Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What is aha!?

aha! is a curator-driven digital auction and marketplace for contemporary art. Unlike traditional auction houses or generic art marketplaces, aha! puts curators at the center. Curators with real expertise select and present artwork, giving collectors context and confidence in what they are buying. The platform supports curated auctions, fixed-price gallery sales, editorial content, and community spaces called Salons.

Who can use aha!?

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account. aha! supports three account types:

• Collectors: Browse, discover, bid on, and purchase contemporary artwork
• Artists: List and sell your work through curated auctions or the gallery
• Curators: Organize and present artwork in curated auctions and editorial features

How do I create an account?

Click "Sign Up" in the top navigation. You will need an email address and password. You can start browsing immediately, but you will need to complete your profile before placing bids or listing artwork.

Buying and Bidding

How do auctions work?

Each curated auction runs for a set period displayed on the auction page. You place bids on artwork you want to purchase. When the timer reaches zero, the highest bid wins. All bids are binding and cannot be retracted once submitted (Terms of Service, Section 5.1).

What are bid extensions?

To keep things fair, aha! uses automatic bid extensions. If someone places a bid in the final minutes of an auction, the closing time extends to give other bidders a chance to respond. This prevents last-second sniping and ensures the true market price is reached. The extension window is displayed on each lot (Terms of Service, Section 5.3).

Can I retract a bid?

No. All bids are binding and irrevocable once submitted. Before bidding, make sure you have reviewed all artwork details, images, and condition information, and that you are prepared to complete the purchase if you win.

What happens when I win an auction?

You have 72 hours to complete payment. Your payment method is already authorized through Stripe when you place your bid, so in most cases the charge processes automatically. If payment is not completed within 72 hours, your account may be suspended and the lot offered to the next highest bidder (Terms of Service, Section 5.6).

What is the buyer's premium?

All auction purchases include a 15% buyer's premium added to the hammer price (the winning bid amount). This is standard in the auction industry. The premium supports platform operations, curator compensation, authentication processes, escrow security, and ongoing development of tools like the aha! Index.

Your total at checkout: Hammer Price + 15% Buyer's Premium + Applicable Tax + Shipping

The premium is always displayed separately during bidding and at checkout so there are no surprises.

How do gallery purchases work?

Gallery artworks are sold at fixed prices. No bidding, no waiting. Add to cart, check out, done. Gallery purchases are processed immediately through Stripe.

What payment methods are accepted?

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. We accept major credit and debit cards. aha! never stores your card information directly.

Shipping and Delivery

How does shipping work?

Shipping costs are calculated based on artwork dimensions, weight, value, and destination. Multiple shipping options with varying levels of insurance and handling are available at checkout.

What is aha! Capture?

aha! Capture is our AI-assisted condition documentation system. Sellers use their phone camera to capture detailed information about an artwork, including dimensions, materials, and condition. The system generates a condition report that helps with insurance documentation and shipping preparation. These reports are provided for informational purposes and do not constitute professional appraisals (Terms of Service, Section 8.2).

Who is responsible for packaging?

Sellers are responsible for packaging artwork according to aha!'s packaging guidelines. Proper packaging is important because failure to follow the guidelines may void shipping insurance coverage.

What about international shipping?

aha! ships internationally. However, the buyer is responsible for all import duties, customs fees, VAT, and any other charges imposed by the destination country. aha! does not collect or remit foreign import duties on behalf of buyers (Terms of Service, Section 7.8).

When will my purchase arrive?

Sellers must ship within 5 business days of payment confirmation. Delivery time depends on the shipping method selected and the destination. Tracking information is provided once the artwork ships.

Returns and Buyer Protection

Are sales final?

Yes. All auction and gallery purchases are sold "as-is" and are final. Artwork may have wear, imperfections, or characteristics not fully visible in photographs. We encourage you to review all images, descriptions, and condition reports carefully before bidding or purchasing.

What if the artwork is not as described?

If an artwork is materially different from its listing description, such as wrong artist attribution, significantly undisclosed damage, or incorrect medium, you may request a return within 7 days of delivery. Material misrepresentation does not include minor color variations due to monitor differences, normal wear consistent with the artwork's age, or subjective assessments of quality (Terms of Service, Section 10.2).

To file a claim, contact us at hello@arthausauction.com within 7 days of receiving the artwork.

What counts as "material misrepresentation"?

Examples that qualify: the listing says "oil on canvas" but the work is a print; the listing omits significant damage like a tear or water stain; the work is attributed to the wrong artist.

Examples that do not qualify: colors look slightly different on your monitor; the work has minor surface wear consistent with its age; you changed your mind about the purchase.

For Artists

How do I sell on aha!?

Create an artist account and complete your profile. Artwork can be listed through curated auctions (selected by a curator) or in the gallery at a fixed price. You will need to provide accurate descriptions, high-quality images, and honest condition information for every listing.

What are the seller commissions?

aha! charges commissions on sales as disclosed during the seller onboarding process and in your seller dashboard. Commission rates may vary by listing type (auction, gallery, private sale). Current rates are always visible in your dashboard (Terms of Service, Section 7.3).

When do I get paid?

Payouts are processed after the buyer confirms receipt or after the delivery confirmation period has elapsed, whichever comes first. Payouts are typically disbursed within 14 business days of confirmed delivery through Stripe Connect. You must complete Stripe Connect onboarding in your dashboard to receive payouts (Terms of Service, Section 7.7).

What about taxes?

You are responsible for your own income tax obligations from sales on aha!. The platform may issue tax reporting documents such as IRS Form 1099-K as required by law (Terms of Service, Section 11.4).

Do I keep my copyright?

Yes. Listing or selling artwork on aha! does not transfer any intellectual property rights. Buyers acquire physical ownership of the artwork but do not acquire reproduction rights unless you explicitly grant them (Terms of Service, Section 14.3).

What is the artist resale royalty?

aha! supports artist resale rights. When applicable under law or voluntarily elected by the seller, a resale royalty may be calculated and disbursed to the original artist on secondary market sales conducted through the platform (Terms of Service, Section 7.4).

For Curators

What do curators do on aha!?

Curators select, organize, and present artwork in curated auctions and editorial contexts. The curator role is what makes aha! different. Curators provide the expertise and context that help collectors discover and trust the work they are buying.

Are there rules for curators?

Yes. Curators must disclose any financial interest in or personal relationship with artists whose work they curate. Curators cannot bid on or purchase artwork in auctions they have curated. Curators cannot accept compensation from artists in exchange for inclusion in an auction, except through aha!'s established programs (Terms of Service, Section 12).

How do I become a curator?

Curator applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Create an account and indicate your interest in curating. We look for demonstrated expertise, a clear curatorial perspective, and familiarity with the contemporary art landscape.

Fees and Payments

What fees does aha! charge?

For buyers: A 15% buyer's premium on auction purchases, plus applicable sales tax and shipping.

For sellers: Commissions on sales as disclosed in your seller dashboard. Rates vary by listing type.

For everyone: No subscription fees. No listing fees. You only pay when a transaction happens.

How is sales tax calculated?

Sales tax is automatically calculated by Stripe Tax based on your shipping address and local tax regulations (Terms of Service, Section 7.6).

Is my payment secure?

Yes. All payments are processed through Stripe, a PCI DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. aha! never stores your credit card numbers. Auction bids are held in escrow via Stripe until the auction concludes.

AI and Technology

How does aha! use AI?

aha! uses artificial intelligence in several areas:

• Artwork discovery: AI helps categorize and classify artwork by style, medium, and subject to improve search and recommendations
• aha! Capture: AI-assisted condition analysis, dimensional measurement, and material identification
• Personalized recommendations: Suggestions based on your browsing and collecting patterns
• aha! Index: AI processes anonymized data to identify market trends and generate insights

AI-generated or AI-assisted content on the platform is labeled as such, in compliance with the California AI Transparency Act and EU AI Act Article 50 (Terms of Service, Section 17).

What is the aha! Index?

The aha! Index is our market intelligence tool. It provides insights into art market trends, artist trajectories, pricing patterns, and collecting activity. All data in the aha! Index is anonymized and aggregated, meaning no individual user's activity can be traced back to them. The aha! Index exists to make the art market more transparent for everyone (Privacy Policy, Section 3).

Does aha! sell my data?

No. aha! does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. Not now, not ever. Anonymized, aggregated data powers the aha! Index, but this data cannot identify individual users. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

Can I opt out of AI features?

Yes. You can opt out of personalized recommendations and anonymized analytics through your account settings. Opting out does not affect your ability to use the platform (Privacy Policy, Section 3.4).

Account and Privacy

How do I delete my account?

Contact us at legal@arthausauction.com or use your account settings. Personal information is deleted within 30 days. Transaction records are retained as required by tax law (typically 7 years). Anonymized data already incorporated into the aha! Index cannot be extracted because it is no longer tied to your identity (Privacy Policy, Section 8).

What are my data rights?

All users can access, correct, delete, and export their personal data. California residents have additional rights under CCPA/CPRA. European users have additional rights under GDPR. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Where can I find the full legal terms?

• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy

Still Have Questions?

Our support team is here to help.

• Email: hello@arthausauction.com
• Legal inquiries: legal@arthausauction.com
• Mailing address: TEDE Holdings LLC d/b/a aha! (Art Haus Auction), 418 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12207