NLMK Services: Online auctions
The Sales Call Centre is noting strong interest in online auctions for steel products. In this article, we will go over the key features of the service.
What defines our service
It’s an online platform for purchasing rolled products (cold rolled, hot rolled, galvanized, coated) through real-time bidding. The products have slight deviations from GOST (state) standards, and are offered at a 5% to 25% discount.
Participation: key points
- When: every business day from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Moscow Time).
- Access: Requires registration at NLMK.SHOP and request for access via email: store@nlmk.com.
- How it works: choose a lot → place your bid with a fixed increment → if you are not outbid by 4:00 PM, you’re the winner.
Transaction terms
- Payment: 100% advance payment within 2 business days.
- How to get it: pickup or delivery from our warehouses in Lipetsk within 7 calendar days.
NLMK.SHOP auctions: extended FAQs
Our customers frequently ask about online bidding, including questions about metal availability, how to participate, and other related topics. Evgeny Parshikov, auction specialist and administrator at NLMK Trading House, answers the most frequently asked questions.
1. Benefits and offerings
What are the actual discounts I can expect?
The discount amount varies depending on the type of metal:
- Galvanized and coated: 5% - 10%
- Cold rolled and hot rolled: 12 - 25%
- Special cases: in instances of low participant activity, discounts can reach 40% or more.
Who can benefit from buying such metal?
- Manufacturers whose products do not require a flawless metal finish — such as doors, brake columns, or ventilation systems. For example, sagging on galvanized steel does not impact ventilation performance, yet it can save between 5,000 and 10,000 roubles per tonne.
- Resellers that have the capability to fix or eliminate defects with subsequent resale.
What types of metal are typically available at auctions?
NLMK offers virtually its entire range of products, including high-strength grades. Electrical steel is rarely available. The most popular products are galvanized and coated steels.
2. Quality and choice classification
What is the difference between 1st and 2nd choice?
- 1st choice: metal with minimal defects. This is often simply high-quality rolled products that hadn’t been sold off in time.
- 2nd choice (A, B, C, D): Rolled products with defects. A to D deviations from the standard increase:
- Choice А: about 10 defects (corrosion, folded edge).
- Choice B*: about 30 defects.
- Choice C*: about 100 defects.
- Choice D*: about 300 defects.
*Defects from previous groups can be present.
Note: 3rd choice does not exist.
What types of defects can be encountered?
Deviations from the standard can include: variations in thickness, surface contamination, breaks, or deformations.
- For coated steel: delamination of zinc or paint, coil oval shape (sagging under own weight), which could impede decoiling.
- For hot rolled and cold rolled steel: key factors include corrosion levels and mechanical damages.
3. The Ins and Outs of the bidding process
What is the bid increment?
The minimum increment is 500 roubles.
When does the bidding close?
The winner is announced no earlier than 4:00 p.m MSK. Even if your bid is not outbid by midday, the auction won't close until the end of the entire day's session. If a bid is placed, for example, at 3:55 p.m., the bidding for the lot is extended until 4:10 p.m., and these extensions will continue as long as new bids are placed on the lot within 15 minutes.