Tips and FAQs

Here are our tips for you and answers to some of the frequently asked questions:

TIPS

  1. Bid sooner rather than later. If you are the opening bidder you will always be bidding less than your opposing bidders.
  2. Make your bid clear and feel free to shout if the auctioneer hasn’t see you (we’re not Sotherby’s)
  3. Clear, readable listing sheets make the auctioneer’s job much easier. Verbose descriptions will be summarised by the auctioneer.
  4. When the hammer falls and you are the winning bidder, it belongs to you, not the Auction or the seller. Please keep an eye on your lots.
  5. Buyers you can confirm that you have bought something by paying at the desk. Check your report against the lots you think you have bought and gather into a neat stash.
  6. Sellers please check your reports sheets which will show you which items haven’t sold.
  7. We’re doing our best but feel free to give advice or alert us if you see something which could be improved.

FAQS

  1. Why is the auctioneer ignoring me?
    • Sometimes it because they have spotted two people before you and the auctioneer’s is waiting for one of them to stop bidding.
    • It could be the light, someone blocking their view of you. Hold your bidding card up high, wave it and shout if necessary.
  2. Where do you start the bidding when you have commission or absentee bid?
    • We leave this up to the auctioneer. Sometimes we will start the bidding below the reserve price in order to encourage bidding.
    • If there is no reserve and no other commission bids: at an amount the auctioneer believes reasonable.
    • If there is a commission bid the auctioneer or a member of staff will bid on behalf of the commission bidder.
    • If there are more than one commission bids we treat them as though they had bid against each other in the room and the highest commission bid it left.
    • If there are equal high bids, the first person to leave the bid has priority.
  3. How many lots per hour do you sell at?
    • We normally sell around 100-150 lots per hour
  4. If a lot doesn’t sell, can I haggle with the seller?
    • Our staff can sell you lots at the reserve price and we can approach the seller on your behalf with an offer as well.