Frequently Asked Questions

Your subscription includes access to all equipment categories across our auction database of more than 3.6M+ listings, and continuously updated market intelligence across all sectors.

BidSeek is built for professional appraisers, asset-based lenders, lenders, restructuring advisors, equipment dealers, and corporate asset managers who require reliable historical auction data for valuation and market analysis.

BidSeek is not intended for casual browsing, personal resale research, or consumer-level price checking.

No. Subscriptions are non-transferable, and sharing access credentials is strictly prohibited.

Yes. BidSeek offers bulk and team pricing options for firms and organizations with multiple users. Please contact us for custom pricing and access arrangements.

You can search by manufacturer, model number, keywords, and other identifying details using the main search bar. When available, serial numbers or dataplate information included in listings can be used to refine results.

Start by entering the manufacturer and model in the search bar, then use filters to narrow results by date range, condition, and location. For best comparability, look for equipment with similar specifications, age, and operating hours. The side-by-side comparison tool allows you to evaluate multiple similar assets to identify the most relevant comparables for your analysis.

Yes. BidSeek provides filters and sorting that allows you to narrow results by sale date, price range, auction location, make, model, and other relevant criteria to improve comparability and analysis.

• Traditional text-based search
• Side-by-side visual comparison
• Nameplate photo recognition — upload a photo to extract make, model, serial number, and year
• VIN decoding — enter any 17-character VIN to get full vehicle specifications

If a specific asset does not appear in the database, it may not have been included in publicly reported auction results or may fall outside current data coverage. Users are encouraged to broaden search criteria or rely on comparable assets and professional judgment.

Yes. Users can save searches to quickly revisit common queries. Alert functionality for newly added listings matching saved criteria may be available depending on subscription level and feature availability.

Our database contains over 3.6M+ auction listings dating back to 2020, with continuously monitored sales spanning more than five years.

We add thousands of new results weekly.

Most auction results are added within weeks of publication, depending on data availability and verification requirements.

All major industrial sectors, including CNC machinery, aerospace, woodworking, biomedical, food and beverage, transportation, construction equipment, and many others are included under a single subscription.

Our database includes results from auction houses nationwide, ranging from major international auction companies to regional and specialized auctioneers. Coverage focuses on sources that provide reliable, publicly reported sale data across all equipment categories.

BidSeek focuses exclusively on publicly reported auction results. Private treaty sales, negotiated transactions, and other non-auction sales are not included in the database, as these typically lack the transparency and verification available through public auction channels.

No. BidSeek operates independently and is not affiliated with any auctioneer, seller, or marketplace.

The hammer price is the winning bid amount at auction. The realized price includes the hammer price plus any applicable buyer's premiums or fees. When available, BidSeek displays both figures to provide complete transaction transparency for valuation purposes.

Displayed prices reflect reported hammer prices unless otherwise noted. Buyer's premiums, taxes, shipping, and removal costs are typically not included and may vary by auctioneer.

An item is marked as "Passed" when it failed to sell during the auction, typically because it did not meet the seller’s reserve price or failed to receive an opening bid. We keep "Passed" items in our database because they offer essential market context—knowing the price point where an item didn’t sell is just as valuable for accurate appraisal as knowing the final sale price of others.

No. BidSeek reports historical transaction data as observed at the time of sale. Users are responsible for making appropriate market condition and valuation adjustments.

While we strive for accuracy, users acknowledge that the data may contain inaccuracies and that historical auction results may not reflect current market values.

Absolutely. BidSeek is designed to help you organize and document research for professional appraisal work files. You can manage your data in two ways:

• Internal Organization: Save auction comparables directly to custom folders within your BidSeek account interface for quick retrieval and project management.
• PDF Export & Printing: Individual listings and search results can be saved as a PDF or printed directly from your browser. This ensures you have a permanent, professional record for your workpapers, report exhibits, and internal files.

BidSeek allows you to compare up to 50 listings side-by-side simultaneously. This high-capacity comparison feature is designed for thorough market analysis, allowing you to evaluate key specifications and pricing data across a wide range of assets on a single screen.

Currently, notes and annotations are not available within the platform. However, exported comparisons and printed results can be annotated manually as part of your workpapers and internal documentation process.

The Nameplate Reader lets you upload equipment nameplate or ID plate photos to automatically extract make, model, serial number, and year using AI-powered image recognition. It supports single images and bulk uploads for batch processing.

Navigate to Nameplate Reader from the Tools menu. Click to upload or drag and drop your nameplate photos (JPG, PNG, or WebP — up to 15 MB per image). You can process a single image or upload multiple images at once for batch processing. Results are automatically saved to your account (toggle auto-save on/off at the top of the page) and can be exported as CSV. Use the rotate button if your image appears sideways before processing.

Tips for best results:

• Get as close to the nameplate as possible — higher resolution means better extraction.
• Avoid glare, shadows, and harsh reflections. Angling your camera slightly can help reduce glare on metal plates.
• Frame the shot so only one nameplate is visible per image.

The VIN Decoder lets you enter any 17-character Vehicle Identification Number to instantly decode year, make, model, trim, body style, engine, transmission, drive type, and other specifications.

Navigate to VIN Decoder from the Tools menu. Enter a 17-character VIN in the search field and click Decode. For batch processing, upload a CSV or text file with up to 50 VINs (one per line). Results are automatically saved to your account (toggle auto-save on/off at the top of the page) and can be exported as CSV.

Yes. Both tools have monthly usage limits included with your subscription. The Nameplate Reader also has a daily limit. Your remaining usage is displayed at the top of each tool page.

Nameplate Reader: Photos are sent to our server for AI processing and are discarded immediately after — BidSeek does not store your uploaded images. A non-reversible fingerprint (hash) of each image is logged for rate limiting and abuse prevention only. When auto-save is enabled, extracted text data (make, model, serial number, year) is saved to your account for future reference.

VIN Decoder: CSV files are read locally in your browser. VIN numbers are transmitted through our server to a third-party vehicle data provider for decoding. When auto-save is enabled, decoded results (including VIN and vehicle specifications) are saved to your account.

Auto-save is on by default and can be toggled off on each tool page. You can view, export, and delete all saved results at any time from your account settings.

The Nameplate Reader uses AI to extract text from nameplate images and may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or incorrect results. Always verify extracted data against the original nameplate before relying on it. The VIN Decoder pulls data from a third-party vehicle data provider and is generally very accurate for standard 17-character VINs. Both tools are provided on an "as-is" basis.

Yes. BidSeek data may be cited as a supporting data source in professional appraisal, valuation, and advisory reports, provided it is properly identified and used in accordance with applicable professional standards and governing body requirements. Users remain responsible for analysis, adjustments, and conclusions.

BidSeek provides verifiable auction data from identified public sources that can support USPAP-compliant appraisals when properly documented and analyzed by qualified appraisers. Users remain responsible for determining data relevance, making appropriate adjustments, and ensuring compliance with applicable professional standards and client requirements.

No. Redistribution, republication, resale, or external sharing of BidSeek data is strictly prohibited without written authorization.

No. BidSeek provides historical auction transaction data and market intelligence only. It does not provide valuations, value opinions, or conclusions. Users are responsible for applying appropriate valuation methodologies, making necessary adjustments, and exercising professional judgment consistent with applicable standards.

No. BidSeek is a research and market intelligence tool and does not replace professional judgment, physical inspection, or other due diligence activities. Users are responsible for determining the relevance and applicability of the data to a specific assignment and for incorporating appropriate analysis and verification as required.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards in U.S. dollars.

Payment information can be updated at any time through your account settings. Changes apply to future billing cycles.

Yes. Subscriptions automatically renew for successive billing periods. We provide 30 days' notice for any fee changes.

You may cancel at any time. Upon cancellation, you will retain access to the service through the end of your current billing period, whether monthly or annually.

If you cancel your subscription, access to the service will remain active through the conclusion of the applicable billing period. Following expiration of access, saved searches and other account-related data may become inaccessible and may be retained or permanently deleted at our discretion, in accordance with our data retention practices as outlined in the Privacy Policy.

Our data is compiled from publicly available auction results, published sale prices, and other lawful public information sources. We operate under established legal precedents governing commercial data collection and fair use.

Yes. Our data collection follows established legal frameworks, including the fair use doctrine, First Amendment protections, and applicable federal court precedents regarding public access to information. We comply with all applicable U.S. laws.

Equipment auction prices are generally considered factual information and are not subject to copyright. Images are used as thumbnails under fair use provisions for professional market intelligence, consistent with established legal precedent.

While we make best efforts to maintain reliable access, service interruptions may occur due to technical or legal factors beyond our control. Continuous, uninterrupted access cannot be guaranteed.

BidSeek is optimized for modern web browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on both desktop and mobile devices. For the best experience, we recommend using the most current version of your preferred browser.

BidSeek currently operates as a mobile-responsive web application accessible through any mobile browser.

While we strive for high availability, BidSeek does not guarantee uninterrupted service. Scheduled maintenance, technical issues, or third-party dependencies may result in temporary service interruptions.

For questions or support needs, please use the Contact Us page on our website.