How do our auctions work?
Registering for an auction
You need to create an account and register to bid on our auctions.
If you already have an account, log in and register. You will receive an email when you’re approved to bid.
Viewing the catalogue
Once registered, you can browse the catalogues online.
You can use the search and filter options to navigate the catalogues.
When logged in to your account, you can favourite items and add them to your watchlist.
Viewings
Viewings are strictly by prior appointment only, please get in touch with our team on 01302 898260 or email us to arrange.
Bidding in the auction
Place bids on the items you want to win.
Once you bid on an item, you’ll receive email alerts if you’re outbid. Remember to bid again if you’re outbid.
Reserve prices must be met for you to win the item. The end time on an item will extend by five minutes every time a bid is placed when the lot is about to close.
Winning in the auction
You’ll receive a winner’s notification email if you have won in the auction.
After the auction closes, you’ll receive an invoice by email with payment details.
Making payment
Payment must be made within 24 hours of the auction ending.
We accept payments by BACS, online card payment and cash in person (up to £7,500).
Our preferred method of payment is BACS. This ensures you receive your collection note as quickly as possible.
Payments under £200 can be made via GAP Wallet. Anything over this amount can take up to three working days longer to clear and potentially delay the sending of your collection note.
If paying by secure link, your collection note can only be sent once we’ve received cleared funds and can take up to three working days.
Collecting your items
When your payment has cleared, you will receive a collection note by email. Once you have your collection note contact our team to arrange your collection time.
Collections are by appointment only and must be pre-booked.
Please note, if you win items across multiple auctions we can accommodate a single collection date for all items.
The buyer is responsible for arranging for decommissioning, dismantling, removal and loading of items within the timescale specified. We don’t offer a delivery or decommissioning service unless this is specifically stated in the individual lot description.
Auction collections are time critical. Please only bid if you can remove your items by the collection dates stipulated. Failure to remove lots on the specified dates may result in your items being forfeited and/or storage charges being levied.
Frequently asked questions
What type of auction are we hosting for Claridge’s?
These are timed, online-only auctions. Bids are placed over a defined time period. The highest bidder at the end of the bidding period is successful.
Lots may have set reserve prices. This price must be met before the lot can be sold.
Where are the auctions hosted?
Auctions are hosted on our auction platform, BidSpotter, i-bidder and The Saleroom. The auctions run simultaneously across all platforms.
How do I participate in auctions?
You need to register to bid on our auctions. Click the ‘Register now’ links to get started.
If you’re already registered, log in to your account and sign up for the auction you want to bid on.
We’ll ask you to confirm your details, agree to the terms and conditions and provide card details as a condition for bidding.
Do I need to sign up for each auction?
Yes, you need to sign up for each of our auctions.
What are the charges associated with buying at our auctions?
You’ll pay:
- 20% VAT on the hammer price
- 25% Buyer’s Premium (BP)
- 20% VAT on the Buyer’s Premium
For example, if the hammer price is £100:
- Hammer price = £100
- VAT on hammer price = £20
- Buyer’s premium = £25
- VAT on buyer’s premium = £5
- Total payable = £150
How do I bid at a timed auction?
Each lot can be bid on for a defined time period. During this period, you can place a bid at any time.
If you have the leading bid (and meet or exceed any reserve price) before the time period ends, you will have won the bidding for that lot.
If a bid is placed in the last 10 minutes of the lot ending, the time period will be extended by 10 minutes. This is to prevent ‘sniping’.
What are maximum bids?
Maximum bid saves you the hassle of incrementally bidding in a timed or live auction. You set the maximum price you want to pay for the lot, and we do the work for you.
Our system will place bids for you at the next available increment to keep you in the lead, but only up to your maximum price.
Sometimes where an auctioneer has set a reserve on a lot, you’ll see the bidding jump up to the reserve price to ensure the lot is on the market to sell.
If the bidding passes your maximum amount, we’ll email you to let you know. It’s then up to you to increase your maximum bid.
How do I know if I’ve won?
You’ll get an email to confirm that you were the winning bidder.
Once the auction ends, you’ll receive an invoice containing your winning items and details to arrange payment.
The time it takes to process the results of the auction can vary.
We usually advise a waiting time of one working day before you receive your invoice.
What can I do if I’m unhappy with what I’ve won?
You must study the item and details of the auction before you bid. When you bid in an auction, there’s no right of return unless an item is materially different to its catalogue description.
Just like in an auction room, bidding online is a contractual commitment to buy. That’s why we recommend you find out all you can about an item, be it more information or a condition report, before you place your bid.
How do I make payment?
You need to make payment within 24 hours of the auction ending. We accept payment by BACS, online card payment and cash in person (up to £7,500).
BACS is the preferred method of payment. This ensures you receive your collection note as quickly as possible.
How do I get my items?
Once you’ve paid for your items and received your collection note, you can arrange collection.
The buyer’s responsible for arranging decommissioning, dismantling, loading and removal of items. We don’t offer a delivery or decommissioning service unless this is specifically stated in the individual lot description.
Depending on the type of item we may specify you need to supply a Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) before you collect your item.
How do I arrange collection?
Once you have your collection note, contact our team to book your collection slot.
Collections are strictly by appointment only and must be booked in with our team.
What do I need to bring with me?
When you come to collect your items, make sure you bring a copy of your collection note and a valid ID. These will be checked as you arrive on-site and before leaving.
You must also bring any tools or materials needed to decommission, remove, load and secure your items safely.
Jargon buster
Below you’ll find some commonly used terms along with their definitions:
As is / As found / As seen / All faults / AF
A declaration that the item will be sold exactly as it appears, including any faults or imperfections.
Buyer’s premium
Refers to the additional charge on the hammer price that the winning bidder must pay. The auctioneer charges it to cover administrative expenses. The buyer’s premium goes directly to the auction house, not the seller.
VAT
20% VAT is paid on top of the hammer price and buyer’s premium.
Condition
A written description of an item’s condition, usually provided in the lot description. If the description is unclear, you can contact an auction house using the ‘Ask a question’ button on the lot page.
Current bid
The leading online bid. You will need to bid higher than this to be in the lead.
Extension
Sometimes you will see an end time on a lot extended by 10 minutes. This happens as we imitate a real auction. Whenever there is a new bid, the countdown is extended before the final hammer.
Hammer price
The final sale price for the lot when the hammer went down. This excludes any other charges such as buyer’s premium, taxes, online and delivery charges.
Increment
The amount your next bid will need to increase by to put you in the lead. For example, if your bid is £20 and you need to pay £25 to be in the lead, the increment is £5. The auctioneer sets increments.
Maximum bid
The maximum amount you would pay for a lot. You tell us the maximum amount you want to spend, and then we bid on your behalf. You don’t even have to watch the auction online. We only bid as much as you need to at a live auction.
Reserve
The lowest hammer price a lot can be sold for. This protects the seller from the lot being sold below its value.
Opening price
The price bidding will start for the sale of the lot. You need to bid on or above the opening price to take part.
Timed auction
Timed auctions have a set time each lot ends and timed increments. There’s a bidding window and whoever bids the highest wins (as long as the reserve price is met). You’ll know it’s a timed auction as the end time will be displaced on the lot page.
Timed bid
You can place a timed bid between the start and end of a timed auction. If you are the highest bidder at the end of the auction (and have met the reserve price), you will win the lot.