At a glance
| What's sold | Insolvency and closure stock, vehicles, machinery, tools, furniture, collectibles, batches of new goods |
| Lots located in | Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia |
| Who can bid | Private buyers and businesses aged 18+, with email and mobile number |
| Buyer's premium | 18% of hammer; 22% on margin-scheme lots |
| VAT on premium | 20% on standard lots; none shown on margin-scheme lots (margin scheme, VAT included in the 22% fee) |
| Payment deadline | Day of the hammer; payment must arrive before pickup |
| Pickup deadline | One fixed pickup day per lot; shipping lots dispatched within 14 days |
| Verdict | Real bargains on bulky or obscure items, but high fees and many complaints |
What's sold
Aurena is an Austrian auction house that sells in its own name, so you buy from Aurena, not from the original owner. Most lots come from insolvencies and business closures: vehicles, building and farm machinery, tools, shop fittings, furniture, coins and jewellery. Its shipping auctions also sell batches of new consumer goods such as clothing, e-bikes and jewellery.
Who can bid
- Private buyers: You must be at least 18 and give complete, accurate details. No ID upload or deposit is described for online bidding. To bid on site in Niklasdorf you need a bidder card (Bieterkarte) and photo ID. If you live outside the EU, you pay the VAT as a deposit (Kaution) and get it back once you show export papers. The deadline for that refund is not confirmed.
- Businesses: You can buy without VAT only after a valid EU VAT ID (UID) has been stored and checked. You get no warranty and cannot claim for defects. Disputes go only to the court in Leoben. Whether you also need proof of transport for a VAT-free self-pickup is not confirmed.
Registration
- Pick a private or a business account.
- Enter your email address, mobile number and full, correct personal details.
- Double-check your billing address; shipping lots are sent only there.
- As a business, add your UID and wait until it is validated before bidding.
- In the bid dialog, check the net bid, fee, VAT and gross total shown for your account.
Fees and real total cost
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auction fee (Auktionsgebühr) | 18% of hammer | 22% on margin-scheme lots; can vary by auction |
| VAT (USt) | 20% on hammer plus fee | Standard lots. None shown on margin-scheme lots, where VAT is included in the 22% fee. Not confirmed for German consumers on shipping lots |
| Separate pickup appointment | EUR 300 net, paid upfront | Only if you miss the official pickup day |
| Missed pickup without notice | Not confirmed | You bear dismantling, moving and storage costs |
| Shipping | Free within the EU | You pay to resend a returned parcel |
| Payment fees | Not confirmed | None stated |
| Loading and transport | Your own cost | Goods are sold as they stand, not dismantled or loaded |
Worked example, standard lot collected on the official day:
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | EUR 1,000.00 |
| Auction fee 18% | EUR 180.00 |
| VAT 20% on EUR 1,180 | EUR 236.00 |
| Other fees | None; a separate pickup appointment would add EUR 360 gross |
| Total paid | EUR 1,416.00, excluding your own loading and transport |
On a margin-scheme lot, the same hammer price costs EUR 1,220.00: a 22% fee of EUR 220.00, with no VAT shown on top.
How bidding works
- A bid robot (Bietroboter) bids on your behalf up to the maximum you set. What happens when two maximum bids are equal is not confirmed.
- Bids rise in fixed steps: EUR 1 up to EUR 9, EUR 2 from EUR 10, EUR 5 from EUR 20, EUR 10 from EUR 50, EUR 20 from EUR 200, EUR 50 from EUR 500, EUR 100 from EUR 1,000, EUR 200 from EUR 10,000, EUR 500 from EUR 30,000, EUR 1,000 from EUR 100,000, EUR 2,000 from EUR 200,000 and EUR 5,000 from EUR 500,000.
- A higher bid in the last 60 seconds extends the close by 60 seconds. Lots close one after another.
- Aurena sets the start price (Rufpreis), often EUR 1 in insolvency sales. There is no seller approval after the close.
- Every bid is legally binding. You cannot withdraw a bid or cancel a won lot.
- Lots can be changed, merged or removed during the auction. There is no Buy-Now option.
Watch out
- Prices are shown net; with fee and VAT, many lots end up dearer than in a shop.
- Aurena's terms state that buyers cannot withdraw from contracts concluded at its public auctions (§ 18(3) FAGG, AGB section 3). Under AGB section 8, private buyers still have the legal warranty, while business buyers give it up.
- Buyers report hidden defects, items missing at pickup, and lost or late parcels.
- Pickup days can involve hours of waiting, and you cannot test items.
- Support is hard to reach; refuse damaged parcels at the door, as later claims are rejected.
Verdict: Aurena is a genuine liquidation house with real bargains on obscure or bulky items. Budget about 41.6% on top of the hammer for standard lots, inspect at the viewing and screenshot every lot page.