What does ‘Linked Close’ mean?

Typically, all lots in an auction could experience a soft close.  For certain auctions, there is what is called a Linked Soft Close.  What this means is, for selected auctions, the software is programmed to link like-items (typically ‘like-items’ are from the same consignor, part of a set and/or similar, if not identical) and will extend bidding on all linked items.

The easiest way to explain this is with an example: If there are three gift cards of the same face value from the same consignor ( let’s call them: lot 1, lot 2, and lot 3) , these items can be linked. This means that if someone places a bid on lot 1 within the last three minutes of the sale closing, lots 2 and 3 will experience bid extensions as well.

This linked close allows interested bidders the opportunity to bid on all of the similar or identical lots in an extended close!  It prevents one of the lots closing before the other similar or identical lots, allowing buyers to bid on any of the linked items, regardless of which lot they’ve bid on to trigger an extension of all linked items.  

For example: Let’s say our lot 1 has a high bid of $10, lot 2 has a high bid of $10 and someone places a bid, within the last three minutes of closing, on lot 3 bringing the high bid on lot 3 to $11. Because lots 1, 2, and 3 are now extending, bidders are given the opportunity to bid on any of the linked lots, not just for lot 3, which, as we can see, is at a higher price.

How do I know if an items are linked together?

You will be able to decipher which lots are linked by noting an icon on the right side of the description of the item. Beside the icon will be ‘Linked Soft Close’ and a number. The number represents which items are linked.For example: all items that say ‘Linked Soft Close 1’ are linked together. All items that say ‘Linked Soft Close 2’ are linked together, and so on.

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