Ritchie Bros. sold more than 4,600 items for more than $47 million at its recent 100% online auction in Houston. The two-day auction attracted more than 14,900 bidders, which was up 68% from the same auction last year and a new record for the site.

“With our auctions 100% online, we are really able to flex our digital muscle and show how Ritchie Bros. is uniquely positioned to drive demand like no other,” Alan McVicker, regional sales manager for Ritchie Bros., said. “Continuous innovations in our online experience and marketing approaches are driving significant increases in online page views to our websites, pre-registrations for our events and PriorityBids on items. All of these are great indicators for the momentum building into our massive Orlando auction next week and all our upcoming events, including our next Texas auction in Fort Worth on March 17 and 18.”

Total equipment pageviews for the Houston auction were up 70% year over year, while per lot pageviews were up 112%. Once online, customers added items to their watchlists, which were up 110% per item. The auction also gained more than 33,000 PriorityBids on items ahead of the auction.

More than 650 consignors sold equipment in the auction. Equipment highlights included more than 315 truck tractors, more than 115 excavators, more than 85 skid steer loaders and 50 dozers. Specific sale highlights included a 2000 Liebherr LR1400/1 400-ton crawler crane that sold for $505,000 to a buyer from Utah, a 2013 Caterpillar D8T dozer that sold for $290,000 to a buyer from Texas, and a 2018 John Deere 460E 6×6 articulated dump truck that sold for $220,000 to a buyer from Manitoba.

“We attracted a record number of registrants and achieved strong pricing across all equipment categories,” McVicker said.

Approximately 61% of the equipment in the Houston auction was purchased by out of state buyers, including 13% sold to international buyers from Australia, Germany and the United Arab Emirates.

Auction Quick Facts: Houston, TX (February 2020)

• Gross Transaction Value (GTV): More than $47 million
• Total Registered Bidders: More than 14,900
• Total Number of Lots: More than 4,600
• Total Number of Consignors: More than 650