly, owner and valuer at Abbeys Auctions, provides some insights to demystify the process.
“Our job is to act in the best interest of both the vendor and the buyer,” says Hugh. “That means we can only accept items that we believe have a good chance of selling – and at a price that justifies the time, handling, and promotion involved.”
Market Value Matters
Auction houses operate on commission, meaning their success is tied directly to the successful sale of your items. It’s not enough for something to be old or sentimental – it must be desirable to today’s buyers.
“We’re always keeping an eye on what’s selling and what’s not,” explains Hugh. “Items that were popular last year might not have any market now. Our decisions are based on trends, demand, our stock levels & capacities and what people are actually bidding on.”
Some items that are currently hard to sell include:
- Furniture from the 30s, 40s and 50s – traditional darker timber pieces have limited demand as modern homes lean towards lighter, minimalist styles.
- Oversized furniture – large dining tables and wall units can be difficult to move and don’t suit smaller contemporary homes.
- Unknown artists’ work – pieces without a recognised artist’s name or provenance rarely find buyers in today’s market.
But I Saw an Item in Your Auction That’s Exactly the Same as Mine!
It’s a common question — and a fair one. If you’ve spotted something similar to your item in a recent auction, you might be wondering why yours wasn’t accepted.
“We take in entire households of goods as part of a deceased estate or a full property clearance,” explains Hugh. “In those cases, we assess the value of the collection as a whole.”
This means that even lower-value items may be included because the overall return for the vendor is still worthwhile. However, if you’re only submitting one or two items and they happen to be the type that currently has limited buyer interest, it’s unlikely the sale will yield a meaningful return once all associated costs are considered.
“We always want to be upfront and fair,” says Hugh. “If we don’t think you’ll get a return, we’d rather tell you that from the outset than set unrealistic expectations.”
So, What Is Selling Right Now?
Tastes change, and so does the market. Right now, Abbeys Auctions is seeing strong demand for:
- Modern, apartment-sized furniture – functional, stylish pieces that suit smaller living spaces
- Estate jewellery – especially pieces with gold, diamonds, and unique vintage designss
- Mid-century pottery and glassware – including Australian and international designers
- Vinyl records and music memorabilia – nostalgic items with a collector’s edge
- Private owner collections – such as coins, stamps, vintage toys, or specialised hobby items with a following
- Commercial stock collections – especially surplus inventory or bulk lots from businesses clearing space or closing down
“Buyers are looking for character, quality, and functionality,” Hugh notes. “Smaller homes and changing tastes mean the market is evolving, and we need to adapt with it.”
Costs Behind the Scenes
There’s more to selling at auction than placing an item on a table. Every item that comes through an auction house needs to be catalogued, photographed, stored, marketed, and handled by staff – all of which incurs costs.
“Bringing an item into the auction process is not free,” Hugh points out. “If we don’t believe it will sell for enough to cover those costs and still return value to the vendor, then it’s not the right fit.”
That’s not to say your item is worthless – only that it might not be saleable through a public auction format.
It’s a Balancing Act
At Abbeys Auctions, the team works hard to strike a careful balance between sourcing interesting, good-quality stock and ensuring vendors are not left disappointed.
“We genuinely want to help people sell their things,” says Hugh. “But it has to be a win for everyone – the vendor, the buyer, and the business. If we say no, it’s not personal – it’s about doing what’s right for all involved.”
If you’re unsure whether your items are suitable, Abbeys encourages people to send photos for assessment. Even if the item isn’t a good fit today, market trends change – and something that’s out of fashion now could become collectable in the future.
Have something to sell?
Start with a free photo appraisal here to find out if your items are right for auction.
