Live vs. Timed Auctions on Invaluable: What's the Difference?

Updated

Invaluable lists two auction formats: live auctions, which run in real time at a scheduled start (e.g., "October 4, 2026 10:00 AM AEDT" with an "Enter Live Auction" button), and timed auctions, which stay open for bidding over a set period and show a "View Items" button instead. Choose live if you want to bid against others in real time during a hosted event; choose timed if you want to place bids on your own schedule before a closing deadline. Both formats appear together on the Upcoming Online Auctions page, and both require you to register to bid.

What a live auction looks like on Invaluable

A live auction has a fixed start time and is run by the auction house as a real-time event. On the listing, you'll see:

  • A specific date and time, such as "October 4, 2026 10:00 AM AEDT"
  • A location, such as "ORMOND, Australia"
  • A Live Auction label
  • An Enter Live Auction button
  • A Register to bid link

The example from the site — "SPRING HAS SPRING AT AMANDA ADDAMS" by Amanda Addams Auctions — follows this pattern. Because the event is live, bidding happens as the auctioneer moves through lots, and timing is set by the auction house rather than by a countdown clock.

What a timed auction looks like on Invaluable

A timed auction also has a scheduled date and time, but it is labeled Timed Auction and offers a View Items button rather than an "Enter Live Auction" button. You still see a Register to bid link.

Examples from the site include:

  • "James R Lawson" by Lawsons — October 4, 2026, 7:00 PM AEDT, Drop Shipping (to Lawsons), Australia
  • "Jewellery Liquidation Clearance" by Jewellery Auctions Unlimited — October 4, 2026, 7:00 PM AEST, Broadbeach, Australia
  • "Sunday Afternoon Automatic Sales" by Cadmore Auctions — October 4, 2026, 12:00 PM BST, Potters Bar, United Kingdom

In a timed format, you browse the items and place bids within the open window. The listing's date and time indicate when the auction is scheduled, and the auction closes at the end of its set period rather than through a live auctioneer calling lots.

Side-by-side comparison

Feature Live auction Timed auction
Bidding style Real-time, during a hosted event Bids placed over an open period
Listing label "Live Auction" "Timed Auction"
Primary button "Enter Live Auction" "View Items"
Start time shown Yes (specific date/time) Yes (specific date/time)
Location shown Yes Yes
Registration "Register to bid" "Register to bid"

How to decide which to join

  • Choose a live auction if you want the experience of bidding as lots come up in sequence and you can be available at the scheduled start time.
  • Choose a timed auction if you prefer to review items and place bids on your own schedule before the auction closes.
  • In both cases, register to bid first — the "Register to bid" link appears on both listing types.

Common sticking points

  • The date and time on a listing is not the same as a bidding deadline for every format; for live auctions it marks when the event begins, while timed auctions run over a period.
  • Auction houses are located worldwide (the examples span Australia and the United Kingdom), so check the time zone shown (AEDT, AEST, BST) against your own before planning to participate.
  • A "View Items" button on a timed auction does not mean bidding is closed — it's the entry point to browse and bid on the lots.

To see both formats in practice, open the Upcoming Online Auctions page and compare the labels and buttons on each listing.