Questions, answered
Everything you need to know about bidding on Japan's top auction houses — from how a bid works to what lands at your door.
Our concierge team replies within one business day, every day of the week.
hello@shopthing.com→Straight from the room
- What this is
- How bidding works
- Did I win?
- Why it's cheaper
- Is it authentic?
- Floor vs timed
ShopThing Auctions gives you direct access to luxury goods sourced from top auction houses in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto — the same ones historically only open to trade resellers.
Bid on authenticated bags, watches, jewelry, and accessories at auction prices, with no retail markup.
ShopThing has sold over 250,000 luxury goods to customers across the US and Canada and is rated 4+ stars on Trustpilot.
Every item is authenticated before it ships, and if anything ever fails, you're refunded in full automatically.
We spent years earning access to Japan's top auction houses — and brought that access to you.
Because you're not paying for the chain of resellers in between.
Traditionally, a dealer buys a piece at a trade auction in Japan, marks it up, and sells it on — sometimes to another reseller, who marks it up again before it reaches you. By the time it's in a boutique or on a resale site, the price has been raised two or three times.
ShopThing Auctions puts your bid in the room directly, so what you pay is set by the auction — not by how many hands the piece passed through on its way to a boutique or a resale site.
Yes — use an existing ShopThing account from the app or shopthing.com, or create one on the auctions platform.
Verify your email before your first bid and keep a payment method on file.
We use card pre-authorization rather than an immediate charge, so you're only billed if you win and your order is confirmed.
Every bid is a max bid — the most you're willing to pay. Set your max and we'll handle the bidding, raising just enough to keep you in front, up to your limit — so the price only rises as needed.
Your max stays secret, and you'll only ever pay what it takes to win, all-in.
Auction Floor lots sell at a live auction at a partner auction house; Timed Auction lots close on a clock at the time shown.
Bids are binding: you can raise your max while a lot is live, but not lower or retract it.
Timed Auction lots close on a clock, at the time shown. While the lot is open you can see where you stand, and we'll email you if you're outbid so you can raise your max.
Auction Floor lots sell at a live auction, so the price moves in the room as the lot is called rather than on a countdown. The highest bidder here advances to that auction.
Either way the mechanic is the same — set the most you'd genuinely pay and we'll handle the bidding, raising just enough to keep you in front, up to your limit. On lots selling at a partner auction house we bid for you there, up to your max, and that's where the final price is decided — so the result isn't instant: once a lot closes we confirm the piece is secured before your payment is captured, which usually takes several hours to a few days.
We secure the item — on lots selling at a partner auction house that means winning it for you there, and either way we confirm availability before the sale is final.
Once secured, your payment is captured automatically — nothing else for you to do — and an order confirmation lands in your inbox.
If for any reason we can't secure it, your payment authorization is released and you owe nothing.
Not yet — you're in the lead among ShopThing customers, but the piece isn't yours yet.
On lots selling at a partner auction house we bid for you there, up to your max, and that's where the final price is decided: other buyers are bidding on the same piece, and if it goes above your max we can't secure it. While that's happening your bid shows as "Bidding on your behalf" with a "Pending" tag.
On lots where the bidding is already over at close, it shows "Pending · Confirming with seller" instead, while we confirm availability with the seller.
Either way the result isn't instant, usually several hours to a few days:
- Once we secure the piece your payment is captured and it moves to your Won tab.
- If we can't, your hold is released, you owe nothing, and it moves to Lost.
Set a max bid — and set it at the most you'd genuinely pay.
We handle the bidding from there, raising just enough to keep you in front, up to your limit — so leaving room above the current price is what keeps you in it while you're away. Your max stays secret, and you'll only ever pay what it takes to win, all-in.
If you're outbid we'll email you so you can raise it, as long as the lot is still open.
While a lot is open:
- "Highest Bidder" means you're the top bid among ShopThing customers — that can still change.
- "Outbid" means someone bid higher, so raise your max to get back in front.
Once a lot closes:
- "Bidding on your behalf" with a "Pending" tag means we're bidding for you at the auction house, up to your max.
- "Pending · Confirming with seller" means the auction closed in your favor and we're confirming availability with the seller.
- "Outbid" with a "Pending" tag after a close means your max was passed before the lot ended — there's nothing more to do, and your hold is released once the lot settles.
Pending is not a win — the result isn't final, and you're only charged if we secure the piece.
Some sellers set a confidential minimum price they're willing to accept. If the auction ends below that amount, the item isn't sold — so even the highest bidder doesn't win it.
When this happens you're not charged, any hold on your card is released automatically, and the lot appears under Lost marked "Did not meet seller's minimum."
The bid amount is what you pay, plus applicable sales tax. Auction fees, any applicable import duties (for US addresses), and shipping are all baked in — no surprise charges at checkout.
Canadian customers should note that customs duties are payable to the carrier at delivery and are not included in the bid price.
When you bid, we place a temporary hold on your card — not a charge. The hold covers your maximum bid plus estimated tax, usually with a little extra room so you can raise your max without a new hold.
If you win, you're charged the winning amount — never more than your max — plus tax.
If you don't win, the hold is released automatically; most cards show the release within 5–7 business days.
Every item passes through ShopThing's authentication center before it ships — no exceptions. If anything fails, the item is pulled from circulation permanently and you're refunded in full automatically.
Handbags over $500 also arrive with an authentication certificate.
With 250,000+ luxury goods sold and a 4+ star Trustpilot rating, our track record speaks for itself.
All sales are final once a bid is confirmed — standard practice in the auction world.
The exceptions are what set ShopThing apart:
- If an item fails authentication before it ships, you get a full automatic refund.
- If you receive something materially different from the listing, you can submit a claim within 48 hours of delivery.
Email hello@shopthing.com within 48 hours of delivery with an unboxing video or timestamped photos, plus photos of the issue.
Our team reviews every claim within 10 business days — if upheld, you'll receive a full refund with a prepaid return label, or a partial credit if you prefer to keep the item.
Expect 2–3 weeks from winning to delivery, covering authentication, packing, and carrier transit from Japan. You'll get full tracking once your order ships.
ShopThing ships via FedEx, DHL, or UPS to US and Canadian street addresses (no PO Boxes).
ShopThing Auctions ships to the US (all 50 states) and Canada. US territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.) and PO Boxes are not supported.
We've been delivering luxury goods across North America for years — if you're in the US or Canada, you're in good hands.
