Conditions of Business



Notice to buyers

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Payment

We accept the following methods of payment: cash, debit and credit cards – chip and pin payments only. Please note all credit card payments are subject to a surcharge of 2.5%.
We don’t accept credit or debit card payments in excess of £100 over the telephone

Special attention is drawn to the Conditions of Sale below:

Paddle Bidding

All room buyers need to register at the office for a paddle number to enable them to bid, this process is simple and very quick. However, we do require some form of identification, ie. Driver’s licence/passport.

Absentee Bidding

Buyers unable to attend the sale are welcome to submit commission bids. Forms are available at the front desk. Commission bids can also be emailed to auctions@andrewsmithandson.com. Bids may also be accepted by fax or telephone prior to the sale. Telephone bidding is also available but we recommend that you arrange for this facility to be available to you at least one day before the sale. We cannot guarantee this service due to restrictions on the number of available telephone lines. Any bids entered using these methods are done so at the bidders risk. Andew Smith & Son can accept no responsibility for any neglect or default in executing or failing to execute commission or telephone bids. PLEASE NOTE: PROSPECTIVE BUYERS WILL NEED TO PROVIDE CREDIT/DEBIT CARD DETAILS WHEN SUBMITTING BIDS.

Andrew Smith & Son also offer an online bidding service via the-saleroom.com for bidders who cannot attend the sale. In completing the bidder registration on www.the-saleroom.com and providing your credit/debit card details and unless alternative arrangements are agreed with Andrew Smith & Son, you authorise Andrew Smith & Son to charge the credit/debit card given in part or full payment, including all fees, for items successfully purchased in the auction via this method, and confirm that you are authorised to provide these credit/debit card details to Andrew Smith & Son through www.the-saleroom.com.

Please note that any lots purchased via the-saleroom.com live auction service will be subject to an additional 3% commission charge on the standard buyers premium rate detailed below, + VAT at the rate imposed on the hammer price.


Condition

Prospective purchasers must inspect lots personally to gain any indication as to age and condition. Any reference to such in our catalogue descriptions is opinion only and purchasers should satisfy themselves as to whether or not in their judgement the lot accords with the description. We will assist in making lots accessible for detailed inspection where necessary. Neither the Auctioneers nor the Vendor are responsible as to the condition of lots listed. The absence of any such reference does not imply that a lot is in good order or free from imperfections or repairs. Purchasers are reminded that goods become the sole responsibility of the buyer at the fall of the hammer.

Estimates

Estimates are designed to help buyers gauge what sort of sum might be involved for the purchase of a particular lot. Estimates do not include the Buyer’s Premium or VAT (where chargeable). Estimates are prepared some time in advance of the sale and may be altered by announcement before the sale. They are in no sense definitive.

VAT

VAT at the prevailing rate is payable on top of the hammer price on those lots marked (*) in the catalogue.

Buyer’s Premium

All lots are sold with a Buyer’s Premium of 18%, this figure is also subject to VAT at the prevailing rate.

Selling Rate

Our auctioneers sell at approximately 120 lots per hour. Buyers are advised to make sure they are in the saleroom at least 20 minutes before a lot is expected to be offered in case the auctioneer is ahead of schedule.

Droit de Suite

A surcharge of 4% will be made to the hammer price for any lot subject to the recently introduced legislation relating to ‘Droite de Suite’ in effect the premium chargeable will be 22 % plus VAT. Further details are available from our office on request. Lots marked ** in the catalogue may be subject to Droit de Suite



Collection/Delivery

All lots must be removed from the saleroom by close of business on the Friday following the auction unless prior arrangement has been made with the auctioneers. Any lots uncollected may be subject to storage costs of £5 per lot per day.

Packing and Postage

We do not post or pack items. Please see “Delivery information” blue box on main page for recommended couriers.

Parking

We have our own large car park adjacent to the Saleroom which is free of charge.

Opening hours

We are open for collections between Monday and Friday 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5 pm, but it is always best to telephone in advance of collecting if travelling some distance.


CONDITIONS OF SALE
This sale is conducted under the customary Conditions pertaining to Auctions of this character, a copy of which is exhibited in the Auction Rooms and all purchasers shall be deemed to have full knowledge of the same.
The Auctioneers act as Agents only. Each Lot as set out in the catalogue or as divided or joined with any Lot or Lots in the sale, at the sole discretion of the Auctioneers, is sold with all faults, imperfections and errors of description and neither the Auctioneers nor the Vendor will be held responsible for the authenticity, attribution, genuineness, origin, authorship, date, age, period, quality or condition of any lot. All statements in the catalogue as to any such matter are statements of opinion made in good faith but are not to be taken as or as implying, statements or representations of fact. Purchasers are deemed to have satisfied themselves by inspection or otherwise as to all such matters and as to the physical condition of any lot, before purchase.
Notwithstanding the above if, within a period of ten days (inclusive) following the date of sale the purchaser has just reason to dispute the catalogue description of the lot purchased, subject to an authoritative report being obtained by the purchaser as proof, the auctioneer will refund the purchase price, when the lot has been returned to them and subject to their own satisfaction in the matter. After the expiration of ten days, no claims may be entertained, as purchasers will appreciate that at this stage the Auctioneers will have accounted to the Vendor and therefore the Contract between the Auctioneer and Vendor ceased