Purple Wave
Purple Wave runs online-only, no-reserve auctions of farm, construction and government equipment from sellers across the Midwest and beyond. This page covers what it sells, how buying works, the buyer premium and every other buyer cost, with a link to purplewave.com.
- Founded
- 2001
- Based in
- Manhattan, Kansas
- Buyer premium
- 10%
- Card limit
- $3,000
Go to Purple Wave →How buying worksFees
About Purple Wave
Purple Wave was founded in 2001 in Manhattan, Kansas, as an online auction company for equipment. It runs a full-service model, where its staff list, photograph and describe items at the seller's location. Purple Wave handles payment and releases the item once funds arrive.
Sales are online only and close on set days by category, such as construction, ag, truck and trailer, and government auctions. Items are sold without reserve and stay at the seller's site until pickup. Each auction lists its own removal dates in the auction details and on the invoice.
What Purple Wave sells
How buying works at Purple Wave
- Make an accountRegister free on purplewave.com.
- Check the itemRead the description and photos, and inspect in person if you can.
- BidBid online before the item's close. There is no reserve.
- Add the costsAdd the 10% buyer premium and any sales tax.
- PayPay by 4 p.m. on the second business day after the auction.
- CollectPick up by the removal date in the auction details, with your own loading gear.
What it costs
Purple Wave's terms set a flat buyer premium on every lot.
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Buyer premium | 10% of the winning bid |
| Title delivery | Mailed by USPS certified mail at no listed charge |
| Credit card | Accepted up to $3,000 |
| Default fee | 15% of the purchase price, plus collection costs |
| Abandonment fee, items $2,000 and up | 20% of the purchase price, minimum $1,000 |
| Storage after the removal date | Charged at the auctioneer's discretion. Amount not published. |
| Loading | Buyer supplies equipment and labor |
| Sales tax | Added where it applies |
A worked example: a tractor that sells for $20,000 costs $22,000 with the 10% premium, before sales tax and hauling.
Paying, pickup and storage
| When to pay | By 4 p.m. on the second business day after the auction. |
| Payment | Wire transfer, certified check, or credit card, in U.S. dollars. |
| Card limit | $3,000. |
| Pickup | By the removal date shown in the auction details or on the invoice. |
| Storage | May be charged after the removal date. Items under $2,000 left 90 days count as abandoned. |
| Loadout | The buyer pays for loading and brings the equipment and help to do it. |
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UX Search is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Purple Wave. Bidding, payment and delivery all happen on the house's own site under its own terms. Information checked October 22, 2026 from purplewave.com (terms and conditions) and purplewave.com (blog, full service) and Auction pages need JavaScript and did not load for reading; fees and rules can change, so confirm them on the sale page.