# Telephone bid

> A bid placed live during the sale by a client on the phone with a member of the auction house's staff, who relays the client's bids to the auctioneer in real time.

- URL: https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/telephone-bid
- Language: English
- Also known as: Phone bid, Telephone line
- Last updated: 2026-10-07
- Français: https://www.selloff.auction/fr/glossaire/enchere-telephonique.md

## Definition

A bid placed live during the sale by a client on the phone with a member of the auction house's staff, who relays the client's bids to the auctioneer in real time.

Telephone bidding is booked in advance for specific lots, and the house assigns staff to call clients shortly before those lots come up. Many houses set a minimum estimate for phone lines and ask phone bidders to leave a cover bid in case the call fails.

In Selloff, phone bids are recorded against the bidder by lot number and summarised by session so the phone team can plan; bookings can be reassigned between staff. See our guide to [running hybrid auctions](https://www.selloff.auction/articles/running-hybrid-auctions.md).

## Related features

- [Absentee & phone bids](https://www.selloff.auction/features/bid-recording.md): Record absentee, phone and OR bids in the book, check them against your bid increments, confirm them to clients by email and print the bid book for the room.

## Related terms

- [Absentee bid](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/absentee-bid.md): A written instruction left with the auction house before the sale, authorising it to bid on a lot on a client's behalf up to a stated maximum. The auctioneer executes it as cheaply as competing bids and the reserve allow.
- [Online bid](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/online-bid.md): A bid submitted over the internet, either in advance (a pre-bid) through the auction house's website or a bidding platform, or live while the sale is taking place.
- [Hybrid auction](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/hybrid-auction.md): A live auction in which bids are taken at the same time from the saleroom, telephone lines, absentee orders and online bidders, all competing on the same lots in real time.
- [Paddle number](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/paddle-number.md): The number assigned to a registered bidder for a sale, shown on a paddle or card in the room and used to record who won each lot. Phone and online bidders receive a bidder number too.