At a glance
| What's sold | Used office, warehouse, workshop and production equipment from closures and insolvencies |
| Lots located in | Germany (100%) |
| Who can bid | Adults and companies once the account is approved by hand; some auctions may be business-only |
| Buyer's premium | 18% of the hammer price |
| VAT on premium | Yes, 19% on hammer plus premium |
| Payment deadline | Due at once on award, by bank transfer; no set number of days |
| Pickup deadline | Fixed windows per auction, often 5–14 days after closing |
| Verdict | Genuine and cheap, but sold as seen and as is, and you collect |
What's sold
Restlos auctions equipment from business closures, relocations, stock clear-outs (Lagerbereinigung) and insolvencies (Insolvenzauktion). Expect office furniture, business IT, forklifts, vehicles, machinery and some new stock. Almost every lot starts at EUR 1, and most end well below EUR 100.
Who can bid
- Private buyers: You must be an adult. Business-only auctions are marked as a commercial offer (gewerbliches Angebot). A staff member approves your account. On a first purchase you may be asked for a bank-confirmed payment guarantee or extra ID, and Restlos can demand a deposit (Anzahlung) before accepting more bids.
- Businesses: You bid through a company account (Unternehmenskonto). EU buyers need a confirmed VAT ID, business registration and export papers, and pay German VAT as a deposit that is refunded after proof of delivery (Gelangensbestätigung). Non-EU buyers also pay a VAT deposit, refunded once export is proven. Restlos may restrict an auction to businesses.
Registration
- Open a free bidder account and choose private or business buyer.
- Confirm your email address; look in your spam folder if the message is missing.
- Fill in your profile; whether a phone check is needed is not confirmed.
- Wait for manual approval, so sign up several days before the auction ends.
- Accept each auction's conditions ("Berechtigung prüfen") before your first bid in it.
- If you will export, send your VAT ID, ID copy and pickup authorisation early.
Fees and real total cost
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer's premium (Aufgeld) | 18% of hammer | Bids are net amounts |
| VAT | 19% on hammer plus premium | Charged on the premium even when a lot is sold under margin taxation; whether the hammer price is then taxed is not confirmed |
| Payment fees | None | Bank transfer only; no card or PayPal |
| Handling or loading | None listed | No loading help or equipment on site |
| Storage (Lagergeld) | At least 0.1% of the total price per day | Only if you miss your pickup window |
| Re-arranged pickup | Not confirmed | Billed to you |
Worked example:
| Step | EUR |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | 1,000.00 |
| Premium 18% | 180.00 |
| VAT 19% on 1,180.00 | 224.20 |
| Other fees | None listed |
| Total paid | 1,404.20 |
This total leaves out your own transport, helpers and tools, plus any storage or re-arranged pickup charges.
How bidding works
- You can place a hidden maximum (proxy) bid. When two maximum bids match, the earlier one wins.
- Unless a sale states otherwise, the terms set minimum increments of EUR 1 up to EUR 19, EUR 5 from EUR 20, EUR 10 from EUR 200, EUR 50 from EUR 500 and EUR 100 from EUR 5,000. The help page gives a different ladder (for example EUR 20 from EUR 500 and EUR 50 from EUR 1,000), but the terms are what you accept before your first bid. Bid in whole euros; off-step bids are rounded down.
- Lots end in sequence about every 30 seconds, usually from around 08:00 on a weekday. Check the end time of each lot you want.
- Soft close: a lot is only awarded once the last bid has stood for 30 seconds. Sniping software is not allowed.
- Every bid binds you and cannot be withdrawn, until the award or for at most 48 hours after the auction ends.
- Some lots, often vehicles and machines, are awarded under reserve (Zuschlag unter Vorbehalt). You then stay bound for 2 weeks while Restlos decides.
- Restlos can reject bids, cancel an award or close an auction early.
Watch out
- Goods stay at the seller's premises and buyers report missing items at pickup; photograph lots at viewing and get shortfalls confirmed in writing.
- Descriptions are not binding and nothing is tested, so view anything valuable or electrical first.
- Pickup windows are short and fixed with no loading help; skip lots you cannot collect in person.
- One exporter waited three months for a VAT deposit refund.
- There is no withdrawal right and no warranty on used goods, and a company account removes consumer protection.
Verdict: Restlos is a genuine, well-run liquidator with low prices. Add about 40% to your bid and buy only what you have seen and can collect yourself.