Terms and Conditions
This document contains important information regarding your rights and obligations. Please read it carefully before participating in our auctions.
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Condition of Lots
Viewers are strongly advised to request and obtain a full condition report on selected lots prior to bidding, as catalogue descriptions may not list every fault. Due to the volume of lots in each sale, we rely heavily on photographs to provide as much detail as possible to potential bidders. All lots are sold as seen.
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Sellers
We hold regular auctions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning at 10:30 am. Items may be delivered to us on weekdays by prior appointment. Free valuations with our valuer, Nigel Blagburn, are also available, and we ask that you book in advance.
Proceeds due to vendors can be paid in cash, by bank transfer, or by cheque, depending on preference and will be available one month after the sale date. Commission is charged at 20% of the hammer price plus VAT. By entering an item into the sale, the vendor agrees that commission will be deducted from the proceeds.
Reserves may be placed on items, but these must be authorised by the auctioneer in writing prior to the sale. Items that do not meet reserve can be re-entered into the next auction on request, if approved by the auctioneer.
Unsold items will be re-offered in a later auction. If unsold again, they must either be collected by the vendor or donated to a chosen charity. Unsold items may be held for a maximum of six months only. Items cannot be withdrawn from sale on the day of auction under any circumstances.
Once an item has been sold, the vendor has a maximum of twelve months to collect payment.
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Buyers
All bidders must register with the auction house before participating in any sale. A paddle number will be allocated, and this number will be noted by the auctioneer at the fall of the hammer.
A bid is a legally binding commitment. Once the hammer falls, the buyer is obligated to complete the purchase. Cancellations are not permitted. In exceptional cases, at the auctioneer’s discretion, cancellation may be allowed subject to a cancellation fee.
Buyer’s commission is charged at 20% of the hammer price plus VAT.
We offer an in-house postage service, with items packed and dispatched via Royal Mail Special Delivery at cost. We post items on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Provided payment is received before 1:00 pm, most items can be dispatched the same day. With bigger items, such as cameras, there may be a longer delay due time it takes to pack. Certain exceptions apply, such as batteries. Buyers may also arrange their own courier; in such cases, items will be packaged and prepared for collection for a small fee. Items may also be collected in person from our premises, which are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.
We dispatch all items using Royal Mail Special Delivery or ParcelForce for larger consignments, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Where postage and packing services have been paid for, Alnwick Auctions is responsible for preparing and handing over your parcel to the chosen courier. Once the parcel has been accepted by the courier, custody and responsibility for the item transfer to the courier, and Alnwick Auctions cannot be held liable for any loss, delay, or damage that occurs while the item is in transit.
In the unlikely event that a parcel is lost or arrives damaged, we will assist by initiating and managing a claim with the courier on your behalf. Please note that courier claim processes are outside our control; for example, Royal Mail typically requires a minimum of 30 days to investigate and respond to claims.
Compensation is subject to the courier’s terms and conditions, including their maximum cover limits and exclusions. Any reimbursement issued by the courier will be passed on to the buyer once received.
Please note that glass, ceramics, and other fragile items cannot be insured in transit.
For international buyers, parcels are sent via Royal Mail with a maximum insurance value of £250 per parcel. High-value consignments can be split into multiple parcels where possible, or alternatively packed for collection by a courier arranged by the buyer.
We provide a telephone bidding service, with a maximum of three lines available per lot. This service operates on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be booked once the auction has begun.
Bidding is also available online via easyliveAuction.com and the-saleroom.com. easyliveAuction.com charges either 3% of the hammer price or a flat fee of £3 per auction, while the-saleroom.com charges 4.95% of the hammer price.
Our auctions are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the catalogue is available online in advance.
All lots are sold as seen. Catalogue descriptions are brief, but additional information and photographs are available on request. We rely heavily on images, so please inspect them thoroughly before bidding.
Items remain the property of the auction house until payment has been received in full.
If a buyer questions the authenticity or quality of an item, they have ten days from the date of sale to return it for inspection. After this period, no claims will be accepted.
The auctioneer reserves the right to refuse bids from any individual where there is reason to believe they will not comply with these terms, or where the individual is a known non-payer. The decision of the auctioneer is final.
Staff members will face off to the cardholder at all points of interaction.
Tracking numbers are available on request for Uk bidders. We will automatically send a tracking number to our Internation bidders.
The liability of Alnwick Auctions, its staff, and agents in respect of any lot shall be limited to the hammer price actually paid for that lot. We shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss or damage, including but not limited to loss of profit, business, or goodwill, arising from participation in our auctions, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise.
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Collections
All buyers collecting items in person must present proof of identity. If a third party is collecting on behalf of a buyer, the auction house must be notified in advance by email, or the third party must present a copy of the buyer’s invoice. No items will be released without this information.
All collections must be arranged in advance with the auction house.
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Payments
All invoices must be settled in full within two weeks of the sale date. Bidders who fail to complete payment within this period risk being banned from future auctions, and their items may be returned to the vendor. If not paid, we may cancel the sale, re-offer the lot, and recover costs from the buyer.
Payments of up to £300 may be made by telephone or via the secure online payment link provided with invoices. These limits are in place to protect both customers and the auction house against fraud. Amounts above £300 must be paid by bank transfer unless the buyer is collecting in person, in which case cash or card payments of any value will be accepted.
Sums above £300 must be paid by bank transfer unless the buyer is collecting in person, in which case payment by cash or card is accepted without limit.
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Multi Buying
For bidders who purchase regularly and wish to combine postage to reduce costs, we offer a Multi Buying service. Items will be held on our Multi Buyer shelf and remain there until shipping is requested. There is no limit on the number of items we can hold.
All invoices must still be settled in full after each sale, regardless of when shipping is requested. Postage costs will then be calculated at the time of dispatch, based on the total weight and value of the consignment.
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Uncollected Items
Where items have been paid for in full or in part, we may, in exceptional circumstances, hold them for a maximum of six months. After this time, items will be donated to a nominated charity unless alternative arrangements have been agreed with the auctioneer.
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Protecting Auctioneers
To protect all parties from illegal, unfair, or inappropriate behaviour, we monitor account activity including user contact details, device use, website activity, bidding history, purchase history, and payment records. This information may be shared with relevant partners, such as other auctioneers, in order to help manage commercial risk.
If behaviour is deemed inappropriate or poses a threat, we reserve the right to suspend automatic approvals. In such cases, bidders must communicate directly with the auctioneer to participate in the auction.
White Label Platforms
Where technological services are provided to an auctioneer, you are contracting directly with that auctioneer, who will act as the data controller. The auctioneer is responsible for handling your data, and any questions or concerns should be directed to them.
