Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How do I register?

Simply click on the "Welcome New Members" icon on the home page or "Register Now" at the top of any page, you will be automatically directed to a simple New Member Registration on line form. Fill in all the lines and tick boxes, our system will check that you've completed it all correctly and if OK, will send you an email to the email address you have provided. (If there are any errors detected, the system will highlight them for you to correct before you can proceed).

Check your emails inbox for an email from us, click on the link contained in the message to verify that it was you that asked to register, the link will take you back to the site and you will then have an account with Machine Tool Sales Online.

2. Why is the site asking for personal details when I'm registering?

We have to ask for personal details from you to ensure that's it you we're communicating with should there be a problem with your account in the future, or if you can't log in etc, we'll always ask for your company's VAT number too as this site is set up for business users only, but please note, the only information we can see on the system at our end is, your user name, your actual name, company name, VAT Number, email address and phone numbers...all else is blocked out by our Microsoft CRL Software, in line with our very strict Privacy Policy. (You can read that at the foot of this page or on the home page too) You can access your own details from your account area at any time using your password to change anything that you would like to in the future however. 

3. I can't find an item for sale?

You can use 3 different methods to find an item for sale.

i. You can simply scroll through the list of items on the front page...they are listed by time ended soonest. Click on the heading or the photograph to take you to the full item listing

ii. You can use the Search Dialog box at the top of the home page. In here you can search by category, or you can search by keyword.

iii. You can scroll down through the various categories on the left side of the home page. Here we've tried to group various items together under simple headings. The numbers along side each category indicate the number of items that are for sale in that category that month. Once you click on the heading you'll be taken to a list of the items for sale in that group.

4. I want to view before I buy...how do I do that?

All of the items for sale on "Machine Tool Sales Online" are available for you to view. Simply send the seller a note to ask where the item is and when is the best time for a look, or "Contact Us" and we'll try to help.

5. How do I bid for an item?

You must be registered and logged in to bid. Once you have found an item you want to bid on, simply put the maximum amount you want to pay for the item in the Bid Now box and click the button. The system will take you to another screen and ask you to confirm your bid amount. If you are happy with that, then press the Confirm Bid button...the system will now automatically bid UP TO the maximum amount you have entered.

6. Although I'm the highest bidder, I've entered an amount Bid more than the item page is now listing the item at...why hasn’t my maximum bid been accepted?

Our system will only bid to your maximum if there are others bidding against you. If you are the highest bidder at the end of the sale (and the reserve has been met), the system will only bid up to an amount it needs to, to win the item...this may be less than the amount that you have said you are prepared to go to.

7. How do I find out what the reserve is?

You can either continue to bid until the system says that the reserve has been met, or you can ask the seller, in some cases they may be prepared to tell you what they've set it at.

8. What is a buyer Premium?

All items for sale on "Machine Tool Sales Online" have a very competitive Buyers Premium of 10%. In effect it’s our commission for the sale. This amount will be ADDED to the final sale price at the end of the sale and will be added to the invoice as a line item. It covers our site fees, administration costs, the advertising costs and our management charges.

9. How do I buy an item immediately? 

Some items for sale may have a Buy It Now button and a price next to it indicating that the seller is prepared to sell the item for that amount. If you are happy to buy at that amount, then press the Buy It Now button, the system will take you to another screen and ask you to confirm that you want to commit to buy that item. If you are still happy to buy it, then Press the Confirm Button and that's it, the item is yours! The seller will send you the invoice within 48 hours.

10. Why hasn’t the sale ended at the scheduled Time?

On some occasions our sale end times may be extended to try to avoid some automatic bidding software being used during our sales...These systems bid for items in the last few seconds of a sale. If the sale end time extends by a few minutes, our system has detected a last second bid and will extend the sale end time. this ensures that everyone who is bidding on an item has the opportunity to have their last bid and not loose an item.

11. How do I get a machine delivered?

Once cleared funds have been received, you can arrange to collect your item from the seller yourself, or "Machine Tool Sales Online" can offer a delivery, (for both the UK and for Export from the UK) installation, training and servicing service. Should you need any help or assistance with any of this, then please us the "Contact Us" tab  for a quote at the foot of this page, we would happy to help where we can. 

12. Who do I contact if I'm not happy about something?

We are always committed to the highest standards of quality in the delivery of our service to our customers.  We will always take any complaint very seriously and will always communicate with you at the earliest opportunity in an attempt to resolve any issues through our complaint procedures, set out below. Should you ever have an issue or complaint with any part of our website, then please click on the “Contact us” tab at the top and bottom of our home page.  We will immediately acknowledge your complaint and conduct a thorough review, reporting back to you our findings with a view to resolving the matter. Should the matter not be resolved during this process, then a Director of Vigilance ESP Ltd will contact you personally.

If you can not find your answer here, please send us a message through the "Contact us" tab below.or call us at our Bristol showrooms on 01179 828445