Pricing and Process
A.C. Lion Inc. publishes its full fee structure so you can qualify your estate before you ever pick up the phone. No hidden costs, no post-consultation surprises.
The Flat $250 Fee — What It Covers
Flat fee for up to 100 items
Cataloging · Photography · Listing on AuctionNinja
A.C. Lion charges a single flat fee of $250 to take your estate items from raw inventory to live auction. That fee covers three distinct services performed by our team:
- Cataloging — Every item is identified, described, and entered into our inventory system with condition notes and relevant provenance details.
- Photography — Each item is photographed to auction-standard quality, including detail shots where condition or markings affect value.
- Listing on AuctionNinja — All cataloged and photographed items are listed live on AuctionNinja, the platform we use for all estate auctions, reaching active bidders across the region.
The $250 fee applies to estates of up to 100 items. It is a flat rate — not a percentage of sale proceeds, not a per-item charge, and not subject to adjustment based on category or estimated value. What you see here is what you pay.
The 100-Item Minimum
A.C. Lion requires a minimum of 100 qualifying items to open an estate engagement. This threshold exists because the cataloging, photography, and listing workflow has a fixed operational cost that is only justified when the auction has sufficient volume to generate meaningful returns for the estate.
Item count is assessed at intake — before any fee is collected. During the intake call or walkthrough, our team reviews the inventory against the criteria below and confirms whether the estate meets the minimum. If it does not, we will tell you directly rather than proceed with an engagement that will not serve your interests.
For estates that significantly exceed 100 items, see the negotiated rate structure section below.
Facility Drop-Off vs. Onsite Service
A.C. Lion offers two service configurations depending on the nature and location of the estate. The right option is determined during intake.
Drop-Off at Our Facility
Certain items can be transported to A.C. Lion's facility, where cataloging, photography, and listing are completed in a controlled environment. This is the standard configuration for estates where items can be safely moved and where the estate is within reasonable transport distance. Travel fee may be applied.
Onsite at the Estate
When items cannot be moved — due to size, fragility, or estate circumstances — A.C. Lion travels to the property to conduct cataloging and photography on location. A travel fee may be applied and is stated plainly at intake based on distance from our base of operations. There are no surprise charges after the engagement begins.
The determination of which option applies is made collaboratively at intake. If travel is required, the fee is disclosed and agreed upon before any work begins.
How A.C. Lion Compares
Most estate liquidation providers do not publish their fees. A.C. Lion does. The table below shows the difference.
| Provider | Fee Structure | Item Minimum | Timeline Commitment | Fee Disclosure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.C. Lion Inc. | $250 flat fee (up to 100 items); negotiated rate above 200 items | 100 qualifying items | Timeline set around your closing date at intake | Published on this page before you call |
| Typical Estate Sale Provider | Commission percentage, often 25–40% of gross sales; varies by provider | Varies; often undisclosed until consultation | Varies; often dependent on provider availability | Disclosed only after consultation or contract review |
The Five-Step Process
Every A.C. Lion estate engagement follows the same five steps, in the same order. Knowing the sequence in advance lets you plan around your closing date with confidence.
We assess your inventory, confirm the item count, agree on the travel or facility option, and lock in the intake deadline relative to your closing date.
Every qualifying item is cataloged with condition notes and photographed to auction-ready standard at our facility or onsite.
All items go live on AuctionNinja, reaching active bidders across the NY Tri-State area and beyond.
The auction runs for its scheduled duration. Bidding closes and winning bids are confirmed. Unsold items are addressed per the terms agreed at intake.
Proceeds are calculated, the flat fee is deducted, and your payout is issued. The calculation method is disclosed at intake — no surprises at settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
A qualifying item is any individual object that can be independently cataloged, photographed, and listed as a discrete lot on AuctionNinja. Sets, collections, or lots of similar objects may be grouped and counted as a single item at A.C. Lion's discretion during intake. Items that are broken beyond display or sale, have no identifiable market, or cannot be safely shipped or transferred are typically excluded from the count. The intake assessment is where this determination is made — before any fee is collected.
Shipping eligibility is determined on an item-by-item basis. Items that are fragile, oversized, or otherwise impractical to ship safely may be listed as local pickup only. This is noted in the AuctionNinja listing so bidders know the terms before they bid. A.C. Lion does not guarantee shipping for every item in an estate, and the intake process identifies which items will be listed with shipping versus pickup-only terms.
Unsold items are addressed according to the terms agreed at intake. Options typically include re-listing in a subsequent auction, returning the item to the estate, or donating or disposing of it if the estate authorizes that outcome. A.C. Lion does not charge additional fees for unsold items beyond the original flat fee. The handling preference for unsold lots is confirmed before the auction opens so there are no decisions to make under time pressure after the auction closes.
The payout is the total gross proceeds from the auction minus the $250 flat fee and any applicable travel fee agreed at intake. AuctionNinja's buyer's premium, if any, is paid by the buyer and does not reduce the estate's proceeds. The exact calculation is reviewed with you at intake so you understand what your net payout will look like before the auction runs. For estates above 200 items with a negotiated rate, the rate structure is disclosed and agreed upon in writing before work begins.
The closing date is the anchor point for the entire engagement. At intake, A.C. Lion works backward from your closing date to set the intake deadline, the catalog and photography window, the auction listing period, and the auction close date. The goal is to ensure the auction closes and payout is issued before you need the estate cleared. If your closing date does not allow sufficient lead time for a full auction cycle, that is identified at intake — not after work has begun.
Estates with more than 200 qualifying items move beyond the standard $250 flat fee into a negotiated rate structure. The negotiated rate is based on the total item count, the categories involved, and the logistical complexity of the engagement. A.C. Lion discloses the proposed rate in writing before any work begins. There is no obligation to proceed if the negotiated rate does not work for your estate. Contact us through the estate consultation page to begin that conversation.
Ready to Get Started?
Submit your estate details and A.C. Lion will confirm whether your inventory qualifies, which service option fits, and what your timeline looks like — before you commit to anything.
Request an Estate Consultation