Buyer’s guide

How to bid

Every lot starts at £1 with no reserve, and every sale is online. Here is exactly how buying with us works, from registering through to loading the van.

Three ways to bid online

There is no bidding in the room — every lot is sold online. Whichever way you bid, you are bidding into the same sale against the same lots.

Timed online sales

Lots close one after another at a published time. Bid whenever suits you over the days the sale is open — a late bid extends that lot briefly, so nothing is won by sniping.

Live online sales

Follow the auctioneer in real time from your phone or computer and bid with a tap as each lot comes up. The catalogue order tells you roughly when to tune in.

Maximum bids

Cannot watch? Leave your maximum in advance. The platform bids for you in the smallest steps needed and stops at your limit — you often buy for less than you were prepared to pay.

No surprises

What you actually pay

Every lot in every sale opens at £1 with no reserve. On top of the hammer price you pay a buyer’s premium, and the bidding platform adds its own fee for bidding online.

Charge What it is Rate
Opening bid Every lot starts here. There are no reserves and no estimates to beat. £1
Hammer price Whatever the bidding reaches when the lot closes. Your winning bid
Buyer’s premium Added to the hammer price of every lot you win. 20%
UK postage Optional. We pack and post small to medium lots; size and weight set the final price. From £10
Packing only Optional, if you would rather arrange your own shipping and insurance. From £5
Late collection Only if a paid lot is left beyond the Monday collection day without prior arrangement. £1 per lot per day (£5 larger items)

Worked example: win a lot at £20 and you pay £20 plus 20% premium (£4) — £24 in total, with nothing further to pay. The full conditions of sale are in our terms & conditions of sale.

Viewing

Bidding is online, but the goods are real and you are welcome to come and see them. Viewing is by appointment — ring the saleroom and we will arrange a time. Pick things up, open drawers, ask us to plug something in. We would far rather answer a question than take a complaint afterwards.

Payment & collection

Invoices go out automatically when the sale closes. Lots must be paid for and collected on the Monday following the auction, 10am to 6pm. Bring help and a suitable vehicle for anything large, or ask us about posting it. Lots left after that day attract a storage charge of £1 per lot per day, £5 for larger items.

Buyer questions

Do I need to register before every sale?

No. Register once and the same account works for every auction we run. You may occasionally be asked to confirm your details or provide ID for higher-value lots.

Can I retract a bid?

A bid is a legally binding offer to buy, so please bid carefully. If you have made a genuine mistake, ring us immediately and we will do what we reasonably can before the lot closes.

Are lots guaranteed to work?

Everything is sold as seen. We describe lots as accurately as we can and photograph them from several angles, but a general saleroom moves hundreds of items a week and we cannot test everything. That is exactly why viewing matters — come and look before you bid, or ring us and ask.

How do I pay?

You are invoiced automatically once the sale closes. Pay by the payment link on the invoice, or by cash when you collect. We cannot take payment over the telephone. Lots are released for collection as soon as payment has cleared.

Do you deliver?

We pack and post small to medium parcels anywhere in the UK, at the buyer’s cost — postage starts at £10 and the final price depends on size and weight. Anything large or heavy is better collected, or moved by a courier you arrange yourself. A packing-only service is available from £5 if you would rather organise the shipping and insurance. Full details are in our terms.

Ready to bid?

Set up your free bidding account, then browse whatever is currently catalogued.