Auctions in Japan are VERY different to auctions in NZ.

To Join an auction in Japan you must be a member!.

1. This is a difficult, time comsuming and costly exercise.
2. Foreign visitors cannot just walk up and join in!.
3. You must be a local business.
4. You are carefully vetted financially, your personal and business reputation is looked into indepth.
5. Another member must introduce you.
6. the process can take 2 months.
7. There is also some cost in the form of a joining fee and a deposit.

Overview of the standard auction process.

1. Auctions run on a weekly basis (with the exception of two holidays per year).
2. They start between 9 and 10am.
3.  They usually finish between 4 and 8pm. Some of the larger ones finish after midnight.
4. They complete uploading of vehicle information to their website by 8pm the evening before the auction.
5. The vehicle information is normally includes 2 photos, an auction sheet, and the start price.
6. The start price gives very little idea of the selling price.
7. Vehicles are displayed in their respective numbered sequence.
8. They cannot be test driven.
9. Auction staff fill out detailed auction sheets? View Auction Sheet
10. The bidding process is controlled by computer.
11. Members bid using a button (a separate button for each lane).
12. Each bid is normally 3,000 yen (about $50).
13. A vehicle is on offer for an average of often less then 10 seconds.
14. The smaller auctions sell 2 cars at a time while the larger ones have 6 lanes selling.
15. While the auctions lanes vary in vehicle type, it is surprising how many times members need to bid on more than one vehicle simultaneously. It is therefore vital that the bidder has an exact maximum bid (there is no time to think or second guess).
16. If a mistake is made requiring cancellation the auction charges a minimum penalty of 70,000 yen ($1,000).
18. The auction sends a statement at the end of trading showing the bid price, tax, and auction fee iteming the cost related to each vehicle. View Customs Sheet
19.  A copy of this will be sent to our customers available to each buyer.