Miller & Miller’s buyer’s premiums going up in 2026
Maintaining high-quality service buyers expect
Since the pandemic, wages, supplies, production fees – literally every aspect of the business – has gone up substantially. As a result, Miller & Miller will be increasing its buyer’s premiums in January 2026.
Since launching in 2016, Miller & Miller Auctions has sustained its reputation as trusted sellers of art, historic objects and high-value collections. Maintaining its level of professionalism, winning the confidence of buyers and earning their trust, has always been top of mind. But preserving and adding to the service buyers have come to expect, while navigating a kaleidoscope of changing economic factors, has inevitably led to higher in-house costs. Since the pandemic, wages, supplies, production fees – literally every aspect of the business – has gone up substantially. As a result, Miller & Miller will be increasing its buyer’s premiums in January 2026.
For all categories the increase will be a modest 3%, rising from 18% to 21%. The new Miller & Miller fee will bring it in line with what other premiere auction houses are charging.
A snapshot from a Miller & Miller live auction simulcast, produced by the award-winning Ballinran Entertainment.
“It is of utmost importance to us to be able to continue to offer high-quality service. That has always been our vision and it’s what buyers have come to expect,” says Aki Ohtsuka, Miller & Miller’s Chief Financial Officer. “Every aspect of our business requires highly-trained professional people – whether it’s our photography, our authentication and grading process, or our simulcast on auction day. Even our shipping manager, for example, has a degree in math and computer science.”
Miller & Miller’s in-house shipping team hard at work after a sale.
Faced with widespread rising costs some businesses have chosen to adopt the ‘shrinkflation’ approach, offering less product or service, but for the same old price. Not Miller & Miller.
The New Hamburg, Ontario-based auction house has become sharply attuned to buyers’ particular concerns and plans to stay that way: Will the item be properly handled and arrive safely; will it be as described; will it look the same as the photos and will shipping costs be reasonable? Miller & Miller has built into its business model reliable, high-quality services that instill buyer confidence throughout the entire auction process – from start to finish. And it’s continually investing in that process, ensuring tangible benefits by providing:
‘Informed photography’, where specialists work with the photographer to capture important angles, markings and damage (if any).
‘In situ photography’, where items are placed in an appropriate setting that adds context and helps with visualization.
Industry leaders who authenticate, grade and provide detailed condition reports based on physical inspections.
Coordination with third-party Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA) and TAC (The Authentication Company), as well as leveraging AI (artificial intelligence) to expand an ever-growing knowledge base pertinent to niche communities of collectors. This ensures all buyers, not just seasoned collectors, know exactly what they’re buying and helps bolster resale values.
The Miller Times, an online publication, offers informative, quality feature stories filled with little-known facts about the pieces featured and the collectors who gathered them.
Auction day simulcast by a production team from the award-winning Ballinran Entertainment.
In-house team of professionals devoted to order fulfilment and the quick and efficient resolution of any buyer issues.
A team of skilled packing professionals who ensure orders are shipped quickly and safely.
Client services in navigating ever-changing export and import regulations and any impact from the new U.S. tariffs.
Miller & Miller’s in-situ photography provides context and scale, aiding visualization compared to a traditional plain-background image.
Miller & Miller has also commissioned new security upgrades to its premises to protect purchased items awaiting shipping, pick-up instructions, or delivery to major U.S. and Canadian shows.
“These increases to buyer’s premiums will allow us to build on the one-to-one professional service to our buyers,” explains Ohtsuka. “We’ll continue to walk them through everything they need to know to buy with confidence. That’s where we excel and that’s what our buyers expect.”
By Diane Sewell
Diane Sewell has been a writer for more than 25 years, producing feature stories for some of the country’s top newspapers and consumer magazines, as well as client newsletters and commissioned books.
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