At a glance
| What's sold | Customer returns, overstock, bankruptcy stock, vehicles, machines, jewellery |
| Lots located in | Belgium (86%), Netherlands (14%) |
| Who can bid | Consumers and businesses aged 18+; account type is chosen once |
| Buyer's premium | 19% flat |
| VAT on premium | Yes, at the lot country's rate: 21% BE/NL, 20% FR |
| Payment deadline | 48 hours after the award email |
| Pickup deadline | One fixed slot shown on the lot page |
| Verdict | Real stock, but expect about 1.44 × hammer and to carry the risks yourself |
What's sold
Vavato is a Belgian platform owned by TBAuctions. It sells customer returns (retourgoederen), overstock and bankruptcy stock (faillissement), as well as cars, machines, tools, jewellery and art. Troostwijk lots (IDs "A1-…") now sit next to Vavato's own lots (IDs "A3-…"). Vavato is only an intermediary, so your contract is with the seller.
Who can bid
- Private buyers: You must be 18 or over and use a private account. Vavato may check your ID, address, bank details or credit at any time, and some lots need a verified account. On selected lots, bids over EUR 4,000 need a EUR 200 deposit (waarborg). Non-EU buyers may have to lodge the VAT amount as a guarantee. Which countries may bid is not confirmed.
- Businesses: You need a separate business account. It is checked automatically and sometimes by hand. EU businesses with a valid VAT number get a payment request without VAT and sign an intra-EU declaration at pickup. Whether the premium is also invoiced without VAT is not confirmed. The same deposit rules apply.
Registration
- Pick a private or business account; you cannot switch later.
- Confirm your email with the code you receive.
- Confirm your phone by SMS code, now or later.
- Enter your personal or company details, with your VAT number if you are a business.
- Complete verification if a lot asks for it, and pay any EUR 200 deposit by card.
Fees and real total cost
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer's premium (opgeld) | 19% | Seen on 30 lots; no tiers, no minimum |
| VAT (btw/TVA) | 21% BE/NL, 20% FR | On hammer and premium. Margin-scheme lots: 0% on hammer, premium usually still taxed |
| Handling or admin fee | None seen | Extra checkout charges not confirmed |
| Delivery | EUR 2.50–125 net | Only on some Troostwijk lots |
| Payment fee | None mentioned | You cannot pay for lots by credit card |
| Storage | EUR 30 per week per lot | From the second week after the invoice; the terms also cite a EUR 350 minimum; goods count as abandoned after 1 month |
| Late payment | Business: 19% of bid plus interest; consumer: up to EUR 25 plus costs | You also lose your deposit |
Worked example (Belgian lot, standard VAT):
- Hammer price: EUR 1,000.00
- Premium at 19%: EUR 190.00
- VAT at 21% on EUR 1,190: EUR 249.90
- Other fees and transport: not confirmed
- Total paid: EUR 1,439.90, excluding other fees and transport
How bidding works
- Your bid excludes premium and VAT. The review screen shows the full total before you confirm.
- An auto bid (autobod) goes up by the minimum step to your hidden maximum. When an auto bid and a fixed bid are equal, the auto bid wins.
- Bid steps are not published. Steps seen: EUR 5 near EUR 50, EUR 10 at EUR 130, EUR 20 at EUR 250.
- Each lot has its own closing time. A bid in the last 6 minutes adds 6 minutes to that lot.
- Lots may have no reserve, a hidden reserve (minimumprijs), or need seller approval (onder voorbehoud van gunning). The seller has up to 48 hours and may phone you to negotiate.
- Bids are binding and cannot be withdrawn. Belgian consumers buying from a professional seller are only bound once they click "PAY NOW".
- The terms let Vavato and the seller bid. There is no notary, and only the server's bid log counts as evidence.
Watch out
- Budget 1.44 × hammer plus travel; many buyers paid more than the new retail price.
- Hidden-reserve and seller-approval lots often end unsold, cancelled or with pressure to pay more.
- Returns lots are unchecked, unwarranted and often cannot be viewed; you must raise defects with the seller.
- Check every item at pickup before signing or loading; buyers report missing and swapped items.
- Support is email only and can take a week or more; pay by SEPA Instant to meet the 48-hour deadline.
Verdict: A real, busy platform best suited to local buyers who inspect and collect in person. Bid only on no-reserve lots you have priced all-in.