We want to make bidding for items at Clevedon Salerooms a simple and enjoyable experience. Our friendly and experienced staff are here to help with any query you may have.
Buyer’s Premium and the final price you pay
All purchases are subject to a buyer’ s premium of 22% plus VAT (except books where VAT is not applicable). The price you pay will be the hammer price announced by the auctioneer just before the fall of the gavel, plus the buyer’s premium. If you bid through a third party online platform there is an additional % on the hammer price.
Example - an item with a hammer price of £100
With buyer’s premium of 22% plus VAT totals £126.40 (a book would cost £122.00)
Online costs - www.the-saleroom.com charge an additional 4.95% plus VAT
Avoid these online fees by placing bids directly with us.
Artists Resale Right (ARR)
Introduced as a European Union directive in 2006 to ensure artists receive a royalty on the sale of qualifying works, payable to living artists and also to those and deceased within the last seventy years. Qualifying works are marked in the catalogue, and in the event that they sell for between Euro 1,000 - Euro 50,000 are then subject to an additional charge of 4% on the hammer price. (Descending scale thereafter). This amount is added to the purchasers invoice, and forwarded to a collecting agency acting for the artist or their estate.
Conditions of Sale
Click here to read our Conditions of Sale. Buying at auction offers consumers a different level of protection than purchasing items on the high street and consumers do not have the same rights as in the normal retail environment. It is our aim to have bidders that are happy with all of their purchases and whilst we strive to achieve this, bidders have to play their part - and make all their enquiries about an item BEFORE bidding. Refunds are only made in limited circumstances in accordance with our Conditions of Sale, professional association guidelines and ultimately UK auction law.
Our Conditions of Sale are the contractual basis for the relationship between Vendor, Auctioneer and Buyer and all parties agree to be bound by the terms contained therein.
Sale Dates
We publish all of our sale dates in our annual Sale Calendar.
Free Auction Alerts Service
By signing up to the Auction Alerts email service you will receive an email alert each time we upload the fully illustrated on-line sale catalogue. (Essentially one email per sale). We do not share your email details with any third party and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Free Lot Alert service
Register with our website to receive free Lot Alerts tailored to keywords chosen by you according to your interest so that you will only hear from us when we have items that are of interest to you. Your search criteria can be modified and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Viewing days
These days provide bidders the opportunity to examine the lots in person and satisfy themselves regarding the condition of those lots. Viewing times for each sale are shown in the catalogue for each sale and the Sale Calendar. Our friendly and experienced viewing staff are on hand to answer any questions.
Condition Reports
At Clevedon Salerooms we want all bidders to be happy with their purchases. Every lot sold by Clevedon Salerooms is by definition second-hand and therefore may be subject to varying degrees of wear and tear.
We strongly recommend potential bidders gather as much information about a lot prior to bidding for it.
In the days leading up to our regular Antique & Interiors sales we have members of staff dedicated to preparing condition reports and sending additional images as requested by potential bidders. Bidders are invited to request this information so they can be certain they are making an informed decision when it comes to bidding. There is no charge for this service so please take advantage of it. The online version of the Quarterly Specialist Sale Catalogue has pre-prepared condition reports and additional images of each lot available at least ten days prior to the sale.
In Person
The first time you wish to bid at Clevedon Salerooms you will need to register your details: name, address, email and telephone number, online or with the front desk, in order to obtain your bidding number. Make sure the auctioneer can see when you are bidding, ideally by raising or waving your bidding number. Remember to return your number once you have finished bidding.
Absentee bidding (commission bid)
This service is available when you do not wish to attend the sale or may not be able to stay to the end of a sale, and we bid on your behalf, attempting to purchase the lot for the lowest price subject to other bids and any reserve price. When a lot is sold and the auctioneer announces “commission buyer” this denotes an absentee bidder is the successful purchaser. Absentee bid forms are available in the Saleroom and can be left with us during the viewing (and during the sale prior to being offered). You can also email bids to us direct from the catalogue on our website. Absentee Bids placed through a third party online platform usually incur an additional % fee on the hammer price.
Live Internet bidding
Telephone Bidding – Quarterly Sales only
Increasingly superseded by internet bidding, this free service is where by prior arrangement, a member of our staff telephones you a few lots prior to the lot you wish to bid on, and the staff member actions your bids as if you were in the room. Telephone bids must be arranged with the Salerooms no later than 5pm the day before the sale and are only for lots with a lower estimate of £100 or more and are subject to availability.
Sale Results
Results are uploaded to our website during the sale, enabling you to see if you are successful. All successful purchasers are emailed an invoice at the end of the sale. In the event of two identical absentee bid amounts being left the first bid received will be the successful buyer.
Methods of payment
Bidders via www.the-saleroom.com will receive a successful bidders email and should settle their account online using the debit card registered.
For our own customers, payments can be made via our online payment portal, as well as in cash, debit card, bank transfer and face to face credit card. Remote credit card payments will not be accepted. Payment is due by 5pm the day after the sale.
All invoices emailed to successful purchasers have our bank details for BACS payment.
N.B. £1,000 limit on credit card purchases, balance by other means. Cheques will only be accepted where the purchaser is well known to the auctioneers.
Collecting purchases
Bidders should arrange collection of items before 5pm on the Tuesday after the sale. In special circumstances, and only by prior arrangement with the auctioneers, exceptions may be made. Purchases of furniture or large items may be move to offsite storage after this date.
We are open for payments & collection the day after a sale 9.00am – 5.30pm. Normal weekday opening hours for collecting purchases are 9.00am- 1.00pm & 2.00pm-5.30pm. We close 1.00pm -2.00pm weekdays, and do not open at weekends.
Clevedon Salerooms are located approximately 3 miles from the nearest Post Office. Whilst we can offer package and shipping of non-breakable packages (not containing ceramics or glass) and weighing under 2kg by Special Delivery, at a cost of £15-£25 plus VAT depending on the parcel, we prefer to pack such parcels, free of charge, for your nominated courier to collect.
Smaller breakable items requiring packing:
Bristol Branch of Mailboxes Tel: 0117 922 7671
Dariuse Peterson (Bar-Berry) 07803 081531
Teresa Connor of Packalot Tel: 0117 4228899 / 07799077384
For larger items such as furniture etc:
Clevedon based removal firms:
Chris Wall 07444 139857
Albatross Light Haulage 01275 343340
Hobdens 01275 877122
Yeates 01275 872251
Firms for national haulage:
Alban Shipping (Bedfordshire) 01582 493099
Martin Brothers (Wiltshire) 01985 844144
Our commitment to you
Clevedon Salerooms Limited operate to the highest professional standards
Members of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers SOFAA
Experienced valuers (all senior valuers have over 20 years minimum experience)
Separate ring-fenced client money client accounts
Professional indemnity insurance
Public liability insurance
Click here for our Complaints handling procedure
Clevedon Salerooms Limited is a member of the Property Ombudsman scheme
Click here for our Privacy Policy to see how we use, store and protect client data