At Trevanion we would like to make your buying experience an easy and enjoyable one. Our team are always on hand to offer assistance to any query you may have.
Here we explain the whole process of buying at auction.
All purchases are subject to buyers premium at 24% + VAT. The final price that you pay is the hammer price (the value you bid at the auction), plus the buyers premium.
There is a minimum buyers premium of £5 + VAT
If you are successful in buying through our website bidding platform you will be charged an additional 2% + VAT (live bidding fee)
We also offer live online bidding through the-saleroom.com and easyliveauctions.com. Please note, bidding on these platforms also incurs additional charges.
VAT is added at the standard rate. Where stated, the lot may be subject to additional VAT or Driot de Suite charges. See our Conditions of Sale for further details.
Please note, viewing for our coin and medal auctions is strictly by appointment only. Contact us on 01948 800 202 to book an appointment.
Unless otherwise stated, viewing for our auctions will be held on the Monday and Tuesday prior to the auction from 9:30am – 5pm.
All our auctions are listed and fully illustrated online, here.
Additional images, further information and condition reports can be requested by emailing us with your request to info@trevanion.com.
All lots are accompanied by an auction estimate as a guide to potential purchasers. Some lots will carry reserves, this is the figure which the lot can not be sold below. Reserves will not be higher than the lower figure of the estimate but can be set below it. Reserves are not listed on any online auction catalogue.
We recommend that potential bidders inspect lots in person. Where this is not possible condition reports on specific lots can be requested from Trevanion Auctioneers. Condition reports are opinions to be used as a guide and are not guarantees. Reports can be requested from info@trevanion.com
Condition reports can be found attached to the lot of interest once a request has been submitted, and can be found attached to the lot on our online catalogue, please only bid if you are satisfied with the condition of the lot. The absence of a condition report does not guarantee that the lot is free from defects.
Please be aware that we receive a large volume of condition report requests prior to an auction and while we aim to reply to all lot enquiries as efficiently as possible, we may not be able to provide reports until closer to the auction. Also, the auctioneers will not conduct condition reports on the morning of the auction.
Please note: Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers LLP take great care to ensure that any statements as to attribution, age, date, origin, provenance and condition are reliable and accurate but it should be noted that all such statements are skilled opinions prepared with due care, if provenance (written or historical fact) cannot be produced. However, Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers do not guarantee that condition reports, whether included in the catalogue, or given at a later time, cover all aspects of an item(s) condition.
Further information regarding condition reports, the sale of clocks & watches and jewellery can be found in our conditions of sale here. (Under section 30)
We offer a variety of ways to bid at our auctions, you can experience the auction from the comfort of your own home through our online bidding platform, place absentee bids or bid by telephone.
All bids are treated in strictest confidence.
We offer room bidding for all of our Fine Art & Antique Auctions. You can register for a room bidding paddle prior to the auction or on the day of the auction. Potential buyers will be asked to confirm their name, address, telephone number(s) and email address.
We offer a limited number of room bidding spaces for our coins & medals auctions. Please contact us on 01948 800 202 if you would like attend our coins & medals auctions.
You may prefer to bid live online at one of our auctions. It’s easy to register online and you can watch the auction and place bids wherever you are in the world.
You can register and bid live on our auctions here. You will be charged an additional 2% + VAT for this service.
We also offer live online bidding through the-saleroom.com and easyliveauctions.com. Please note, bidding on these platforms also incurs additional charges.
Please note: Room, commission and telephone bids take priority over online bids. (ie If we have a matching bid, the room/commission/telephone bidder would take priority)
If you are unable to watch the auction live we can bid on your behalf.
You can complete an absentee bid form over the telephone with a member of our staff or email us with your bids to info@trevanion.com
Potential buyers will be asked to confirm their name, address, telephone number(s), sale date, lot number and brief description of the lot.
The amount that you enter on the absentee bid form should be your maximum bid, remember, you may end up paying less than your limit, depending upon other bidders.
If you wish to telephone bid, either email or telephone us to reserve a telephone line for you. Potential buyers will be asked to confirm their name, address, telephone number(s) (including at least one landline), sale date, lot number and brief description of the lot.
There are a limited number of telephone lines available per lot, please book your line early to avoid disappointment.
Telephone bids CANNOT be booked on the morning of the auction, requests for telephone bids are accepted until 5pm the day before the auction.
On the day of the auction a Trevanion representative will telephone you from the saleroom. You will be asked to confirm your name and the lot number you are bidding on prior to the lot.
Telephone bidders must be prepared to bid at least the bottom estimate.
Buyers can register to bid at any time prior to the auction. Please be aware that we recommend buyers allow ample time for this process especially on the morning of the auction which can be very busy.
First time bidders will be asked to supply identification to register for an auction, this is to comply with the current government Anti Money Laundering regulations. Buyers who are required to supply identification can submit documents via email to info@trevanion.com or bring them along to the saleroom.
You may be required to provide both:
Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers reserve the right to request a deposit on condition of allowing a buyer to bid or ask you to provide a bank reference. We may, at our discretion, refuse a bid(s).
There are a number of ways to pay for the items you have purchased.
The preferred method of payment for auction purchases in via bank transfer, the details of which can be found on your invoice following the auction.
Debit or credit card payments will not be accepted on items of silver or gold, or single items or invoices exceeding a value of £1000. Payments for these items must be made via bank transfer prior to collection.
All international payments must be made via Bank Transfer (Credit or debit card payments will not be accepted). Please note: when making international bank transfers you may have to pay an additional £6.00 bank administration fee. This must be paid by the buyer and will not be covered by Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers.
We are unable to accept payment by cash or cheque unless previously agreed with our accounts team.
Remember your final invoice will include the hammer price plus the buyers premium of 24% + VAT. If you are successful in buying via one of our online bidding platforms there will be an additional live bidding fee added to the hammer price:
Where stated, the lot may be subject to additional VAT or Driot de Suite charges. See our Conditions of Sale for further details.
Our payment terms are strictly seven days.
Trevanion Auctioneers must have received full, cleared payment before lots can be collected.
Please note: Payments for purchases by credit or debit card in our auctions can only be processed in person or via telephone in order to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). We are unable to process payment details given electronically (this includes email and text), this will help to protect our business and our customers from the increasing risk and growing threat of card fraud.
Trevanion Auctioneers Shipping Information
Royal Mail, Parcelforce & DHL (UK Mainland only)
If you are unable to collect your winning lots, Trevanion Auctioneers offer a limited in-house P&P service for small, non-breakable items during the 3 days following the auction only. We use Royal Mail Special Delivery for goods up to a value of £2,500 weighing no more than 2kg. For larger & heavier parcels, we use Parcelforce or DHL. We remind clients using the Royal Mail & ParcelForce postage system within the UK there are certain items which cannot be insured. Please check before requesting this option.
Packing Department availability
Our packing department operates for the 2 working days immediately following every auction. Items are sent out as soon as they have been packed and the invoice settled. We are not professional packers or shippers, Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers will not be held responsible for any claims made due to shipping problems.
Overseas shipping
We cannot ship items internationally.
Due to customs laws, we regret that we cannot ship items to the Channel Islands.
We would recommend overseas clients consider using specialist couriers such as Mailboxes or Pack & Send to send their items.
Please Note: Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers do not:
For items that cannot be shipped by Trevanion’s in-house postage service we would recommend you contact one of the following:
Collections are made as soon as possible after the auction, usually within a week. Please contact directly for a shipping quote and ensure you settle your account to enable Trevanion to release the goods.
Pack & Send – Salford Quays:
T: 0161 393 5740
E: salfordquays@packsend.co.uk
W: www.packsend.co.uk/salfordquays/
Post it 4 me – Market Drayton:
T: 01258 920 180
E: enquiries@postit4me.com
Mailboxes – Wilmslow:
T: 01625 535 600
E: office@mbe-wilmslow.co.uk
Shipping Services Direct:
T: 07453 848 981
E: shippingservicesdirect@gmail.com
W: www.shippingservicesdirect.co.uk
For larger items, here is a list of recommended carriers who travel around the UK:
Van4us (Paul Fawkner)
T: 07792 204448 E: paul@van4us.co.uk
Ivor Van (David Gwynne-Jones)
M: 07976 084 899 E: david@ivorvan.co.uk
Martin Bros Removals Ltd (UK & Europe)
T: 01985 844 144 E: orders@martinbrosltd.com W: www.martinbrosltd.com
Alban Shipping (UK & Europe)
T: 01582 493 099 E: info@albanshipping.co.uk W: albanshipping.co.uk
Aardvark Art Services (Nationwide)
T: 01253 794673 E: info@aardvarkartservices.com W: aardvarkartservices.com
Amanda Webb
T: 07713 821 225
Denmans of Whitchurch (Julian Denman)
T: 01948 662 952 E: help@denmansremovals.com
VAT for Overseas Buyers
Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, private overseas buyers who arrange for lots purchased at auction to be picked up and delivered following the auction will be charged UK VAT at the appropriate rate and no refund will be available.
Business buyers are not affected by this change, the purchase must have been made in the business or trading name. In these circumstances, a VAT refund can be available upon proof of export.
Export of Goods
Some countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, such as rosewood, rhino horn, ivory, coral and tortoiseshell. If you intend to bid on a lot containing these materials and you wish to export them, it is essential you understand the relevant export/import licensing.
Ivory Policy
From 6 June 2022, it is against the law to deal in items containing or made of elephant ivory, unless they are registered as exempt or certified as exempt, under the Ivory Act 2018.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact us.
Read more about the policy and what it means here.
Collection and Storage Applicable to Buyers
We are open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm for collections of items purchased in our auctions.
In accordance with our Terms and Conditions, all lots should be paid for and collected by 5pm on the Friday (7 working days) following the auction. Commission bidders should check the success of their bids and arrange payment and collection, within this time.
Due to space limitations, bought items not removed by 12noon on the Friday (7 working days) following the auction will be removed to an external storage facility at the purchaser’s expense and charges will be applied as follows:
Goods will not be released to buyers (or their agent) until cleared funds and storage fees have been received in full by Trevanion.
Once items have been removed to the external store, collection is strictly by appointment only. A minimum of 24 hours’ notice must be given prior to collection. Goods will only be released to the registered buyer. Collection by courier/carriers will only be permitted upon receipt of written instruction from the buyer and with the agreement of Trevanion.
Bought items not collected within six weeks may be re-sold by Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers (and any financial loss sustained by Trevanion must be settled by the buyer) or otherwise disposed of at Trevanion discretion. Any financial surplus will belong solely to Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS
Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers LLP hereafter known as Trevanion
(“the Conditions”)
A – GENERAL CONDITIONS
1 – Definitions
1.1 In these conditions:
“the Auctioneer” means the representative of Trevanion conducting the auction.
“Bought-in” means unsold, having failed at Auction to reach the Reserve.
“the Buyer” means the bidder (including a commission bidder under Condition 27) whom Trevanion has accepted by the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer.
“the Catalogue” means any advertisement, brochure, price list or other publication relating to the auction published on behalf of Trevanion.
“Dangerous Substances” any natural or artificial substance capable of causing harm to any living organism supported by the environment, or damaging the environment or public health or welfare.
“Environmental Law” all laws, regulations, codes of practice, circulars, guidance notices and the like (whether in the UK or elsewhere) concerning the protection of human health or the environment or the conditions of the work place or the generation, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of Dangerous Substances.
“Expenses” means Trevanion charges for illustrations, special advertising, insurance, import, packing and freight and any other expenses and VAT on these amounts.
“Hammer Price” means the price at which a Lot is knocked down by the Auctioneer to the Buyer.
“Lot” means any item or items of any kind accepted by Trevanion with a view to its or their sale at auction.
“the Purchase Price” means the Hammer Price in pounds sterling together with any premium inclusive of VAT chargeable and additional charges and expenses due from a defaulting buyer under Condition 27.
“the Reserve” means the minimum Hammer Price set by the Seller at which a Lot may be sold and otherwise subject to Condition 6.
“the Sale Proceeds” means the net amount due to the Seller, being the Hammer Price less commission at the Stated Rates and Expenses and any other amounts due to Trevanion.
“the Seller” means the seller or prospective seller of any Lot.
“Special Goods” means boats, motor vehicles, firearms and mechanical and electrical goods.
“the Stated Rates” means Trevanion’s published rates of commission for the time being and VAT.
“Storage Charges” means charges imposed by Trevanion in respect of the removal, storage and transportation of any Lot.
“VAT” means Value Added Tax.
1.2 The heading and divisions in General Conditions, Seller’s Conditions and Buyer’s Conditions in these Conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation.
1.3 In these Conditions the singular includes the plural and the masculine indicates the feminine and neuter.
