Brianna HarrisonThe 5 Best Auction Houses in Toronto
If you’re curious about where to go for bidding and live sellings in Toronto, then we’ve got you covered! In this list, you will find the best auction houses in Toronto and the usual items that you can purchase from each of the places.
We included pertinent information such as contact details, address, and even usual prices.
The Best Auction Houses in Toronto
We used the following factors to find the best auction houses in Toronto:
How much do items from auction houses cost in Toronto?
There isn’t actually a set average price for items in auction houses. This is due to the fact that costs go up given the biddings and depending on what is being sold.
To assist you, we estimated the usual starting prices set by auction houses. Note that these are only samples and that costs are likely to vary per place or item.
1. Cowley Abott Fine Art
| EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ |
| POLICIES AND PROCESSES | ★★★★★ |
| RESOURCES | ★★★★★ |
| CREDIBILITY | ★★★★☆ |
Initially founded in 2013 as Consignor Canadian Fine Art, Cowley Abbott is known to be Canada’s first-ever online art auction house. Their current name was patterned after two of their three founders, Rob Cowley and Lydia Abbott, who are veterans of the Toronto auction industry.
The auction house was first opened to act as a bridge between art galleries and the growing online market. It was in 2018 when they started holding live auctions, which are successfully continuing as of writing.
The best thing about Cowley Abbott is that they provide a wide range of art pieces, from affordable ones to premium items.
They even put up a few items for immediate sale, which makes a convenient option for those who fail to purchase something during a bidding or actual auction.
We like the fact that they have an artist directory and are very versatile in their choices. They don’t stick to anything specific and are just really focused on providing more pieces for customers.
On top of these, they even host charity auctions. This makes a good testament to their values and principles as a firm, in our opinion.
We honestly don’t find anything alarming about Cowley Abbott. We do note that apparently, not all of their staff are knowledgeable about art, which can be a setback.
Nevertheless, we find that Cowley Abbott is a good auction house for anyone looking for an art piece. They have a fair reputation and their online options make things more convenient.
Pros
- Founders are veterans of the auction industry
- Customers can bid and buy online
- Wide range of pieces
- Extensive artist directory
Cons
- Not all staff are experts in art
- Closed on weekdays
Customer Reviews
Classy, elegant, down to earth, friendly
“Canadian Art specialty auction house and their awesome staff are a favorite. Bought a JW Morrice and sold a 300 pound Bill McElcheran bronze at two of their recent live auction events. Always thrilling to watch live as record prices are set. Classy, elegant, down to earth, friendly. Highest recommendation!” — David LeBlanc, via Google
Professionalism is top notch
“I have purchased quite a bit of artwork from this gallery. The staff is extremely helpful. I highly recommend checking out their auctions! Professionalism is top notch” — Adam Henderson, via Google
2. Dupuis
| EXPERIENCE | ★★★★★ |
| POLICIES AND PROCESSES | ★★★★☆ |
| RESOURCES | ★★★★★ |
| CREDIBILITY | ★★★★☆ |
Dupuis is famous for its jewelry auction services that trace back to as early as 1996. Apart from auctions, they also do appraisals and catalog orders.
What we like most about this jewelry auction house is how wide their selection of jewelries are. They have rings, necklaces, pendants, earrings, charms, and more from a variety of prominent and luxury jewelry brands.
Their auction calendar is very organised, which we find convenient. This makes it easy for customers to know their schedule and is even a good marketing strategy.
They hold four special auctions every year, with each auction categorised and the selections made available to interested parties through email or invites.
For sellers, they have an online estimate for items. They also provide a guide to selling at an auction to make sure that a seller is comfortable with the process.
We do warn that Dupuis has really high standards for jewelry, so those who are interested in selling may receive lower estimated prices than what they expect.
They are also closed during the weekends, so you may want to take note of that. However, they do have their own app to make orders and bids more accessible.
Overall, we recommend Dupuis given their tenure and expertise. They are really commendable in terms of their global market insight and pre-sale estimates.
Pros
- More than 25 years in the industry
- Wide selection of jewelries
- Organised and detailed auction calendar
Cons
- Interested sellers sometimes receive low estimates
- Closed during weekends
Customer Reviews
A great way to find unique carefully curated pieces
“We purchased a piece here and had a great experience. Not a conventional way to buy jewelry, but it’s a great way to find unique carefully curated pieces that are more historic and beautiful than you’d find at a mall.” — Stephanie Christine, via Google
Attentive, responsive, and accommodating
“Out-of-town buyer massively impressed by the functionality and ease of use of the Dupuis app. Post-purchase follow-up included exceptional customer service from the entire staff; they were attentive, responsive, and accommodating. With the item now in hand, can also confirm that it was fairly and accurately represented online. Would not hesitate to repeat the experience, and look forward to doing so.” — Min Short, via Google
3. Affordable Creations
| EXPERIENCE | ★★★★★ |
| POLICIES AND PROCESSES | ★★★★☆ |
| RESOURCES | ★★★★★ |
| CREDIBILITY | ★★★★☆ |
With over 30 years’ worth of experience in the jewels and gems industry, Affordable Creations is one of the most reliable in terms of jewelry expertise and inventory. They hold jewelry auctions at least every week and are known to live up to their name.
The jewelry that you can find at this business are rings, earrings, necklaces and pendants, bracelets, gemstones, and others such as charms and pins. The best thing is that most of the items actually start at 1.29 CAD, which is very rare for auction houses.
Another thing that makes Affordable Creations unique is that they are actually the ones who craft their pieces. They usually source the stones in bulk quantity then perform computer-aided design for all of their jewelry.
They ship worldwide and treat all countries as their target market. We do note that they only do the auctions online and that they do not host live events.
They are also closed during weekends and they usually open and close a little later than most during weekdays.
On the bright side, shipping is free for all orders above 323 CAD. Free insured shipping is offered for all orders above 1,290 CAD.
All said, we see Affordable Creations as a good place for acquiring jewelry. If you’re one of the first 50 lucky buyers, you can even score a free gift even if you only spend 1.29 CAD.
Pros
- More than 30 years’ experience
- Free shipping and free insured shipping options
- Biddings start at 1.29 CAD
Cons
- No live auctions
- Closed during weekends
Customer Reviews
Amazing and even provided a free complimentary gift
“Was able to ship everything to my address easily and securely. They were amazing and even provided a free complimentary gift that I love! (Maybe even more than my purchases!) and complimentary boxes for my purchases as well. Will definitely be a repeat customer.” — Philomena Golden, via Google
Excellent quality
“Timely delivery and excellent quality!” — Mike Boyd, via Google
4. Right Bid Auctions
| EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ |
| POLICIES AND PROCESSES | ★★★★☆ |
| RESOURCES | ★★★★☆ |
| CREDIBILITY | ★★★★☆ |
Right Bid Auctions is relatively new and young in the auction industry. Their items include electronics and gadgets, home appliances and furniture, sporting goods, tools, collectibles, toys, antiques, clothing, art and more.
Most of their auctions are held online, but they still host live auctions from time to time. Take note that they require a driver’s licence for those who wish to participate in the auctions.
One of the most convenient things about them is that they accept cash, debit, cheque, and credit card payments. They even accept online fund transfers through Interac.
Their items are really versatile as they come from different categories. We do note that this isn’t exactly the place for unique finds as they really just try to gather as much as they can and sell them.
You may also want to take note that their collection is a mix of new and refurbished items. They are also closed during weekends, for those of you who are curious about their schedule.
Honestly, we cannot really pinpoint anything negative about this auction house. We do note that their website is not really updated and maximised enough.
We still recommend Right Bid Auctions given that their online auctions are open to the public. They are open daily for a total of 12 hours, except during weekends.
Pros
- Items are of different categories
- Flexible payment options
- Online auctions are open to the general public
Cons
- Website is not updated
- Closed on weekends
- Relatively young company
Customer Reviews
We found everything we needed
“Great service here. We found everything we needed and the employees here are genuinely helpful. Highly recommended.” — Adam J, via Google
Great auction house
“Great auction house. Attracts better merchandise than other auction houses. Mainly standard goods, not art and jewelry.” — Michael Boyes, via Google
5. The Stock Room Auctions
| EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ |
| POLICIES AND PROCESSES | ★★★★☆ |
| RESOURCES | ★★★★☆ |
| CREDIBILITY | ★★★★☆ |
Established in 2017, The Stock Room is a place for everyday essentials and frequent auctions. They provide nationwide shipping in Canada and also ship to the continental USA.
The Stock Room often conducts structured and limited auctions, with the end date, number of people, and actual item specified. All of their auctions are held virtually, which can either be good or bad for customers.
What we find most customer-friendly about this business is that they have no hidden fees or extra charges. They even provide a 30-day warranty for their items and free shipping for orders above 258 CAD.
They also disclose their auction schedules on their website and even showcase a few photos of the items that will be up for sale. We do note that you have to register to be able to join their auctions.
In terms of bid schedule, a buyer may bid anytime the auctions are live. They follow a usual schedule from Mondays to Saturdays, with no events or customer service available on Sundays.
Standard conditions come with the items to indicate whether they are new or pre-owned, with or without tags, and the like. This is honestly a good testament to their transparency as a business.
In conclusion, The Stock Room is a perfect place for those who are looking for basic to premium items. Just make sure to pick a category and register to an event as soon as you get interested.
Pros
- Structured auctions
- Bid schedules are displayed on their website
- States the condition of each item
Cons
- Registration is required
- Closed on Sundays, shorter hours on Saturdays
Customer Reviews
Simple, straightforward and great deals
“This is the best auction site out there, period. Simple, straightforward and great deals. I have gotten so many items and presents from here. The staff is absolutely incredible and responds super quickly to everything! I almost don’t want to leave this review because it adds more competition but they are so good that they deserve it. Thanks for being awesome, keep up the great work!” — Mike Wrobel, via Google
The process was very easy and smooth
“Amazing deals and a very friendly group! I purchased earbuds and a stick vacuum from their auction site. The process was very easy and smooth, and I saved over 50% on most of the items I bid on. Most items were like new!!! Highly recommend this site. A lot of great deals of items you can find on Amazon!” — Samantha Yiu, via Google
FAQs about auction houses in Toronto
And that wraps up our list of the best auction houses in Toronto. Do let us know if you have other recommendations!
If you’re specifically interested in jewelry, you may want to check out our review of the best jewelry stores in Toronto.
