At a glance
| What's sold | Seized, forfeited, lost and surplus public-sector goods: cars, watches, jewellery, electronics, IT, tools |
| Lots located in | Germany (85%), Austria (15%) |
| Who can bid | Any adult with full legal capacity, or any company; some lots are for businesses only |
| Buyer's premium | None |
| VAT on premium | None, as there is no premium; no VAT added to the hammer price on sampled lots |
| Payment deadline | Promptly, at the latest 10 days after the winner email (Austria: 14 days) |
| Pickup deadline | 30 days under the terms (Austria: 14); lot texts often set less, e.g. 10 days for vehicles |
| Verdict | Reliable sellers and no extra fees, but you buy blind and usually without recourse |
What's sold
Public bodies sell each lot in their own name: prosecutors' offices, courts, prisons, towns and bailiffs (Gerichtsvollzieher). The platform is not the seller. Lots include criminal and bailiff seizures (gepfändet), eviction goods (Räumungsgut), lost property (Fundsachen) and retired public equipment, including lots from Austria.
Who can bid
- Private buyers: You need full legal capacity; any country is allowed. No ID upload or deposit is needed to sign up. You show your ID card (Personalausweis) or passport when you collect.
- Businesses: Any legal entity can register. Some lots are business-only (nur für Gewerbetreibende), with no warranty and no withdrawal right. How business status is checked is not confirmed. Do not count on a VAT invoice you can deduct, especially from bailiffs, unless the seller confirms it in writing.
Registration
- Enter a username, password, your name or company, address, email, phone and date of birth.
- Accept the terms (AGB); the contract is in German.
- Before you bid, check the lot's "Rechtsform" line, shipping options and pickup terms.
- If you win, pay by bank transfer within 10 days (14 days for Austrian lots).
- Book a pickup appointment and bring ID, proof of payment and your own transport.
Fees and real total cost
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer's premium (Aufgeld) | None | Not in the terms or on any sampled lot |
| VAT | None added | The seller handles VAT; the hammer price is what you pay |
| Platform or handling fee | None found | |
| Shipping | Set per lot | Germany EUR 0.00–22.13; Austria to EU EUR 11.20–63.67 |
| Insurance | EUR 0.00 | On every sampled lot, so transit is uninsured |
| Payment | Your bank's charges | SEPA bank transfer only, or cash at pickup if the lot allows it |
| Storage | None in the terms | A missed pickup counts as default instead |
| Pickup and loading | Not confirmed | At your own cost; no loading help is given |
Worked example, a parcel shipped within Germany:
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | EUR 1,000.00 |
| Premium | EUR 0.00 |
| VAT | EUR 0.00 |
| Shipping (example lot) | EUR 6.55 |
| Total paid | EUR 1,006.55 |
For pickup-only lots, transport and loading costs are not confirmed and are not in this total.
How bidding works
- You enter a maximum bid (Bietagent). The system bids one step above the next-highest bid for you and keeps your maximum hidden.
- Minimum steps: EUR 1 up to EUR 25, EUR 2 up to 50, EUR 5 up to 100, EUR 10 up to 500, EUR 20 up to 1,000, EUR 50 up to 5,000, then EUR 100. Odd amounts are allowed.
- Auctions close at a fixed time with no extension. Sniping software is banned and can get you excluded; late manual bids are fine.
- Every lot shows a starting bid (Startgebot) and has no hidden reserve. Bailiff lots start at no less than half the usual value.
- Your bid binds you until someone outbids you. The terms give no way to withdraw it.
- On private-law lots, a tie goes to whoever reached the top amount first.
- Sellers may cancel auctions at any time. Unfinished maintenance cancels auctions ending within 30 minutes, and no auction ends on Thursdays 08:00–13:00.
Watch out
- The "Rechtsform" line sets your rights; only private-law surplus lots give consumers a 14-day withdrawal right (Widerruf).
- Bailiff, public-law and Austrian lots have no warranty (Gewährleistung); buyers have lost claims over damaged or misdescribed goods.
- Viewing is usually not possible, descriptions contain errors, and seized luxury goods may be fake.
- Shipping is at your risk and uninsured, so collect fragile or valuable items yourself.
- If you do not pay or collect, the lot is re-auctioned, you owe any shortfall and you may be banned.
Verdict: You deal with a reliable state seller and pay nothing on top of the hammer price. Price every lot as unseen and non-returnable unless its Rechtsform gives you rights.