1. Eligibility & Registration
Participation in Ignite Auctions is open to individuals and corporate entities who meet all of the following criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction if higher.
- Must have completed a verified account registration on the Ignite Auctions platform.
- Must not be subject to any sanctions, embargo, or legal prohibition that would prevent participation in auction transactions.
- Must have a valid payment method on file that can be charged in the event of a winning bid.
- Corporate entities must designate an authorised representative whose identity has been individually verified.
Ignite Auctions reserves the right to decline any registration application or revoke membership at its sole discretion, including but not limited to cases of suspected fraud, misrepresentation, or prior default.
2. KYC Verification
All registered bidders must complete Know Your Customer (KYC) identity verification before placing any bid. This is a regulatory requirement and a core pillar of our platform integrity.
Documents Required
- A valid government-issued photo ID (national ID card, passport, or driver's licence).
- Proof of residential address dated within the last three months (utility bill, bank statement, or official government correspondence).
- For bids exceeding USD 50,000: a source-of-funds declaration may be required.
- For corporate accounts: certificate of incorporation, beneficial ownership register, and authorised signatory documentation.
Verification Timelines
Standard KYC review is typically completed within 24 hours of document submission. Expedited review is available for lots closing within 12 hours — contact our concierge team directly. Lots cannot be bid upon until KYC approval is confirmed.
3. Bidding Process
All auctions on the Ignite platform are conducted as open ascending-bid (English) auctions unless otherwise specified on the lot page.
Placing a Bid
- Navigate to a live auction lot and select "Place a Bid".
- Enter your bid amount. Bids must meet or exceed the current bid plus the minimum increment.
- Confirm your bid — all submitted bids are legally binding offers to purchase.
- You will receive real-time notification if you are outbid.
Number of Bids per Lot
There is no limit on the number of bids a registered bidder may place on any single lot. Bidders may continue to bid on a lot as many times as they wish until the auction closes, provided each bid meets the minimum increment requirement. Each bid placed is a legally binding offer.
Minimum Bid Increments
| Current Bid Range | Minimum Increment |
|---|---|
| Up to $1,000 | $50 |
| $1,001 – $10,000 | $250 |
| $10,001 – $50,000 | $1,000 |
| $50,001 – $250,000 | $5,000 |
| $250,001 – $1,000,000 | $10,000 |
| Above $1,000,000 | $25,000 |
Absentee & Auto Bids
Bidders may set a maximum (proxy) bid. The system will automatically bid on your behalf up to your maximum, using the minimum increment at each step. Your maximum bid is kept confidential from other bidders.
Auction Close
Auctions close at the time displayed on the lot page. If a bid is received in the final 2 minutes of an auction, the closing time is automatically extended by 2 minutes to allow competitive response. This extension repeats until no bid is received within the final 2-minute window.
4. Reserve Prices & Estimates
Most lots on Ignite Auctions carry a reserve price — the confidential minimum price below which the seller is not obligated to sell.
- Lot pages display whether the reserve has been met via a "Reserve Met" / "Reserve Not Met" indicator.
- If the highest bid at close does not meet the reserve, no sale is concluded and both parties are notified.
- Pre-sale estimates are provided as guidance only and do not constitute a guarantee of realised price.
- Estimates are provided in USD. ZMW equivalents are indicative only and subject to exchange rate fluctuation.
6. Payment Terms
Upon winning a lot, the buyer receives an official invoice within 2 hours of the auction close. Full payment is required as follows:
- Standard lots: Payment due within 5 business days of invoice date.
- Lots above $500,000: Payment due within 10 business days, with a 10% deposit payable within 48 hours.
- High-value lots by negotiation: Extended payment terms may be arranged subject to prior written agreement.
Accepted Payment Methods
- Bank wire transfer (USD or ZMW)
- Mobile Money (MTN, Airtel — ZMW denominated, for lots up to ZMW 500,000)
- Certified bank cheque (subject to 10 business day clearance)
- Escrow service (arranged by Ignite Auctions for lots above $100,000)
7. Lot Withdrawal & Cancellation
Seller Withdrawal
A seller may withdraw a lot prior to the auction opening without penalty. Once an auction is live, withdrawal is only permitted at the discretion of Ignite Auctions and may be subject to a withdrawal fee of up to 15% of the low estimate.
Buyer Cancellation
All bids are legally binding and irrevocable once submitted. Buyers may not cancel, retract, or modify a bid except in the following limited circumstances:
- A material and demonstrable error in the lot description that was not disclosed prior to auction.
- Technical platform error verified by Ignite Auctions that caused an erroneous bid.
Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to disputes@igniteauctions.com within 24 hours of the auction close. All decisions are final.
8. Authenticity & Condition
Ignite Auctions employs category specialists to authenticate and condition-grade all lots prior to listing. Authentication methods vary by category and are described in each lot's condition report.
Our Authentication Process
- Horology: Movement inspection, serial number verification, and service history review.
- Fine Art: Provenance research, pigment analysis where applicable, and expert attribution.
- Automobiles: Chassis number check, factory build records, independent inspection report.
- Jewellery & Gemstones: Gemological Institute grading report or equivalent independent certification.
- Fine Wine: Cellar provenance, label condition, cork inspection, and ullage assessment.
Authenticity Guarantee
If a lot is subsequently proven to be a deliberate forgery — by an independent specialist appointed by Ignite Auctions — within 5 years of the sale, Ignite Auctions will refund the hammer price and buyer's premium in full. This guarantee does not apply to lots sold "as is" or where the lot description disclosed uncertainty of attribution.
9. Bidder Conduct
All bidders are expected to participate in good faith and in accordance with the following standards:
- Bidders must not engage in shill bidding, bid manipulation, or any collusive practice.
- Bidders must not use automated tools, bots, or scripts to interact with the platform without prior written consent.
- Bidders must not attempt to contact sellers directly to arrange off-platform transactions.
- Bidders must not share account credentials with third parties.
- Any attempt to circumvent, exploit, or interfere with platform systems is strictly prohibited.
Violations of these conduct standards may result in immediate account suspension, cancellation of winning bids, forfeiture of deposits, and/or legal action.
10. Dispute Resolution
In the event of a dispute arising from an auction transaction, the following procedure applies:
- Submit a written dispute to disputes@igniteauctions.com within 48 hours of the event giving rise to the dispute.
- Ignite Auctions will acknowledge receipt within 1 business day and assign a case reference number.
- A specialist review will be conducted within 5 business days, with a written determination issued to all parties.
- If either party disputes the determination, the matter may be referred to formal mediation or arbitration.
Ignite Auctions' determination on all matters relating to the conduct of auctions, lot descriptions, and bidder eligibility is final and binding.
11. Governing Law
These Auction Rules are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Zambia. Any disputes not resolved through our internal process shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Zambia.
For transactions involving buyers domiciled in other jurisdictions, the laws of Zambia shall still apply to the auction transaction itself, though local consumer protection laws may additionally apply in certain circumstances.
These rules were last reviewed and updated on June 10, 2026. Ignite Auctions reserves the right to amend these rules at any time. Registered bidders will be notified of material changes by email at least 14 days prior to the effective date.