How it works
Operatory manages the entire equipment liquidation process. You tell us what you have. We handle everything else.
For sellers
From equipment to payout
Tell us what you have
Contact us with your equipment details, or submit through your seller dashboard. Whether it is a single chair or a full practice closure, we assess the scope and build a plan.
We document everything
Professional photography, standardized condition grades, detailed specifications, and service history when available. Every listing is built to give buyers confidence and drive competitive bidding.
We run the auction
Your equipment goes live to our verified buyer network. Timed auctions with anti-sniping protection and staggered closings produce fair market prices. You set an optional reserve (hidden minimum) for protection.
Payment and payout
The winning buyer pays through Stripe. Funds are held for 5 business days (the buyer dispute window). After the hold clears, the Operatory team manually processes your payout — the full sale amount with zero commission deducted. We coordinate pickup logistics between you and the buyer so you do not have to chase anyone down.
For buyers
Verified equipment, competitive prices
Browse documented inventory
Every listing includes professional photos, standardized condition grades, and detailed specifications. Search by category, condition, location, or price. Save listings to your watchlist for alerts before they close.
Bid or buy now
Place bids on timed auctions with anti-sniping protection, or purchase instantly at the Buy Now price when available. Once a bid is placed on a Buy Now listing, the fixed price is removed and the auction continues competitively.
Pay securely
Win the auction and pay your final bid plus a 15% buyer premium through Stripe. Funds are held for 5 business days. If the equipment is significantly not as described, open a dispute before release and we will resolve it.
Coordinate pickup
After payment, we share contact details between you and the seller and coordinate pickup logistics. Arrange local pickup or freight shipping on your schedule.
Sale types
Operatory uses two formats depending on the situation.
Timed auction
Buyers compete by placing bids over a set timeframe. The highest bidder when the clock runs out wins. Sellers set a starting price and an optional reserve (a hidden minimum they will accept). If the reserve is not met, the equipment does not sell.
Auction with Buy Now
Same timed auction, but with a fixed Buy Now price. Any buyer can skip the bidding and purchase immediately. Once a bid is placed, the Buy Now option is removed and the lot continues as a standard auction. This gives buyers a choice: compete for a lower price or secure the item instantly.
Pricing
Simple and transparent. No hidden costs.
Buyer premium
Added to the winning bid at checkout
Seller commission
Sellers keep the full hammer price
Payment processing
Stripe fee, covered by the buyer premium
Example: $10,000 winning bid. Buyer pays $11,500 total. Seller receives $10,000.
Auction mechanics
Designed for fair price discovery on high-value equipment.
Bid increments
Increments scale with price to keep bidding orderly. The first bid equals the starting price with no increment added.
Anti-sniping protection
Any bid placed within the final 2 minutes of an auction extends the closing time by 2 minutes. This repeats until 2 full minutes pass with no new bids. Every serious bidder gets a fair chance to respond.
Reserve prices
Sellers can set a hidden minimum. If bidding does not reach the reserve, the equipment does not sell. The listing shows whether the reserve has been met, but never the amount.
Staggered close
In multi-lot events, lots close sequentially with 2 minutes between each. This gives bidders time to move between lots without overlap, similar to a live auction.
Logistics
We coordinate pickup and delivery between buyer and seller.
Buyer-arranged freight
Most common for dental chairs, imaging systems, and heavy equipment. After checkout, we share the pickup address and seller contact so the buyer can coordinate a freight carrier.
Local pickup
Buyer picks up directly from the seller location. Ideal for heavy or fragile equipment when nearby. No shipping cost added at checkout.
Seller ships (flat rate)
For smaller items the seller can ship. Flat-rate cost is set by the seller and added to the buyer checkout total.
Buyer protection
Every transaction includes built-in safeguards.
5-day hold period
Funds are held for 5 business days after payment. If the equipment is significantly not as described (wrong model, major undisclosed damage, or not received), open a dispute and we will resolve it before funds release.
Every listing reviewed
Our team reviews photos, condition claims, and completeness before anything goes live. Inaccurate listings are rejected or corrected before buyers see them.
All sales final after hold
Equipment is sold as documented. After the 5-day hold passes with no dispute, the Operatory team manually processes the seller payout. The sale is then considered final. This protects both parties.
Have equipment to liquidate?
Tell us what you have. We will assess the scope and walk you through the process from documentation to payout.