At a glance
| What's sold | Used business equipment from regional closures, mainly in Bavaria and Franconia |
| Lots located in | Germany |
| Who can bid | Auction pages say anyone; the terms say online auctions are for businesses only |
| Buyer's premium | 18% of the hammer price |
| VAT on premium | 19% on hammer and premium; authority auctions charge it on the premium only |
| Payment deadline | Due on award; pay by bank transfer on the day the invoice arrives |
| Pickup deadline | One fixed day or slot per auction, sometimes only 30 minutes |
| Verdict | Legitimate small liquidator; rigid pickup, conditional awards and untested goods are the risks |
What's sold
Rockmann sells equipment for owners after small business closures, insolvencies, estates and authority sales. You will find catering kitchens, workshop machines, forklifts, trailers, shelving, vans and office IT. Most lots start at EUR 1, and you buy from the owner, not from Rockmann.
Who can bid
- Private buyers: Most auction pages welcome private bidders, but the terms limit pure online auctions to businesses. You need no deposit or ID upload online. Some presence auctions accepted only a German identity card (Personalausweis).
- Businesses: You can bid in every auction. Business-only lots need proof of business status, but how you prove it is not confirmed. No deposit is needed. No country is excluded, but you must handle export customs yourself.
Registration
- Create an account with your email address and a password.
- Confirm it through the activation link sent to you.
- Complete your profile details (Profildaten), such as name and address.
- For live auctions, accept the auction conditions (Versteigerungsbedingungen) and click "Berechtigung anfordern" (request permission) a few days early.
- Wait for staff to approve you by hand; they check for unpaid invoices and similar issues.
- To inspect goods, book a viewing slot online.
Fees and real total cost
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer's premium (Aufgeld) | 18% of hammer | Hammer prices are net |
| VAT | 19% on hammer and premium | Authority auctions: on the premium only |
| Vehicle from a private consignor | 5% premium | VAT on this premium not confirmed |
| Payment fee | None found | Bank transfer; cash at some presence auctions |
| Handling or invoice fee | None found | |
| Forklift for loading | Not confirmed | Only called a "small fee" |
| Shipping, small items | EUR 15 or EUR 20 net | DHL, Germany only, some auctions only |
| Storage after missed pickup | EUR 50 per day per m² | The owner may claim more |
Worked example, standard auction:
| Step | EUR |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | 1,000.00 |
| + 18% premium | 180.00 |
| + 19% VAT on 1,180.00 | 224.20 |
| + forklift fee | not confirmed |
| Total paid | 1,404.20 |
The total leaves out the forklift fee, transport and your own labour. If your business reclaims VAT, your real cost is EUR 1,180.00.
How bidding works
- You can enter a maximum bid, and the system bids for you up to it. The history shows amounts and times, not names.
- Increments grow with the price, such as EUR 10 from EUR 100 and EUR 100 from EUR 1,000. Bids off the increment are rejected.
- Lots close one minute apart in catalogue order, so follow the timer on your own lot.
- A late bid extends closing. The length is not confirmed: the terms say 2 minutes, current pages say 60 seconds, and one auction said 30 seconds.
- Every lot has a hidden minimum price. An award may be "subject to approval" (unter Vorbehalt) by the owner or creditor, and you stay bound meanwhile, possibly for up to 21 working days.
- All bids are binding. You cannot retract a bid.
- Bidding software that loads the platform is banned; the terms threaten damages and criminal complaints.
Watch out
- You dismantle, carry and load everything yourself in the set window, and there is no second date.
- Miss pickup and you pay EUR 50 per day per m² storage, and the goods may be resold.
- Goods are sold as viewed (wie besichtigt) and untested; phones come with no activation-lock information.
- Auction pages have copy-paste errors, and one viewing fell after most lots closed, so confirm dates by phone with the named contact.
- Independent reviews are almost absent, so after-sale complaint handling is not confirmed.
Verdict: A genuine regional liquidator with EUR 1 starts. Budget about 1.4 times the hammer price, and bid only if you can collect on the set day.