1. About these terms
These Auction Terms and Conditions apply when you register for, browse, bid on, list or collect an auction through Storage Auctions Australia (the Platform).
By using the Platform, you agree to these terms, our Website Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must not place a bid or create a listing.
2. The Platform and storage facilities
Storage Auctions Australia provides an online marketplace for approved storage facilities to publish auctions and for bidders to place bids. Unless a listing states otherwise, the storage facility named in the listing is responsible for the auction item, its description, collection arrangements and release of the item.
We may review, refuse, remove, pause or cancel a listing where we reasonably believe it is inaccurate, unsafe, unlawful, misleading or inconsistent with these terms.
3. Accounts, legal details and eligibility
You must provide accurate account information, including your legal name and date of birth. Your legal name and date of birth should be entered exactly as they appear on the photo identification you will present for the facility’s physical photo-ID check at collection. You must keep your password secure and notify us promptly if you suspect unauthorised access. You are responsible for activity carried out through your account.
You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into a binding agreement to bid or create a facility account. A facility user must have authority to act for that facility.
4. Listings and inspections
Auction listings may contain photographs, descriptions, dimensions, collection information and other details supplied by the facility. You should read the listing carefully and inspect any available information before bidding.
Storage-unit contents are offered in their visible and disclosed condition. Photographs and descriptions are intended to help identify the item, but may not show every item, condition issue or risk within a unit.
5. Bidding
A bid is a serious and binding offer to purchase the auction item for the amount shown, subject to these terms and the listing details. Do not bid unless you intend and are able to complete the purchase.
You must not place false, misleading, automated, collusive or artificial bids. You must not bid on your own facility's listing or help another person manipulate an auction.
We may cancel or reverse bids, suspend accounts or cancel an auction where we reasonably suspect an error, fraud, technical issue, prohibited conduct or breach of these terms.
6. Winning bids, fees and payment
The highest valid bid at the final auction closing time is the winning bid only if any reserve price has been met and the auction has not been cancelled or affected by a material error. If the reserve is not met, the auction does not result in a sale, even if you are the highest bidder.
The winning bidder must pay the winning bid, buyer premium and any other clearly disclosed amount by the deadline shown on the Platform. Buyer premiums, applicable taxes and other buyer charges must be disclosed before you place a bid and confirmed before payment is completed. The separate $200 pending cleaning hold is not an upfront auction payment.
Payments are processed securely through our payment providers. We do not store your full card or bank-account details. Failure to pay may result in cancellation of the sale, suspension of your account and recovery of reasonable costs where permitted by law.
Automatic winner payments
Where a listing is marked for automatic payment, a verified saved card and express payment authority are required before bidding. If you win, Stripe charges the final winning bid plus the disclosed buyer’s premium to the authorised card. Your maximum bid is not the purchase charge. The $200 cleaning hold is separate and must be authorised before collection.
If a card is declined or your bank requires confirmation, follow your payment-page instructions before the displayed deadline. Updating or revoking a saved card does not cancel a binding bid or a debt already incurred. A payment is confirmed only when Stripe’s result has been verified by the Platform. Existing cancellation, refund and statutory-rights provisions continue to apply.
6A. Future changes to premiums and fees
Storage Auctions Australia may review, increase or decrease buyer premiums, seller premiums and other service fees for future auctions, for example to reflect operating, payment-processing, compliance or service costs. The current buyer premium is 10%; this is the current rate, not a promise that it will remain unchanged indefinitely.
Before an increase or a new fee takes effect, we will give affected registered users at least 30 days’ notice by email or a prominent account notice. The notice will explain the old and new fee, any applicable tax treatment, the effective date and the auctions or services affected. Updated pricing will also be published on the Website. A reduction may take effect sooner if it does not disadvantage an existing user.
An increase or new auction fee applies only to auctions first published on or after its notified effective date. An auction already published, scheduled, live or completed keeps the fee terms disclosed when it was first published; the change does not increase amounts attached to existing bids, winning purchases or seller payouts for that auction. Draft auctions must show the applicable fee terms before publication. Buyer charges must be disclosed before a bid is placed and confirmed at checkout; seller charges and how they are deducted must be disclosed before publication.
A separately agreed fixed-term price, written promotional offer or seller commercial agreement remains subject to its agreed duration and conditions. This general fee-change provision does not override that commitment. The fixed $200 pending cleaning hold authorisation is separate from premiums and service fees.
If you do not accept a future fee increase, you may stop using the affected service, choose not to bid in or publish new auctions, or close your account without a fee-change penalty. Obligations already incurred for existing auctions remain payable under their original terms. Nothing in this provision limits statutory rights under Australian Consumer Law or other applicable law.
7. Physical photo-ID check at collection
After payment and before access to auction contents, the winning bidder must present their original government-issued photo ID to facility staff. Staff must check the photograph, legal name and date of birth against the bidder account and record confirmation of the check. No photo or copy of the ID is required.
If the details do not match, collection must be paused while the bidder has a reasonable opportunity to correct an innocent account error or request review. Payment alone does not authorise access.
8. Unresolved identity mismatch and refunds
If a material mismatch between the bidder account and physical photo ID cannot be resolved through our review process, Storage Auctions Australia may cancel the transaction and relist the auction.
In that situation, the bidder's payment will be refunded, including the buyer premium, less an administration fee equal to 25% of the winning bid and capped at a maximum of $25.00, to the extent permitted by law. An uncaptured $200 pending cleaning hold is released in full and is not used to pay the administration fee. Any legacy cleaning payment is refunded in full.
We may waive the administration fee where we determine that the identity mismatch arose from a genuine error or a Platform issue, or another circumstance where charging the fee would be inappropriate.
9. Fixed $200 pending cleaning hold
For auctions created from 6 October 2026, the $200 pending cleaning hold is fixed at $200 AUD. Before collection, the buyer authorises a separate temporary $200 credit-card hold through Stripe. It is separate from the winning bid and buyer premium. The hold may appear as pending and reduce available credit; it is not an upfront payment or cash payment received or held by Storage Auctions Australia or the seller.
After collection, the seller inspects the unit. If it is completely cleared and left in the required condition, the seller approves release of the full hold. If reasonable cleaning or rubbish-removal costs arise from the buyer failing to meet the collection requirements, the seller records the reason, supporting photos and the amount to charge, up to $200. Stripe captures only the approved cleaning charge and releases the unused balance. The seller is responsible for the inspection and claim; Storage Auctions Australia facilitates the recorded release or charge through Stripe.
Card authorisations expire. The current expiry is shown in the collection workflow. If the hold expires before collection, the buyer must renew the $200 Stripe authorisation before access is provided. A cleaning charge must be processed while the authorisation remains valid; an expired hold cannot be charged. Your card issuer determines when a released pending hold disappears or available credit is restored.
For a disputed cleaning charge, contact the seller and Storage Auctions Australia support with the auction details and evidence. Nothing in these terms excludes your statutory rights or permits an unsupported cleaning charge. Previously completed auctions and legacy cleaning payments remain subject to their recorded amounts and applicable terms.
10. Collection
The winning bidder must collect the item during the collection window and follow the facility's reasonable safety, identity, access and site rules. At every collection, the winning bidder must bring their original physical photo ID. Before access, facility staff must sight it, match the person to the photo, and match the legal name and date of birth to the registered details in the bidder account. Staff must record the check without photocopying, photographing or uploading the ID. Collection details are released subject to the required payment and cleaning-hold checks, followed by the facility’s physical photo-ID confirmation.
You are responsible for labour, vehicles, tools, transport, waste removal and any permits required to collect the item. You must leave the area in the condition required by the facility.
You must not remove prohibited, dangerous or unlawful items. If you find an item that may be dangerous, illegal, regulated or personal in nature, stop handling it and contact the facility immediately.
11. Facility responsibilities
Facilities must provide accurate listing information, use photographs they are authorised to use, set realistic collection times and comply with applicable laws and their own storage agreements.
Facilities must not release auction contents where the Platform displays an identity-review or collection-hold status. Facilities must not list items they are not entitled to sell, include prohibited items, misrepresent contents or use the Platform to avoid their legal obligations.
12. Cancellations and disputes
Contact the facility first about a collection, item-condition or $200 pending cleaning hold concern. For identity-verification concerns or where the issue cannot be resolved with the facility, contact Storage Auctions Australia with the auction number and a clear summary of the issue.
We may assist with platform records and payment processing, but we may not be able to determine every dispute between a bidder and a facility. Nothing in these terms excludes rights that cannot legally be excluded.
13. Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Platform is provided on an “as available” basis. We do not guarantee that the Platform will always be uninterrupted, error-free or available at every time.
Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies rights or remedies that cannot legally be excluded, including rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
14. Changes, governing law and contact
We may update these terms prospectively and will publish their effective date. Material changes that adversely affect existing users will be notified at least 30 days in advance by email or a prominent account notice. The fee-change rules in section 6A govern premiums and fees; updated terms do not retrospectively alter existing auction transactions or override separately agreed fixed-term commitments. The laws of South Australia apply to these terms, subject to any mandatory rights under applicable law.
For assistance, please visit our Contact page.