FAQs - Buying at Gorringes

How do i find out about Gorringes sales?
You can view our sales diary...read more
You subscribe to recieve catalogues...read more
Register to receive our newsletter email...read more
Search Gorringes.co.uk website...read more

How do I buy something i like at Gorringes?
Firstly, you need to register to bid...read more
Bidding at auction...read more
Attending the sale...read more
Bidding over the telephone...read more
Leaving an absentee bid by telephone or fax...read more
Leaving an absentee online bid...read more
Live online internet bidding...read more

What happens after the auction has taken place?
How do i find out if i have been successful...read more
Auction Charges...read more
Payment and Payment Methods...read more
Collections / Storage...read more
Packing and Shipping...read more

How do i find out about Gorringes sales?

Gorringes hold 12 fine art, antique & collectables sales throughout the year and a weekly general sale every Monday (except bank holidays). Keep track by:

Viewing our Sales Diary
View our sales diary online by clicking here. Alternatively, if you would like to be sent a sales diary in the post, please email subscriptions or pick one up from your nearest branch (which you can find by going to the locations page.)

Catalogue Subsciption
Catalogues can be bought from our subscriptions department. You can contact the department on 01273 472 503 or by emailing us. Catalogues can also be found online by clicking here and are available one week before the sale. N.B Catalogues can also be purchased from the auction room on the day of the sale.

Register for our Newsletter Email
Gorringes send out a pre-sale notification email a week before every fine art and antiques sale. The email includes important information such as: Sale dates & order of sale. To recieve our newsletter email please click here to register.

Searching Gorringes.co.uk
A full sale calendar of all scheduled forthcoming salescan be found on www.gorringes.co.uk by using the menu at the top of the page. Select the "Auctions" menu and click on "Auction Dates. If you are unsure what sale the item you are interested in is being sold in, you can use the 'quick search' facility located on the top right of your screen. To use the search facility enter keywords such as "diamond ring" and search. 

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How do i buy something i like at Gorringes?
If you have found an item which you are interested in purchasing; for your convenience, Gorringes offer a number of ways for you bid.

Register to bid
Like many auction houses, Gorringes use a paddle bidding system. If you wish to bid you must register before the sale, providing your name, address and proof of identity, for example your passport or driving license, together with your credit card. In exchange, you are given a paddle - a card printed with your personal number for the sale.

At the end of the sale, or when you have finished bidding, please return your paddle to the registration desk.

Bidding at Auction
After registering for a sale, for your convenience Gorringes offer a number of different ways for you to bid:

Attending the sale
You will be issued with a paddle when you register at a sale and you must show this to the auctioneer, by raising it, when you wish to bid on an lot. If you are successful in your bidding, the auctioneer will make a note of your paddle number. If that is the end of your purchasing you can pay for your items immediately. If you would like to bid on further lots in the sale you can pay for all your items at the end of the sale. If you pay with cash you can take your items away immediately. If you pay by credit card you can take your items away immediately. If you pay by cheque you must wait until the cheque has cleared before collecting your items.

Bidding over the telephone
An alternative for higher value lots is to make a telephone bid. This is particularly useful if you wish to place your own bids on a specific lot, even though you cannot attend the sale. Telephone bids must be booked in advance with the office. They are available on a first-come first-served basis and may be subject to a minimum lot value. You will be asked to complete a Telephone Bid Form, providing credit / debit card details, proof of identity and your contact telephone number.

On the day of the sale, a Gorringes representative will telephone you about five lots before your lot comes under the hammer. When this happens, you will be talked through the bidding and asked at each stage if you wish to continue - either until you are successful or until you choose to cease bidding.

Leaving an absentee bid by telephone or fax
After you have registered for the sale, Gorringes are happy to undertake placing of absenteebids on your behalf.  With your written permission, we can act as your representative to secure an item for you at the lowest possible price. You complete an 'Absentee Bid Form' (which can be obtained from the saleroom, online or printed in the sale catalogue - giving your price limit for any specific lot. This should be the maximum hammer price that you are prepared to pay, remembering to take into account the additional buyer's premium and any applicable VAT.

You may telephone your bid through to the office, but we must receive written confirmation from you - either by fax or post - at least 24 hours before the start of the auction. If we receive two bids of equal value, preference is given to the bid that arrives first.

On the day of the sale, please check whether your bid has been successful by telephoning the office an hour or so after the end of the sale. Otherwise, a successful bid is confirmed by invoice. You must ensure that Gorringes has cleared payment prior to you collecting your lot.

Leaving an absentee online bid
Firstly register with Gorringes, under 'my account' register in the menu bar above. Complete the online registration form and click register. You should receive confirmation of your registration by email from our customer services department within a few hours, however, during busy sales periods this might take a bit longer. Your registration will be completed within 7 days. Please ensure you contact the office, if you have not received your registration confirmation within 24 hours of submitting it.

Once you have registered to bid you may proceed with leaving online bids for any forthcoming Gorringes sale. Please note that your bids will not be fully processed until your receive your registration confirmation email. Select the lot you would like to bid onclick on the link "bid/track" enter your username and password

Live online internet bidding
Gorringes recognise the convenience online bidding can have. Therefore our auctions work alongside Artfact / Invaluable for live realtime bidding. Thus means you are able to watch the auction live from the comfort of your home or office and bid on lots when required. Simply register with Gorringes or login, then visit Artfact live by clicking here.

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What happens after the auction has taken place?
To find out if you have been successful, either search the onlineresults after the sale or telephone the appropriate office.

Auction Charges
Buyer's Premium. The Conditions of Sale oblige buyers to pay a buyer's premium 17.5% plus VAT* on the hammer price of each Lot purchased.

*VAT. (†) indicates that VAT is payable by the purchaser at the standard rate (presently 17.5%) on the hammer price as well as being an element in the buyer's premium. This imposition of VAT is likely to be because the seller is registered for VAT within the European Union and is not operating the Dealers Margin Scheme or because VAT is due at 17.5% on importation into the UK. The double symbol (**) indicates that the Lot has been imported from outside the European Union and the present position is that these Lots are liable to a reduced rate of VAT (5%) on the gross Lot price (i.e. both the hammer price and the buyer's premium). Lots which appear without either of the above symbols indicate that no VAT is payable on the hammer price. This is because such Lots are sold using the Auctioneers' Margin Scheme and it should be noted that the VAT included within the Premium is not recoverable as input tax.

Payment and Payment Methods
The price you pay is the amount at which the auctioneer's hammer falls (the hammer price), plus a buyer's premium (a percentage of the final hammer price) and VAT where applicable. You are issued with an invoice made out to the name and address on your Registration Form, which may not be subsequently altered. Full details of charges and rates can be found in the 'Conditions of Sale' printed in each catalogue.

Payment Methods
*Sterling cheque. To be drawn on a UK bank and made payable to 'Gorringes LLP'. It will be necessary to allow at least five working days for the cheque to clear before collecting your purchases
* Bank transfer. All transfers must state the relevant sale number, lot number and your bid / paddle number. If transferring from a foreign currency, the amount we receive must be the total due in pounds sterling (after currency conversion and the deduction of any bank charges).
* Debit cards drawn on a UK bank. There is no additional charge for purchases made with these cards. Debit cards drawn on an overseas bank or deferred debit cards will be subject to a 2% surcharge.
* Sterling cash. Payments of up to £8,000 can be made at the Cashier’s Office, either during or after a sale.

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