Auction rules

Effective from: 16 October 2026. These rules apply to every auction on the MASANETO platform and supplement the Terms of use. In the event of any conflict, the Terms of use prevail.

1. Auction lot and publication

1.1. An auction is published by a verified seller, stating the title, description, photographs or video, quantity, condition, location, the auction type (clause 1.4), the starting price in a no-reserve auction, the reserve price in a reserve auction, VAT status and a closing time between 2 and 30 days ahead. The auction lot is everything described in the listing as a whole.

1.2. Before publishing, the seller confirms that they own the goods or are authorised to sell them, that the description is true and the VAT details are correct, chooses the settlement mode for the auction (section 5) and agrees to the fee connected with it, which is shown before publishing.

1.3. The seller may edit or delete a published auction only until the first bid and no later than 24 hours before the close. After the first bid, the auction may be cancelled only by the Operator for a justified reason.

1.4. Before publishing, the seller chooses one of two auction types for each auction: a reserve auction (section 4) or a no-reserve auction (section 4.A). The auction type is shown on the auction page before bidding; a no-reserve auction is marked "No reserve".

1.5. Publishing a no-reserve auction is free of charge. For publishing a reserve auction the seller pays by card before publishing, in both settlement modes, a listing fee of 2.00 EUR including VAT where applicable (Terms of use, clause 10.3). The listing fee is refunded if the seller deletes the auction before the first bid, if the Operator withdraws or deletes it in the case referred to in clause 1.6, or if the Operator removes it because of a Platform error. It is not refunded if the auction ends without a sale or if the Operator annuls it because of the seller's breach.

1.6. The Operator checks the prices of an auction within 24 hours after it is published. Until the first bid, the Operator may withdraw or delete a reserve auction whose reserve price is above the market value of the goods, and a no-reserve auction whose starting price is above the lower bound of the market value of the goods. The Operator informs the seller, and any listing fee paid is refunded.

2. Prices exclusive of VAT

2.1. The starting price, reserve price and bids are exclusive of VAT. VAT on the goods, where applicable, depends on the seller's VAT status and the buyer's country and status:

• the seller is not VAT registered: no VAT;
• the seller is VAT registered and the buyer is in the same country: the VAT rate of the seller's country;
• the seller is VAT registered, the buyer is in another EU Member State with a VIES-verified VAT number and the seller has agreed to such supplies: reverse charge, 0 %;
• the seller applies the margin scheme for second-hand goods: VAT is not shown on the invoice;
• the buyer is outside the EU: no VAT, provided the seller can prove export.

2.2. Before the bid is confirmed, the bidding window shows the bid, VAT on the goods, the Operator's commission and VAT on it, and the total amount the buyer will have to pay.

3. Bidding

3.1. Only a verified user may bid. Each bid is a binding offer to purchase the entire auction lot at the bid price exclusive of VAT. A bid cannot be withdrawn or reduced.

3.2. A bid must exceed the current highest bid by at least the minimum increment; in a no-reserve auction the first bid may equal the starting price (clause 4.A.2). The User may set automatic bidding up to a maximum amount; the system bids on their behalf by the minimum increment as often as necessary, without exceeding the maximum.

3.3. If a bid is placed in the final minutes of an auction, the closing time is extended automatically so that all participants can respond. Bids placed after the closing time are not accepted.

3.4. It is prohibited to bid without the intention to buy, to bid on one's own goods personally or through related persons, or to influence the price artificially in any way. Such bids are annulled and the account may be blocked.

4. Reserve auction: close and counteroffer

4.1. In a reserve auction the starting price is 1 EUR, and the reserve price is the lowest price at which the seller agrees to sell. In such an auction the reserve price is mandatory and is not visible to bidders; bidders are shown whether the reserve has been met.

4.2. If the highest bid at the close meets or exceeds the reserve price, the sale is confirmed automatically: the buyer is obliged to pay and the seller is obliged to hand over the goods.

4.3. If the reserve price has not been met, the seller may, within 24 hours after the close, accept the highest bid or send the highest bidder a counteroffer at a different price. The bidder accepts or rejects the counteroffer within the stated period; an accepted counteroffer is a sale on the same terms as in the auction. If the seller takes no action, the auction ends without a sale.

4.A No-reserve auction

4.A.1. In a no-reserve auction the seller sets a visible starting price in whole euros, of at least 1 EUR. The starting price must be below the market value of the goods. There is no reserve price.

4.A.2. The first bid may equal the starting price. Every later bid must exceed the current price by at least the minimum increment.

4.A.3. If the auction ends with at least one bid, the highest bid, whatever its amount, is a binding sale that is confirmed automatically: the buyer is obliged to pay and the seller is obliged to hand over the goods. The seller cannot refuse the sale, and there is no counteroffer and no decision on a bid below the reserve price (clause 4.3) in such an auction.

4.A.4. A seller's refusal to sell the goods for the highest bid is a breach of these rules, to which clause 12.2 applies.

4.A.5. If the auction receives no bids, it ends without a sale and the seller may republish it.

5. Settlement mode

5.1. Before publishing, the seller chooses one of two settlement modes for each auction. The chosen mode is shown on the auction page before bidding and cannot be changed after publishing. The listing fee (clause 1.5) does not depend on the settlement mode.

5.2. Settlement account auction: the buyer pays the full total into the MASANETO settlement account, and the money is paid out to the seller after the goods have been handed over. Sections 6 to 9 apply. The seller pays the settlement account fee out of the payout (section 9).

5.3. Direct settlement auction: the buyer and the seller settle the price of the goods between themselves, and the Operator does not handle the money for the goods. Section 10 applies; sections 6 to 9 do not apply to such an auction.

5.4. The buyer's commission (2.5 % of the final price exclusive of VAT, minimum 12 EUR, plus VAT) is the buyer's cost in both settlement modes and is shown in the bidding dialog before every bid.

6. Payment into the settlement account (settlement account auction)

6.1. Within 1 business day after confirmation of the sale, the buyer pays the full total amount (the price of the goods exclusive of VAT, VAT on the goods where applicable, the Operator's commission and VAT on it) into the MASANETO settlement account. In a settlement account auction, direct payment to the seller is not permitted; if the parties nevertheless settle directly, the Operator bears no liability for such a transaction, and the commission and the settlement account fee still apply.

6.2. Up to 1 000 EUR the buyer chooses a bank transfer, which is offered first and without an additional fee, or a payment card; above 1 000 EUR only a bank transfer. The bank transfer is an ordinary SEPA transfer to a German IBAN issued by Stripe for the specific transaction; the payee is SIA "Hunter" as the operator of MASANETO. Choosing a bank transfer extends the payment deadline by 5 days.

6.3. When the payment has been received, both parties receive the other party's contact details, the buyer receives a payment receipt, and the seller receives the invoice issued in their name, with a 7-day period for objections.

6.4. If the buyer fails to pay by the deadline, the seller may cancel the transaction on the auction page; an unpaid transaction is cancelled automatically 14 days after confirmation of the sale. A cancelled auction returns to the status "closed" and may be published again.

7. Handover (settlement account auction)

7.1. The seller hands over the goods only after the Platform has confirmed the payment, and only after approval of the invoice or the expiry of the 7-day objection period. The seller marks the handover on the auction page and may attach evidence.

7.2. The parties agree on the method of handover: collection at the location indicated by the seller, or delivery if the seller offers it. Unless otherwise agreed, the buyer collects the goods within 10 calendar days from confirmation of the payment. The buyer checks the quantity and condition of the goods at the moment of handover. Title and risk pass at the moment of handover.

7.3. The seller hands over the necessary accompanying documents (warranties, certificates, registration documents, where applicable). If they are missing, the buyer may refuse to accept the goods and submit an objection.

7.4. If the seller has not marked the handover within 14 days after confirmation of the payment, the buyer may give notice "goods not handed over"; the Operator handles this as an objection and usually refunds the buyer.

8. Confirmation and objections (settlement account auction)

8.1. After the handover, the buyer has 7 days to confirm receipt on the auction page or to submit an objection with a reason and evidence. If the buyer gives no notice, receipt is deemed confirmed.

8.2. An objection suspends the release of the funds. The Operator examines the objection and decides on a full refund to the buyer, a payout to the seller, or a partial refund with payout of the remainder. The decision is binding as regards the allocation of the funds in the settlement account.

8.3. The entire settlement, including the objection, is completed no later than 90 days after receipt of the payment.

9. Payout to the seller (settlement account auction)

9.1. After confirmation of receipt or the expiry of the period under clause 8.1, the funds are released to the seller, less the settlement account fee: 2 % of the sale price exclusive of VAT, minimum 2 EUR, maximum 150 EUR, plus VAT in accordance with the seller's VAT status. Stripe transfers the funds to the seller's bank account usually within 1-2 business days after release, but not earlier than 7 days after the buyer's payment.

10. Direct settlement auction

10.1. Once the sale is confirmed, the buyer pays the Operator's commission (clause 5.4) against the invoice the Operator sends to the buyer, by the due date stated in the invoice. Once the commission is paid, each party receives the other party's contact details.

10.2. The buyer and the seller agree directly on the method and time of payment of the price, on the handover, delivery and accompanying documents. The buyer's obligation to pay the seller the bid price and the seller's obligation to hand over the goods arise from the close of the auction (section 4) and are binding regardless of the settlement taking place outside the Platform.

10.3. In a direct settlement auction the Operator is not a payment intermediary, does not receive, hold or pay out the money for the goods, provides no settlement account protection, does not examine objections concerning the goods and makes no refunds. The Operator is not liable for whether the buyer pays or whether the seller hands over the goods.

10.4. The invoice for the goods is issued by the seller directly to the buyer. VAT on the goods is applied by the seller according to their VAT status and section 2; the Operator does not collect it and does not include it in the commission invoice.

10.5. If the buyer does not pay the commission by the due date stated in the invoice, the Operator may cancel the transaction; a cancelled auction returns to the status "ended" and may be republished. A listing fee paid is not refunded in that case.

10.6. If one party fails to perform its obligations, the other party pursues its claims directly against that party. On a substantiated notice the Operator may apply section 12 (blocking, contractual penalty) but does not decide disputes about the goods or the money.

10.7. If the seller is a trader and the buyer is a consumer, consumer protection law applies to the purchase of the goods, including the right of withdrawal from a distance contract where applicable. The buyer exercises these rights directly against the seller.

11. Summary of time limits

In both settlement modes:

• Operator's price check: within 24 hours after publication.
• Withdrawal of an auction because of its price: only until the first bid.

Settlement account auction:

• Seller's response to a bid below the reserve (reserve auction): 24 hours.
• Payment: 1 business day from confirmation of the sale; plus 5 days for a bank transfer.
• Automatic cancellation without payment: 14 days.
• Seller's objection to the invoice issued in their name: 7 days.
• Collection of the goods, unless otherwise agreed: 10 calendar days from confirmation of the payment.
• Buyer's notice "goods not handed over": after 14 days from confirmation of the payment.
• Buyer's confirmation or objection: 7 days from handover.
• Payout to the seller's bank account: usually 1-2 business days after release, but not earlier than 7 days after the buyer's payment.
• Entire settlement: no more than 90 days.

Direct settlement auction:

• Seller's response to a bid below the reserve (reserve auction): 24 hours.
• Payment of the buyer's commission: by the due date stated in the invoice.
• Disclosure of contact details: after the commission is paid.
• Payment for and handover of the goods: as agreed between the parties.

12. Breaches

12.1. A buyer who unjustifiably fails to pay or withdraws from the transaction may be blocked, and the Operator and the seller may claim compensation for damages.

12.2. A seller who fails to hand over the sold goods, refuses to sell the goods for the highest bid in a no-reserve auction, offers the goods elsewhere during an active auction, knowingly misleads in the description or bids on their own goods in a settlement account auction forfeits the right to the payout in the transaction concerned, may be blocked, and may be subject to a contractual penalty of 100 EUR and a claim for damages.

12.3. The Operator may annul an auction or a bid where there is reasonable suspicion of a breach, fraud or a technical error, informing the parties involved.

12.4. In a direct settlement auction, a buyer who does not pay the seller the bid price after the sale is confirmed, and a seller who does not hand over the sold goods, are treated as being in breach within the meaning of clauses 12.1 and 12.2 upon the other party's substantiated notice to the Operator.