Buying at Bamfords Auctioneers couldn’t be simpler, for further details see our FAQ’s below or contact either of our salerooms.
Before the auction
How to view the catalogue?
To view a catalogue prior to an auction, visit our Auction Calendar and select the auction you wish to view.
All our catalogues on our website give you the opportunity to create a watch list, request a condition report and place a commission bid.
Printed catalogues for our weekly Period & Contemporary Auctions (alternating between Derby & Rowsley) will be available to purchase on the day of the auction, catalogues for Specialist Auctions will be available to purchase prior to the auction. If you wish to receive information on future auctions, please join our mailing list.
When can I view the lots in person?
To view our weekly auctions which are held on a Wednesday, visit the saleroom at
Derby from 9:00am to 6:00pm the previous day and from 9:00am to 10:00am on the morning of the auction
or
Rowsley from 1:00pm to 7:00pm the previous day and from 9:00am to 10:30am on the morning of the auction.
Viewing days and times for specialist auctions are published on our Current Auctions page.
What is the buyer’s commission?
All UK auctioneers charge a commission in addition to the hammer price.
If your bid is successful you can pay in person by debit card or cash, if you are not paying in person you may pay by debit card over the telephone or by bank transfer. Bamfords charge 24.75% Buyers' Premium plus VAT on the hammer price of each lot. Please be aware that for Fine Art, Single Owner and Specialist auctions there is a minimum charge of £10 + VAT per lot
Live online bidding is available for all our auctions via www.bamfords-auctions.co.uk, www.easyliveauction.com or www.the-saleroom.com. The charge for using these services is 3.6% of the hammer price or a flat fee of £3 with no further premium being charged for EasyLiveAuction and 5.5% of the hammer price (plus VAT where chargeable) for The Saleroom. This will be added to the total invoice.
What is a condition report?
A condition report is simply asking an expert for their opinion on the condition, age and authenticity of the item. Many objects may have restoration/damage that is hard to detect, which will affect the objects value
It is a free service, and will help you decide how much you really love the lot.
How do I request a report on condition of a lot?
You can request a written or verbal condition report via the online catalogue, or by contacting us by email or telephone.
Condition Statement
Bamfords Auctioneers 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, if provenance (written or historical fact) cannot be produced. Please note, Bamfords Fine Art Auctioneers 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. No guarantee or warranty is issued or given in anyway, either written or verbal and therefore refunds will not be issued on the basis of the Lot not being “in working order”, “incomplete”, or “not in original condition”.
Bamfords will continue to do written condition reports as a guide but would respectfully ask that you do view in person and satisfy yourself regarding condition particularly where certain aspects of condition are important to them, Please ensure that you do satisfying yourselves as to the condition, completeness and originality of any Lot prior to making a bid. An absence of condition in the description does not warrant good condition
At the auction
How can I bid for a lot?
There are various ways of bidding for a lot these include:
- In person at one of our salerooms
- Bid by telephone – this needs to be booked prior to the auction
- Leave a commission or ‘absentee’ bid
- Bid live through www.bamfords-auctions.co.uk, www.easyliveauction.com or www.the-saleroom.com
In each case you will need to register before you can bid.
Do I need to register before I bid?
Yes, you will need to register prior to the auction the following explains how:
In each case you will be required to provide your name, address and telephone number.
You will be then be issued a bidding number which will identify you when you bid.
The www.the-saleroom.com or www.easyliveauction.com will also need you to open an account (which is free), provide a payment method and register with the auction house through their website.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to split invoices or transfer lots to another invoice. Payments must be made in full and in one transaction. The payment MUST come from the registered purchasers account, not a third party or Business account unless registered as such.
We also require proof of ID prior to payment and collection. Please email photocopies to fineart@bamfords-auctions.co.uk of either a valid driving licence or Passport and a utility bill. The ID must match the details registered with us for your purchase. You will only be required to do this once and then a note will be held on your account showing that we have had those details from you.
How can I bid if I can’t attend the auction?
You are able to still bid for lots by leaving an absentee bid, also known as a commission bid, which is your maximum you wish to spend excluding Buyer’s Premium.
You are able to do this via our online catalogues, if you attend a viewing you can fill out a Commission Bid form available at our salerooms.
Finally, www.bamfords-auctions.co.uk, www.the-saleroom.com and www.easyliveauction.com give you the option to leave an Autobid which is subject to a surcharge.
If I leave a commission or absentee bid will you automatically bid my maximum amount?
No, Bamfords auctioneers will bid on your behalf for the lowest possible amount, subject to other competing bids, and will continue to your maximum bid. Bamfords do not open bidding at your maximum bid and operate a strict rule with all our auctioneers that we do not ‘run you up’ artificially.
Am I able to bid by telephone?
You can arrange to bid by telephone by contacting either of our salerooms prior to an auction subject to the lot estimate is over £300.
We will then call you 2-3 lots prior to the lot you are interested in bidding on.
How can I bid live online?
You can bid online via www.bamfords-auctions.co.uk, www.the-saleroom.com or www.easyliveauction.com
- if you already have an account on www.easyliveauction.com or www.the-saleroom.com, we will link your account and associated data;
- if you do not have an account you will need to set up an account with www.bamfords-auctions.co.uk , www.easyliveauction.com or www.the-saleroom.com and then connect to one of our auctions and register to bid
- you do not have to register twice to bid live with us
Is it possible to buy a lot by mistake?
Our auctioneers are highly experienced and will be monitoring the room as well as the online bidders through their screen on the rostrum. If the auctioneer is unsure you made a bid, they will ask you. If you didn’t mean to bid or was waving to someone – speak up and let the auctioneer know before the gavel goes down!
After the auction
If I’m successful when do I have to pay?
You can pay on the day of the auction and collect your goods and we allow up to seven days for payment and collection.
What are acceptable payment methods?
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to split invoices or transfer lots to another invoice. Payments must be made in full and in one transaction. The payment MUST come from the registered purchasers account, not a third party or Business account unless registered as such.
We also require proof of ID prior to payment and collection. Please email photocopies to fineart@bamfords-auctions.co.uk of either a valid driving licence or Passport and a utility bill. The ID must match the details registered with us for your purchase. You will only be required to do this once and then a note will be held on your account showing that we have had those details from you.
You can pay with cash (up to £500), debit cards or direct bank transfer, we do not accept personal cheques. or payment by credit card.
UK Bank transfers:
Sort Code 40 19 15 Account Number 93665127
International bank transfers :
International Bank Account Number GB04HBUK40191593665127
Branch Identitifier Code HBUKGB4104B
Payments can also be collected via the-saleroom.com.
Can collect my purchase on the same day as the auction?
Yes, you can collect your purchase on the same day as the auction. We prefer buyers to arrange collection within seven days of the auction, as storage space is very limited at our salerooms lots not collected will attract a daily storage fee of £5.
Do you offer a shipping service?
If you can't collect your items on the day of the auction, don't worry, we offer a discretionary seven days storage on purchased and unsold lots from the date of the sale. Thereafter lots not collected shall incur daily storage fees of £5.
Bamfords do not offer a packing service for customers own carriers. Our shipping service requests must be received within seven days of the date of the sale. Bamfords can offer postage on most items of a small and non-fragile nature, our minimum charge is £25.00 for Royal Mail service most items are packed and posted with 2 weeks of receipt of payment. Please be aware that we cannot offer postage of jewellery, weapons, ceramics or paintings & pictures and we do not offer postage internationally. We expect to post lots to our customers within 2 weeks of the date payment is received. We recommend the following pack and send companies for your carriage requirements: Mailboxes info@mbenottingham.co.uk, telephone 01159472779, and Charterwells PostiTSales@hotmail.com, telephone 01283 537922.
If I’m bidding from outside the UK can I have a VAT refund?
You can obtain a refund of VAT from HMRC if you buy an object which is shipped to a country outside the European Union. You will need proof of export from your courier and then complete a VAT refund form obtainable from the HMRC website.