Buying at Wincanton Auctions

Wincanton Auctions offers a friendly and straightforward way to buy a wide variety of items, including antiques, collectables, furniture, artwork, jewellery, and more.

Ways to Buy & Bid

We offer several ways to take part in our auctions, depending on how you prefer to bid:

Live Auctions

Our live auctions take place in the saleroom and are conducted by an auctioneer in real time. You may bid:

• In person, by attending the auction

• Online, watching the live video stream and bidding through Easy Live Auction

• By absentee bid, leaving bids in advance for us to execute on your behalf

Timed Auctions

Timed auctions run online over a set period, rather than at a fixed auction time.

• Each lot is open for bidding until a stated closing time

• If a bid is placed shortly before the closing time, the lot may automatically extend to allow fair competition

• Bidding takes place entirely online, without an auctioneer

Timed auctions are commonly used for:

• Smaller items

• Clearance or second-chance lots

• Groups of similar items

Absentee Bidding

If you are unable to attend or bid online, you may leave absentee bids with us in advance.

We will bid on your behalf during the live auction, up to your maximum bid, and aim to secure the lot at the lowest possible price.

Fees at a Glance

Buyer’s Premium & VAT

When you successfully purchase a lot:

• A buyer’s premium of 25% plus VAT is added to the hammer price (A minimum buyer’s premium of £2 plus VAT per lot applies)

• VAT is charged at the current rate, where applicable

These charges apply whether you are bidding:

• In the auction room

• Online

• By absentee bid

(The buyer’s premium and VAT are also explained in full in our downloadable fee guide Download Wincanton_Auctions_Buyers_Fees_and_Charges_Explained 09012026_.docx)

Online Bidding (Easy Live Auction)

Online bidding is provided through Easy Live Auction, either via our website or directly at www.easyliveauction.com.

Please note:

• Easy Live Auction applies an additional online bidding charge

• This is either a small flat fee or an additional percentage, plus VAT

• You select your preferred option when registering for each auction

• At the time this document was prepared, the charge is either:
  • £3 plus VAT flat fee per lot, or
  • 3% of the hammer price plus VAT

• These charges are set by Easy Live Auction and are subject to change so always confirm the current charges at the time of registration

Worked Examples of Charges

Here’s what you might expect to pay in some typical buying scenarios:

(Note: VAT is illustrated at 20% for example purposes. The actual rate at the date of the auction will apply.)

Artist’s Resale Right (ARR)

Artist’s Resale Right (ARR) is a statutory royalty payable to the artist, or their estate, on certain sales of original works of art.

ARR applies where:

• The work is an original artwork (such as a painting, drawing, sculpture, or limited edition print)

• The artist is living, or died within the last 70 years

• The hammer price exceeds the qualifying threshold (currently €1,000)

The royalty is calculated on a sliding scale and is payable by the buyer, in addition to the hammer price, buyer’s premium, and VAT.

ARR only applies in specific circumstances and is relatively uncommon, but where applicable it is a legal requirement.

Trade Sales & VAT

Lots sold on behalf of a company or consisting of brand-new trade stock may be classed as Trade Sales.
In these cases:

• VAT is applied on the full hammer price

• The lot description will always state where an item is identified as a Trade Sale to avoid confusion

Condition, Descriptions & Buyer Responsibility

Working Condition, Testing & Electrical Items

Where possible, we may refer to an item as “seen working”, “powers on”, or similar.

This wording is intended solely as a helpful observation at the time of cataloguing and should be understood as follows:

• “Seen working” means the item appeared to operate at the time it was briefly checked

• It does not mean the item has been fully tested

• It does not guarantee that the item is free from faults, wear, missing parts, or future issues

• All items offered for sale are second-hand, unless stated otherwise

It is important to note that:

• We are not able to carry out full testing of items

• We cannot test items over extended periods or under load

• We cannot dismantle items to inspect internal components

The absence of any reference to working condition should not be taken to mean that an item is faulty or non-working. In many cases, it simply means that we have not had the opportunity to test the item.

Due to the volume of lots in our auctions — often many hundreds or more — it is not possible to test every item, nor can we undertake to do so.

Condition Reports & Buyer Responsibility

Buyers are welcome to request condition reports or additional information, and we will do our best to assist where time and resources allow.

However:

• Condition reports are provided on a best endeavours basis

• It may not be possible to respond to all requests, particularly in large sales

• Any information provided remains a guide only

Buyers should therefore bid only when they are satisfied with the condition of a lot.

Consumer Rights & Auction Sales (Important Information)

Auction purchases operate differently from retail or shop purchases.

In most cases, lots sold at auction are offered by the auctioneer as agent for a private seller, and as such the usual consumer protections associated with retail sales — such as automatic rights to return goods or cancel a purchase — do not normally apply.

For this reason:

• Buyers cannot usually cancel a purchase once the hammer has fallen

• Complaints relating to condition, wear, or faults will not normally be accepted after the sale

• Sales are final, except in very limited circumstances as set out in our Conditions of Sale

Bidders are therefore advised to bid only when they are fully satisfied as to the condition and description of a lot.

Payment & Collection

• Payment and collection must be completed within four working days after the auction

• Full payment is required before collection or shipping

• Items left beyond this period may incur storage charges

Collection is by appointment, and postage can be arranged for suitable items.