Conditions of sale


Buyers are reminded that a premium of 16% plus VAT is payable on the hammer price of each lot (minimum £1.00).


The bidding to be regulated at the discretion of the auctioneer, who reserves the right to accept or reject any bid. In the case of lots where the seller has placed a reserve, the auctioneer shall have the right to bid on the behalf of the seller, the highest bidder to be the purchaser. In the event of any dispute, the auctioneer’s decision shall be binding and final. No person to retract his or her bid once the hammer has fallen.
The purchaser, before the commencement of the sale, will supply their name and address and, if required, their bank and other suitable references. The purchaser is required to pay in full the purchase price plus premium and, if failing to do so, the lot/s may, at the auctioneer’s discretion, be put up again and resold, and the discrepancy, if any, made good by the defaulter/s.
The auctioneer reserves the right to divide, consolidate, alter or withdraw any lot.
All statements in catalogues, advertisements and brochures are statements of opinion only, and will not necessarily reveal damage, repairs or imperfections. The exact description and condition of any lot should be ascertained by the intending purchaser, who by making a bid acknowledges his or her satisfaction with the condition and contents of the lot. No guarantee is made on any electrical or mechanical item.
All lots purchased are to be paid for and taken, at the expense of the purchaser, not later than close of business on the Friday following the sale. All lots to be paid for before being removed from the saleroom, and to be checked out by one of the auctioneer’s staff.
Legal title shall not pass to the purchaser of any lot until paid for in full, but each lot will immediately, on the fall of the hammer, be and remain in every respect at the risk of the purchaser.
All bids shall be offers made upon the conditions of the sale.

Please note – we do not accept ‘cardholder not present’ payments over £100. Please contact us to arrange an alternative method of payment

Commission Bids

For those unable to attend the sale, the facility exists to leave commission bids. Forms are available at the office, on request, or may be completed over the telephone. Lots will be purchased as cheaply as possible, but are accepted on the sole risk of those leaving the bids.

Online Bidding
Potburys of Sidmouth 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 card details and unless alternative arrangements are agreed with Potburys of Sidmouth:
1. authorise Potburys of Sidmouth, if they so wish, to charge the credit card given in part or full payment, including all fees, for items successfully purchased in the auction via the-saleroom.com, and
2. confirm that you are authorised to provide these credit card details to Potburys of Sidmouth through www.the-saleroom.com and agree that Potburys of Sidmouth are entitled to ship the goods to the card holder name and card holder address provided in fulfilment of the sale.
Please note that any lots purchased via the-saleroom.com live auction service will be subject to an additional 3% commission charge + VAT at the rate imposed on the hammer price

Artist’s Resale Right (“Droit de Suite”). If a lot is affected by this right the buyer agrees to pay Potburys an amount equal to the resale royalty and we will pay such amount to the artist’s collecting agent. Resale royalty applies where the hammer price is 1,000 Euros or more and the amount cannot be more than 12,500 Euros per lot. The amount is calculated as follows: Royalty for the portion of the hammer price (in Euros) 4.00% up to 50,000, 3.00% between 50,000.01 and 200,000, 1.00% between 200,000.01 and 350,000, 0.50% between 350,000.01 and 500,000, 0.25% in excess of 500,000. Invoices will be issued in Pounds Sterling. For the purposes of calculating the resale royalty the Pounds Sterling/Euro rate of exchange will be the European Central Bank reference rate on the day of the sale.