Buying | Chiswick Auctions

Frequently Asked Questions

BUYER'S PREMIUM AND VAT

A Buyer’s Premium of 26% on the hammer price plus VAT on that commission is charged on the first £500,000, and 12% plus VAT on the balance thereafter.

As of December 2019, Buyer’s Premium of 21% plus VAT is charged on Wine & Spirits Lots.

* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.

The standard rate of VAT is charged on the premium.

Information for prospective buyers who live in the EU and who plan to export their purchased lot(s) out of the UK:

Buyers will be required to pay import VAT on the hammer price of purchased lots. This payment is usually administered by the chosen shipper. The rate varies by country and it is the buyer’s responsibility to research the costs relevant to their circumstances.
As usual, VAT will be applied to the Buyers’ Premium.

Information for prospective buyers who live in the EU and who plan to export their purchased lot(s) out of the UK:

Buyers will be required to pay import VAT on the hammer price of purchased lots. This payment is usually administered by the chosen shipper. The rate varies by country and it is the buyer’s responsibility to research the costs relevant to their circumstances.
As usual, VAT will be applied to the buyers’ premium.

ONLINE BIDDING SURCHARGES

We do not charge any additional surcharge for Lot(s) purchased on Chiswick Live. Chiswick Live continues to be the most affordable online bidding platform.

Customers bidding through the third-party auction platform the-saleroom.com are liable for a 4.95% surcharge on the hammer price, plus VAT. This is in addition to the Buyer’s Premium.

Customers bidding through the third-party auction platforms Invaluable.com or Liveauctioneers.com, Artsy.net are liable for a 5% surcharge on the hammer price, plus VAT. This is in addition to the Buyer’s Premium.

COLLECTION, SHIPPING & STORAGE

Collection

To book a collection or to provide authorisation for your chosen courier/representative to collect your goods, please email collections@chiswickauctions.co.uk, quoting your invoice number. Our Collections Team will provide you with a designated collection slot and location. Please note, collections should be booked in 24hrs in advance to ensure your goods can be gathered at the correct location.

We kindly ask clients to pay online prior to arrival. Please be aware if the goods are not paid for before your collection appointment, they will not be released and you will be required to rebook your collection slot after payment has been received.

Shipping

Our in-house shipping department can ship items that fit into boxes or envelopes no more than 30cm big or weigh more than 1kg. Please email shipping@chiswickauctions.co.uk for a quote.

We work in partnership with the following companies for domestic and international shipping and domestic clearances. For bigger items, please obtain a quote from the list below:

ThePackengers

Email: hellolondon@thepackengers.com

https://www.thepackengers.com/

Tel: +44 (0) 203 154 4363

Mail Boxes Etc. Chiswick

Email: info@mbechiswick.co.uk

https://www.mbe.co.uk/londonchiswick

Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 0796

Pack & Send

Email: richmondpark@packsend.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 208 392 6990

Alban shipping

Email: andrew@albanshipping.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1582 493 099

Once of have chosen a shipper, please email collections@chiswickauctions.co.uk to give authorisation for them to collect on your behalf.

Our recommended house clearance company:

Manor Clearance | www.manorclearance.co.uk | T: 0208 877 3993

Storage Fees

CA Ltd offers a discretionary 14 days free storage on purchased and unsold Lots from the date of the sale. Thereafter Lots not collected shall incur storage charges of:

£5.00 per lot, per day or part thereof for smalls and pictures (defined as anything that can be handled by one person)

£10.00 per lot, per day for furniture and other larger lots.

CA Ltd shall be entitled to retain said Lots until all sums due have been paid to CA Ltd. If any lot remains uncollected 21 days after the sale, storage charges shall thereafter be £10/£20 (smalls/larger items) per day and CA Ltd shall, in accordance with the Law, have the right to sell the purchased Lot to recover payment of storage charges outstanding. Any balance proceeds of sale received after payment of all sums outstanding and due to CA Ltd shall be held for the account of the Buyer.

ARTIST’S RESALE RIGHT (DROIT DE SUITE)

Droit de Suite is a royalty payable to a qualifying artist or their estate every time the artist’s work is sold at auction or by an art market professional during the artist’s lifetime and for a period of up to 70 years following the artist’s death.

Royalties are calculated on a cumulative sliding percentage scale based on the hammer price excluding Buyer’s Premium and are outlined in our Terms & Conditions.

RETURNS POLICY

Under no circumstances can the Buyer cancel the sale of an item purchased through Chiswick Auctions Ltd.

All returns are subject to the following terms and conditions:

Descriptions: Any representation in any catalogue or otherwise as to the origin, date, age, attribution, genuineness or estimated selling price of any lot is a statement of opinion only. Such statements do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by Chiswick Auctions in relation to the lot. Any prospective buyer should satisfy themselves prior to the sale as to the reliability of the catalogue description.

Condition: Buyers are responsible for satisfying themselves concerning the condition of the property. All lots are sold as seen.

Electrical Items: All electrical items are sold as seen and Chiswick Auctions Ltd offers no guarantee as to the working condition of such items.

Refunds: We will only make a refund using the same method of payment originally used by you to pay for your purchase, or by bank transfer. Your refund will be processed as soon as possible and in any event within no more than 28 days of the day you have given us notice of cancellation.

DELIVERY POLICY

Purchased lots which remain uncollected, or for which collection has not been arranged, may incur storage charges as set out in our standard Terms and Conditions. Chiswick Auctions Ltd shall be entitled to retain purchased lots sold until all sums due have been paid.

Please be advised that clients are entirely responsible for arranging their own third-party shipping. Processing – including quoting, packing, payment and collection – will be the remit of the instructed shipping company and not that of Chiswick Auctions Ltd.