FAQ

I've never been to an auction before, how do I bid on an item?

You will need to register with Crow’s Auction Gallery, or one of the online auction platforms. When you have found an item you would like to bid on you need to make a note of the lot number and read the description carefully. You can either bid in person by attending the sale at the Dorking Saleroom, or via the internet by bidding online. 

I am not available to bid during the live auction, is there any other way?

You can phone or email us with a commission bid. Your maximum bid amount will be left with the auctioneer who will bid on your behalf. You can also leave an absentee bid with the online service providers.

What can I do if I can’t view the lot in person?

It is recommended that you view all lots of interest in person but in the event that you cannot do so, you can either phone or email to request a condition report. Make sure you ask any specific questions you may have regarding the condition, age etc. of the lot, and you can ask for extra photographs if applicable.

I am the winning bidder, how do I pay for my lot?

You can pay by cash, debit card, credit card, bank transfer or through Wise. For UK Buyers we will accept debit and credit card payments up to £1200; for Overseas Buyers we will accept debit and credit card payments up to £1000. Anything over these amounts must be paid via Bank Transfer or Wise. Payment must be made within 48 hours after the end of the sale. If your payment will be later than this date, you must phone or email to notify the auctioneer.

What is the post sale online auction?

This is an online auction similar to Ebay, where the unsold lots from the live auction are offered from the Friday after the sale until the following  Tuesday evening. It is hosted on the saleroom.com and can be found via a link on the homepage of our website. Bidders have to register with the saleroom.com to bid, and if they are the winning bidder they will be charged the additional internet charge of 4.95% plus VAT.

I won a lot but no longer want to buy it. What should I do?

Bidding on a lot is considered a contract and you are obliged to purchase the item. Crow’s Auction Gallery supports a policy of pursuing non-paying bidders through the courts. However if you feel that you have a legitimate reason for not buying the item, you must contact us prior to the end of the sale and discuss the situation.

If I am the winning bidder, how do I collect my lot/s?

You can either collect your lots in person, or contact us to request a quote for post and packing. If collecting in person, or by your nominated courier, we ask all lots are cleared within five working days of the sale, otherwise they may become subject to storage charges of up to £15 + Vat per lot, per week. Lots left for more that a month will be removed to a long term store and can only be collected by prior appointment. You can collect your lot/s in person from the day following the auction; we are here from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. We discourage collection during the day of the sale as not all items can be easily accessed while the sale is in progress; we cannot remove furniture during the sale.

Is my item insured?

If you are the winning bidder and are having lot/s delivered/shipped to you, insurance will only be effected upon receipt of written instructions. Crow’s Auction Gallery Ltd bears no responsibility for the safety of items once they have left our care.

Can you arrange P&P?

We are happy to quote for post and packing on most items except furniture - please contact us before the sale to confirm. We aim to dispatch items within 5 working days of receipt of payment but please note we do NOT include any insurance for damage during transit and it is up to the buyer to arrange. The bidder is also responsible for ascertaining whether their item can be imported into the country of destination.