THE FLOOR / FAQ
WHAT IS THE FLOOR?
What is The Floor?
The Floor is an open, self-service auction space by aha! (Art Haus Auction). Any artist can list work directly. Every lot starts at $1 with no reserve. Auctions run for 14 days. The market sets the price.
How is The Floor different from the main aha! platform?
The main aha! platform is curator-driven. Artists are invited by curators to participate in themed salon auctions with editorial coverage and full provenance infrastructure. The Floor is open to all artists without invitation. It operates independently from the curated experience.
Who can list on The Floor?
Any artist with a verified aha! account. No portfolio review, no jury, no invitation required.
FOR ARTISTS
How do I list work?
Upload a photo, add a title, medium, and dimensions. The listing fee amount is displayed during the listing process. Your work goes live at a $1 starting bid for 14 days.
What is the listing fee?
A flat fee per lot charged at the time of listing. It is non-refundable regardless of whether the lot sells. The fee amount is displayed during the listing process. Note: Listing fees are currently waived in celebration of The Floor's launch.
What if my work sells for $1?
It sold. The sale is final. The $1 starting bid is the feature, not a flaw. Most works attract competitive bidding well above $1. But The Floor trusts the market. If a work sells low, it found a home.
Can I set a reserve or minimum price?
No. Every lot on The Floor starts at $1 with no reserve. That is the rule, no exceptions.
Do I receive royalties on future resales?
Yes. If a collector resells your work through aha!'s secondary market (Encore), you receive a 10% artist royalty. This applies to all works originally sold on The Floor.
Is my name shown on the listing?
No. Work on The Floor is listed without the artist's name. The focus is on the work itself.
Who handles shipping?
You do. The Floor uses standard shipping. No white-glove service. You are responsible for packaging and sending the work after payment clears. Ship within 5 business days of sale.
FOR COLLECTORS
How does bidding work?
Place a bid at or above the current minimum. The highest bid when the auction ends wins. If a bid is placed in the final 2 minutes, the auction extends by 2 minutes to prevent last-second sniping.
What is the buyer's premium?
15% is added to the hammer price (winning bid). Shipping and applicable sales tax are calculated at checkout.
Why is there no artist name?
The Floor is about the work, not the name. You collect based on what you see. Every purchase includes a provenance record.
Can I return a purchase?
No. All sales on The Floor are final. Work is sold as-is based on the seller's description and photographs. By placing a bid, you accept these terms. The Floor is not a gallery with a return policy. It is an open auction market where both buyers and sellers accept the outcome.
What do I receive when I win?
The artwork, shipped to you by the artist. Plus a provenance record documenting the sale.
Can I resell work I bought on The Floor?
Yes, but not immediately. Work purchased on The Floor has a 90-day holding period before it can be listed on aha!'s secondary market (Encore). This prevents speculation and protects the integrity of both The Floor and the curated marketplace. After 90 days, you may list the work on Encore. The original artist receives a 10% royalty on any resale.
FEES AND PAYMENTS
What are the fees?
For sellers: a listing fee per lot, charged at the time of listing and non-refundable regardless of sale outcome (currently waived during launch). For buyers: 15% buyer's premium on the hammer price, plus shipping and applicable tax.
When do sellers get paid?
Funds are released after the buyer confirms delivery. Settlement typically takes 3 to 5 business days after confirmation.
What payment methods are accepted?
All major credit and debit cards via Stripe.
POLICIES
What is the return policy?
There is none. All Floor sales are final and as-is. The seller describes the work. The buyer bids based on that description. No returns, no exchanges, no exceptions.
What if the work arrives damaged?
Contact us immediately. If the damage occurred during shipping and the seller did not pack the work adequately, we will work with both parties to find a resolution. For items under $500, buyers accept standard shipping risk as stated in our terms.
What about copyright?
Artists retain full copyright of their work. By listing on The Floor, artists grant aha! a license to display images of the work for the purpose of the auction and provenance records.
Can aha! remove a listing?
Yes. We reserve the right to remove listings that violate our terms, contain prohibited content, or misrepresent the work. The Floor is open, not unmoderated.