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Buyer’s Frequently Asked QuestionsJust as selling through our auctions is a simple procedure, so is buying at our sales. Auctions provide a unique retail experience and the thrills (and spills) of buying at an auction have to be personally witnessed to be fully appreciated. The noted autograph specialist and auctioneer Charles Hamilton perhaps summed up the unique world of autograph auctions best in his entertaining book Auction Madness when he wrote - ‘The first time you attend an auction you may be amazed by its explosive speed…You may wonder how you can take part in any battle so swift and subtle’ And, upon recounting the experiences of one of his customers, added - ‘The first time I ever bid…..I didn’t know what to expect and I was scared, really scared. But after I’d bought a couple of lots I could tell when the auctioneer had his eye on me. I began to enjoy it enormously. By the end of the sale I felt like I’d had a valium. It took me an hour to recover from the sheer intoxication.’ We continually welcome new buyers to our auctions and, in order that you may get the most out of the experience, we have prepared below some answers to questions you might have -
1. How can I obtain a catalogue for the auction? Our fully illustrated catalogues are usually available around 7-10 days prior to the auction. They can be ordered directly from us and cost £10 each, including postage. We also offer a catalogue subscription to ensure that you will never miss one of our auctions. A subscription to eight catalogues (usually covering a 12 month period) is available at a cost of £60, including postage. We are happy to mail catalogues anywhere in the world.
2. Where are your auctions held? All of our auctions are held at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel at Heathrow airport in the Tetworth and Ascot salons. The address of the hotel is and the auction rooms are clearly signposted once you are in the hotel.
3. How do I get to the Radisson Edwardian Hotel? If you are travelling by car there is a large car park at the rear of the hotel. We are also able to offer clients rooms in the hotel (both double and single) at a discounted rate of £60 (bed and breakfast, including VAT). If you would like to take advantage of this please contact us directly and we will be happy to make the necessary arrangements for you.
4. Are there any costs, other than that of the autograph, when I purchase at auction? Yes, all auction houses charge a Buyer’s Premium on the hammer price. In the case of International Autograph Auctions Ltd the Buyer’s Premium is 17.5% plus VAT. The Buyer’s Premium including VAT is 20.56%.
5. Are there any costs in addition to the Buyer’s Premium? It is possible to make a purchase from our auction with the Buyer’s Premium being the only charge that you will encounter. There are small charges which are only applicable depending on how you pay for your purchases and how your bids are made, the details of which you will find below. If you require the lots to be mailed to you then there is also an additional charge for postage and packing.
6. How can I make a bid at the auction if I can’t attend personally? There are several simple ways that you can bid at our auctions without actually being there. The most traditional method is to submit a commission bid. You will find a commission bid form located at the back of each catalogue and there is also an online form which you can complete and submit through this website. These forms should be submitted (by mail, fax, telephone or e-mail) as far in advance of the auction as possible. Commission (or absentee) bids are executed on your behalf by the auctioneer as cheaply as allowed by such other commission bids or reserves that there may be. There is no additional charge for submitting bids by the above method. An increasingly popular method of bidding at our auctions is live via the internet. All of our auctions are hosted through the website www.the-saleroom.com and by completing a simple registration process before the sale you will have the opportunity to view and hear the auction on a broadband connection as it progresses. Bids can be made at the click of the button as the auction takes place and will be relayed directly to the auctioneer on the rostrum. Please note that there is a surcharge of 3% on the hammer price for any lots purchased through live internet bidding. Commission bids can also be left on www.the-saleroom.com website, which are also subject to the surcharge. Further information on registering and the procedure involved can be obtained from the-saleroom.com website. It is also possible to bid ‘live’ on the telephone during our auctions. However, there are a limited number of telephone lines available to us and telephone bids will only be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Clients wishing to bid by telephone will be called by a member of staff, usually around 5-10 lots before bidding starts on your specified lot. The member of staff will then bid on your behalf following your instructions. Unfortunately we will not be able to accept telephone bids for lots with a minimum estimate of less than £200. Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate the concession of telephone bidding, please be advised that IAA Ltd. are unable to accept any liability, howsoever caused in connection with telephone bidding.
7. How can I find out the results of a commission bid I have left? Results of the auction are posted on this website as promptly after the auction as possible. In order to confirm that you were the purchaser we recommend that you telephone our offices on the Monday following an auction.
8. Can I see the autograph before I make a bid or attend the auction? Yes, as well as the illustrations in the catalogue and on this website, clients do have the opportunity to personally inspect lots before the auction takes place. Clients are welcome to view lots at our Nottingham offices in the week before the auction, although an appointment is necessary. There is also a viewing at the Radisson Edwardian hotel for one hour (7-8pm) on the Friday evening before the auction. You also have the opportunity to view lots on the morning of the sale from 9am and also while the auction is in progress.
9. How can I pay for the lots that I purchase? Payment can be made in various ways and it is important that invoices are settled promptly following the auction. Clients can pay by cheque or cash and we also accept payments by debit card and credit card (Visa or Mastercard). Please note that payments made by credit card are subject to a surcharge of 3% + VAT. Overseas clients may find it beneficial to settle their accounts by wiring the payment directly to our bank and we will be happy to provide the necessary details upon request.
10. If I don’t attend the auction, how can I receive my purchases? We are more than pleased to send lots that you purchase directly to you following the auction. All autographs are securely packaged and usually dispatched via Royal Mail Special Delivery within the UK and by Royal Mail International Signed For overseas. Some bulkier packages will be sent by Parcel Force, but whatever the method they will always have a tracking number and a signature will be required upon delivery. Deliveries via a courier company, such as Federal Express, can be arranged at a clients request. All deliveries are also covered by our insurance. With an increasing number of clients preferring to have their purchases sent to them we have a large number of packages to prepare and send following the auction. However, in most cases, we would estimate that you would receive your lots around 4 - 7 working days following the sale.
11. How do I know that the autograph I am buying is genuine? All of the autographs that pass through our auctions have been carefully authenticated and appraised by our experts. We believe that the catalogue descriptions provided are amongst the most accurate and detailed within the auction world and should give you the ability to make your purchase with confidence. Autographs have been forged and duplicated for centuries although any submitted items that we have a concern over are returned to the owner and do not appear in our auctions.
12. Do you provide a Certificate of Authenticity? No, it is our opinion that certificates of authenticity (COAs) are generally worthless and prove little. In fact we see more forged signatures accompanied by certificates of authenticity than we do genuine ones! Any purchase made through our auction is accompanied by a detailed receipt which, along with the relevant catalogue entry, serves as a record of where and when you made the purchase.
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