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BUYING AND SELLING AT WILLINGHAM AUCTIONS

Our Services

Entries are always welcome and collecting items poses no problem as we use our own vans and staff for this, anything from single items to full house clearences.

Valuation

Willingham Auctions offers a very competitive Valuation Service for the purposes of both Insurance and Probate. We also offer free verbal valuations to all clients with goods brought to our premises.

House Clearance

Willingham Auctions offers a full or part house clearance service, handled by our own experienced staff. A member of our staff will be only too pleased to visit the property and discuss, free of charge and without obligation, the clearance in question. If the client decides to proceed all auctionable items will be brought back to our salerooms and auctioned accordingly, and items we consider unsuitable for auction will be appropriately disposed of.

Delivery

We are able to offer our own delivery service, with our own staff and transport. Pricing for this service will be agreed prior to delivery depending on items and location.

Commission Rates

Our commission rates for selling is 15%. Insurance is 50p per lot and there is an unsold charge of £2 per lot. Buyers commission is 15%.

FAQ’S - SELLING

How do I know if the items I have are suitable for one of your sales?

You are welcome to bring any items along to the saleroom during our opening hours (Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm), there is always an auctioneer available to offer advice. For larger items or quantities of items we are happy to come to your home. Alternatively, you may email photographs to us and we will give you an idea of the item’s value.

We always require entries of antique furniture, silver, jewellery, paintings, ceramics, clocks and barometers, military and other collectables.

New furniture

We welcome entries of new furniture from manufacturers and retailers looking to dispose of end of lines or overstocked items.

What do I have to do to enter an item into a sale?

You are welcome to bring items along to our saleroom during opening hours. However, if you are unable to come to us, we are able to collect goods at a modest cost.

We accept entries for the forthcoming sale during the two weeks following the previous auction.

What are your charges?

Our commission rate is 15% of the hammer price. The minimum commission is £2.00 and unsold lots are charged at £2.00 per lot. The insurance charge is 50p per lot. All charges are subject to VAT at the current rate.

For example:

- Lot sold for: £300.00
- Total charges: £ 54.50
- You receive: £245.50

Will my item be catalogued?

All entries into our sales appear in our catalogue along with our estimates. The lots also appear with full colour photographs on our website and the website of the Antiques Trade Gazette and Invaluable ten days prior to the sale, enabling them to be viewed throughout the world, so enabling maximum viewing potential. We are unique in our approach to marketing forthcoming items as we open Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm to allow customers to view what is coming up in the next sale, unlike most salerooms who only open for two or three days prior to a sale for viewing.

How soon will I receive settlement?

We will send a cheque to you on the Friday following the sale, provided we have been paid for the item. With the cheque will be a statement detailing the hammer price and deductions, and showing any unsold items.

What happens if my lot doesn’t sell?

We sell 80 – 90% of lots on the day of the sale, however if your items does not sell it will be listed on our website for sale at the lower estimate.

BUYING AT WILLINGHAM AUCTIONS

- Buying at auction is easy and fun!

Of course the best way to bid is to attend the sale and enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of an auction. If however this is not possible here are the following options;

Absentee Bid

You are welcome to leave a bid with us and the auctioneer will bid on your behalf against other bidders.

Leave bids via our website

When you have decided which lots you would like to bid on you may leave bids via our website. The latest time we can accept bids on line is at 8.00am on the morning of the sale.

Telephone Bids

These must be arranged prior to the day of the sale. Please note that we are unable to arrange telephone bids on items estimated at under £500.

Live Online Bidding

This service allows you to watch and listen to the sale live and participate in the auction. This is operated through www.the-saleroom.com. Please note that there is an additional 3% buyers premium for this service.

Before placing a bid

Prospective purchasers should always thoroughly examine any items they are interested in before placing a bid and before the auction commences. Buyers are responsible for satisfying themselves concerning the condition of the lots and the descriptions in the catalogue (whilst every care is taken to provide an accurate description in the catalogue, it is based on a statement of opinion and not on fact).

Registration

Buyers need to register before bidding. You will need to complete a registration form and will then be given a permanent bidding number. If you mislay this number the office staff will be able to look it up for you.

Buyers premium

A buyers premium of 15% is payable in addition to the hammer price. VAT (charged at the current rate) is payable on the premium only. For example for every £100 that you spend, it will cost you £118 (this includes commission and VAT).

Payment

We accept all major credit/debit cards, but not American Express. There is a 2% charge on all credit cards. Cheques are accepted at our discretion.

Collection

All items must be paid for and collected by 5.00pm on the Monday following the sale.

Willingham Auctions offers a delivery service, at modest cost, using our own staff and vehicles.