Buying Guide

Buying at auction with Bishop & Miller

At Bishop & Miller we want to ensure your experience buying at auction is as enjoyable as possible. There are a variety of ways that you can participate in our auctions. Simply register for the auction you are interested in online or in person and then choose your preferred bidding method.

Catalogues

Our specialist sales catalogues are available online about two weeks before the sale.

Viewing

All our auctions are on view at least two days prior to the sale and details can be found on our website or on www.the-saleroom.com.

Condition Reports

The relevant department will be pleased to give condition reports on any lot, where practical. All weights and measures given in the catalogue should be regarded as approximate.

Bidding at our auctions:

Registering with us:

All first time buyers need to register with us.

To register, you will need to provide one forms of identification:

1) A passport or photographic driving licence

2) A utility bill or document showing your name and address

You can register in person or by contacting the office on 01449 673088 or emailing enquiries@bm-auctions.co.uk. You will be asked to show your documents, or fax or email copies to our administrative team.

Bidding in the Saleroom

You will need to have registered with us and obtained a paddle number, as described above.

Commission Bidding

If you are unable to attend the sale you can leave a commission bid. This will be executed on your behalf by the auctioneer who will purchase the lot as cheaply as possible bearing in mind any reserve price and other bids.

We are happy to take commission bids by email, fax or telephone, although, we do suggest telephoning the office prior to the sale to confirm that your bids have been received.

Telephone Bidding

It is usually possible to bid on the telephone by prior arrangement with the office. Registration is required as above.

Live Online Bidding

Live online bidding is now available for all of our auctions via www.the-saleroom.com, enabling you to take part in the bidding from anywhere in the world, live as it happens. To bid online you need to register at www.the-saleroom.com , subject to approval.

In completing the bidder registration on www.the-saleroom.com and providing your credit card details and unless alternative arrangements are agreed with Bishop & Miller Auctions Ltd, you:

Buyers Premium

Each lot is subject to a Buyer’s Premium of 25% + VAT on the first £500,000 of the hammer price and 12% + VAT thereafter.

VAT

Lots marked with an asterisk (*) are subject to VAT on the hammer price. Lots marked with an omega (Ω) have been temporarily imported from outside the EU and are subject to VAT at 5.0% on the hammer price and the buyer’s premium. In online catalogues, the Sales Tax % column indicates the rate of VAT on hammer price.

Payment & Clearance

If you are a first-time buyer we will need your name, address, full contact details and bank details and will require funds to be cleared before purchases can be released.

For those attending the sale we ask that all lots are paid for in full on the day of the Auction.

Commission and Internet bidders should check the success of their bids as soon as possible and forward payment within five working days of the Auction.

Payment Methods

Please note as of 1st October 2023 Bishop & Miller Auctioneers Ltd are NO LONGER accepting payments in cash or cheque.

For UK Buyers the following methods of payment may be made:

Barclays

For Overseas Buyers the following methods of payment may be made:   

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Collection & Postage

Collection

Collections may be made from our salerooms between 9.15am – 4.45pm Monday to Thursday, and 9:15am – 3:45pm Fridays (closed bank holidays). Please contact our offices to book in prior to collecting.

Postage

Bishop and Miller are able to provide an in-house postage and packing service for smaller unbreakable items that will fit in a padded Jiffy bag.  As a guide:

For UK Postage – Prices start at £15.00.

​For Overseas Postage – Prices start at £35.00.

If you would like a quotation for postage, or guidance on what we can or cannot post, please contact enquiries@bm-auctions.co.uk

Storage

​Storage charges will be levied on all lots not collected within 30 calendar days of the sale. This will include a handling fee of £20 (+ VAT) per consignment and a storage charge of £2 (+ VAT) per lot per day. No goods will be allowed to be collected until these charges have been paid.

Artist’s Resale Right/Droit De Suite

Droit de Suite is a royalty payable to a qualifying artist or the artist’s heirs each time a work is resold during the artist’s lifetime and up to a period of 70 years after the artist’s death.

Royalties are calculated on a sliding percentage scale based on the hammer price excluding the buyer’s premium. The royalty does not apply to lots selling below the sterling equivalent of €1,000 and the maximum royalty payable on any single lot is the sterling equivalent of €12,500.

Droit de Suite, which is not subject to VAT, will be added to the buyer’s purchase price and then passed on to the relevant collecting agency.

Please inquire for the accepted exchange rate on the day of the sale.

Royalties for Droit de Suite are as follows:

4% Up to €50,000

3% €50,000.01 – 200,000

1% €200,000.01 – 350,000

0.5% €350,000.01 – 500,000

0.25% In excess of €500,000

Up to a maximum levy of €12,500

Sale Results

These will be posted on our website shortly after the sale.

Explore our Auctions

Upcoming Auctions

Valuation

Past Auctions