Auktionshaus Meyer

Auktionshaus Meyer has been selling by the main station in Hamburg since 1946, which makes it one of the older auction houses in the directory and a very different proposition from the industrial platforms around it. Its regular Varia sales are general auctions — a collection of Montblanc fountain pens sitting in the same catalogue as vehicles and household contents — held on published dates rather than as continuous online sales.

What you can buy

• Collections: the Varia sales carry whatever has been consigned, from writing instruments to decorative items.
• Art and antiques: furniture, pictures and objects from estates and private consignors.
• Jewellery and watches: a recurring category in this kind of general house.
• Vehicles: cars and commercial vehicles (Kfz/Nfz) appear alongside the rest.
• Household and office contents: the remainder of estate and clearance consignments.

How the bidding works

Sales are held on announced dates — the Varia auction runs to a published calendar rather than closing continuously — and the site keeps an archive of past sales plus a favourites list for registered users. Register and log in to bid. There is an FAQ covering the process, which for a general auction house usually includes commission, payment and collection terms.

What to check before you bid

General houses catalogue in less depth than specialists: a lot described in one line has been examined in about that much detail, and attribution on art and collectibles is the auctioneer's opinion rather than a guarantee. Viewing before the sale matters more here than at an industrial auction, because condition drives value in every one of these categories. Check the buyer's premium and what VAT treatment applies — German general houses often use the margin scheme, on which no VAT is reclaimable.