C&T Auctioneers is here to de-mystify the process of buying & selling at auction. Read on below to find answers to the questions we receive most often. If we haven't answered your question here, please don't hesitate to give our office a call or drop us an email!

 

What are the auction charges?

At C&T Auctioneers, we offer competitive rates for buying and selling with us.

• Buyer's commission is 26.4% (22% + VAT) of the hammer price, with a minimum charge of £5.00 + VAT per lot.
• Seller's commission is 24% (20% + VAT) of the hammer price, with a minimum charge of £5.00 + VAT per lot.

All services, from valuing, describing, photographing, lotting and marketing are included in the commission fee. We pride ourselves on transparency and you will not be subject to any hidden charges.

 

Buying at auction with C&T

How do I bid in a live auction?

Bidding via C&T Auctioneers is a fuss-free process. In order to take part in one of C&T's live auctions, you will need a C&T account, follow this link to create one. 

Once logged in to your C&T account, you will need to register to bid in the auction(s) you're interested in, on an individual basis. Just head to the catalogue page, and click the ‘Place Bid’ button. 

This will take you through to the registration page. If this is your first time bidding on C&T, you will need to enter your valid card information.* Please ensure that you complete every field on this page, and do not use autofill as it is often incorrect. 

Once your card has passed the security check, you will be taken to C&T's Term & Conditions, to which you must agree in order to bid. 

Auctions can be viewed on any device. The display is optimised for desktop viewing. Make sure you’re using Google Chrome or Firefox for the best bidding experience.

*Accepted card types: Visa Debit, Visa Credit, Mastercard Debit, Mastercard Credit

 

How do I bid in a timed auction?

C&T's Timed Auctions are powered by the Saleroom.com, meaning that to bid in our timed auctions you will need to have an account with the Saleroom.

Head to the auction catalogue page, and click to bid. This will take you to a login page powered by the Saleroom. Either create or use an existing Saleroom account. 

Click here for help with setting up a Saleroom account.

 

What is a timed auction?

A timed auction is an increasingly popular auction format, where bids can be placed online over a number of days (generally two weeks at C&T). The auction begins to close at the advertised date and time, with lots closing in sequence, at 30 second intervals.

Should any last minute bids be placed within the final 10 minutes of a lot being opened, the countdown for that lot to close will re-set to 10 minutes from the last bid. This allows the underbidder a chance to respond and avoids behaviour known as 'sniping'. For more information on timed format auctions at C&T Auctioneers, check out the post here.

 

Can I bid in the room?

No, we do not have any room bidding for our auctions. Following a general shift towards digital formats associated with the 2020 pandemic, C&T's auctions have run in an online only format. However, our team is still staffed by real people, in the office Monday-Friday, running everything behind the scenes and on hand to help you. 

A key benefit of online auctions is how they extend the accessibility of bidding to people from around the world, removing constraints of geography or time. You can simply log in at home, or on the go, and place pre-bids ahead of the auction or bid live. 

 

I’ve registered - why can’t I bid?

There can be a couple of things preventing you from bidding straight away. Firstly, you must create a C&T account and then register to bid in each individual auction you’re interested in. This is a simple process, all you need to do is accept the terms and conditions.

On the other hand, if you’ve managed to register, but it’s not letting you bid, you may be pending approval. This happens when any of the details in your account are flagged by our system as potentially incorrect. Do not worry, our team checks pending bidder regularly and will be in touch if they need any further details from you.

 

Do you offer in-house shipping?

Yes, unless stated otherwise, our in-house shipping department can provide international shipping. Just follow the link in your invoice to request a quote.

Please note, our team provides a specialist service, entailing much more care and many more resources to safely and securely pack your unique collectibles. As such, it is a more premium service. If you’re considering bidding, we recommend checking potential charges by contacting shipping here.

 

When can I view lots?

Lots can be viewed by appointment prior to the auction. We do urge prospective bidders to view the items their interested in prior to bidding where possible. If you see anything of interest in the auction catalogue, just email our team here to request a lot viewing, remembering to include the lot number(s) that you plan to view.

 

I’ve won a lot - what happens now?

Firstly, congratulations! Keep an eye on your emails for your invoice. 

If you require shipping, just click the link to request a quote from our in house team. Alternatively, you can schedule an in-person collection slot. 

Full settlement of your invoice is required within 5 working days. You can find all payment option details in your invoice, including a remote card payment link, and C&T's bank details for a transfer. 

 

What payment methods are available?

At C&T we offer a range of payment options.

• Remote card payment - for invoices totalling up to £500.00. Use the link in your invoice or call our office on +44 (0)1233 510050.*
• Bank transfer to the C&T bank account. It is your responsibility to action this promptly and accurately so that all funds are received within the required 5 working days. 
• Cash or card in person. You are welcome to pay by cash or card on collection.*

*Accepted card types: Visa Debit, Visa Credit, Mastercard Debit, Mastercard Credit

 

My lot has just arrived but there’s an issue, what do I do?

On the rare occasions that something has gone wrong, the best thing to do is contact our office team immediately so that they can investigate the issue.

 

Selling at auction with C&T

How do I sell at auction?

At C&T we offer a straightforward route to receiving complimentary, no-obligation advice from industry experts.

Complete this valuation form, it should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.

 - Include any pertinent details

 - Upload up to 3 photos of your item(s). Any additional photos can be sent via email to enquiries@candtauctions.co.uk

One of our specialists will review your enquiry and provide preliminary estimates for auction-suitable items within 15 working days.

 

Do you charge for valuations?

All of our valuations are offered on a complimentary basis, at no cost to you. These valuations are aimed to help advise you if you are considering consigning your item into auction with us, but there is no obligation. Please note, our specialists are only able to offer estimates for items they deem as suitable for sale within the current market.

As a specialist auction house, we can offer valuations on items within the following categories: 

- Militaria (including Third Reich related items) 

- Vintage Toys (learn more about what toys we value here)

- Retro Toys (including Star Wars) 

- Fine Dolls and Juvenalia 

- Coins, Watches & Jewellery 

 

What happens after I submit a valuation request?

Upon receiving your request, a C&T specialist will review the information and images you submitted, referring to a knowledge of the market gained over years of experience. 

If your item is identified as suitable for sale with us, a member of C&T's specialist team will email a preliminary valuation within 15 working days of receiving your request. The time for a specialist to review your enquiry can vary based on the complexity of your enquiry, as well as the auction calendar.

Valuations and appraisals are offered on a no-obligation basis. However, if you accept the estimate and chose to proceed with consigning your item into auction, simply post the item directly to our office:

Specialist's name

C&T Auctioneers and Valuers

Unit 4, High House Business Park

Kenardington

Kent

TN26 2LF

Once the item has been received by the specialist, they will contact you via email with a consignment receipt, outlining the terms of sale of your item.

 

When will I receive the proceeds for the sale of my item?

The consignment receipt sets the reserve price and seller's commission rate. For sold lots, payment will be sent 30 days from the sale date. The payment will be based on the hammer price less the seller's commission. 

Ensure that you provide your bank details to our office team. Phone the office on +44 (0) 1233 510050 to provide your details, and quote your Vendor reference when prompted (an alpha-numeric provided on all correspondence from C&T).

You will receive a seller’s statement to confirm the final payment amount, once the bank transfer is made.

 

What happens if my lots don’t sell?

If your lot fails to reach the reserve price, it will go unsold. You will have the opportunity of having it re-entered into a future sale, potentially with an adjusted reserve, or you can collect it. On rare occasions, buyers may default on payment and lots which sold in the auction may end up unsold. Should this happen, the specialist will notify you. 

 

Have more questions? Do not hesitate to contact our team!