Buy & Sell FAQs

We offer an in-house packing and shipping service for smaller, non-breakable items delivered within the UK, with prices starting from £20 plus VAT.

Please contact us before bidding to confirm whether your intended purchase is suitable for our shipping service and to obtain a quotation.

All items dispatched by Plymouth Auction Rooms are sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery. Whilst every care is taken when packing items, Plymouth Auction Rooms cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage in transit. The safe transit of all purchases, whether collected in person or transported by courier or shipper, remains the responsibility of the purchaser.

Recommended Couriers

For larger, fragile or international purchases, we recommend contacting one of the following independent packing and shipping providers directly:

• DC Pack & Dispatch: 07459 224 775
• Mail Boxes Etc. Plymouth: 01752 257224
• Diamond Logistics: 01752 547992

Please contact your chosen provider directly for packing, shipping arrangements and quotations.

Buyer's Premium

Our buyer's premium is 23% plus VAT (27.6% including VAT), charged on the hammer price of each lot.

For online bidding, the following additional charges apply:

• Plymouth Auction Rooms online bidding: 3.6% including VAT
• The Saleroom: 6% including VAT

These additional charges are calculated on the hammer price.

Payment

We accept the following payment methods:

• Bank transfer: Our preferred method, particularly for larger purchases and online bidders.
• Debit and credit cards: Accepted at the saleroom up to £3,000, with higher amounts by prior arrangement.
• Online card payments: Limited to £1,000. Larger purchases must be paid by bank transfer.
• Cash: Accepted up to £3,000, subject to identification and payment checks.

All purchases must be paid for in full within four working days of the auction. Items cannot be collected or dispatched until payment has been received in cleared funds.

Bank Details

Account Name: Plymouth Auction Rooms Ltd
Bank: Lloyds Bank
Sort Code: 30-96-68
Account Number: 62845668
IBAN: GB24 LOYD 3096 6862 8456 68
BIC: LOYDGB21082

Please quote your bidder number and auction date when making payment.

Artist's Resale Right (ARR)

Certain original works of art selling for £1,000 or more may be subject to Artist's Resale Right, an additional royalty payable to qualifying artists or their estates.

Where applicable, the royalty is calculated on a sliding scale based on the hammer price, is not subject to VAT and will be identified in the auction catalogue.

There are several ways to keep up with our latest auctions, interesting discoveries and valuation events.

• Facebook – Follow us for auction highlights, featured lots, sale results and news from the saleroom.
• Auction Newsletter – Receive upcoming auction details, catalogues and viewing information directly by email, usually around a week before each sale.
• Text Alerts – Sign up for occasional reminders about forthcoming auctions and events.
• Lot Alerts – Looking for something particular? Register your interests and we'll let you know when matching items are entered for auction.

There are several ways to bid at Plymouth Auction Rooms, whether you're joining us in person or bidding from home.

Bid Live Online

Watch, listen and bid as the auction takes place, wherever you are.

• Plymouth Auction Rooms – Register and bid directly through our website. An additional charge of 3.6% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price.
• The Saleroom – Alternatively, bid through the-saleroom.com. An additional charge of 6% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price.

Bid in the Saleroom

You're always welcome to join us in person. Simply register at reception before the auction, bringing proof of identification, and we'll provide you with a bidding paddle. Raise your paddle to catch the auctioneer's attention when you wish to bid.

Leave a Commission Bid

Can't attend the auction? You can leave a maximum bid in advance by telephone, email, through our website or in person.

We'll bid on your behalf, aiming to secure the lot at the lowest possible price, subject to the reserve and competing bids.

There is no additional charge for this service beyond the usual buyer's premium.

Bid by Telephone

For lots estimated at £500 or more, you can arrange to bid live by telephone. One of our team will call you shortly before your lot is offered and relay your bids directly to the auctioneer.

Telephone bidding must be arranged before the auction. We require proof of identification and credit or debit card details to register.

There is no additional charge for telephone bidding beyond the usual buyer's premium.

You can watch, listen and bid live in our auctions from anywhere in the world using either of our online bidding platforms.

Plymouth Auction Rooms

Register and bid directly through our website. An additional online bidding fee of 3.6% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price.

The Saleroom

Alternatively, register and bid through the-saleroom.com. An additional online bidding fee of 6% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price.

Registration

We recommend registering before the auction begins. Although most registrations are approved automatically, we cannot guarantee approval for registrations made during a sale.

After the Auction

If you're successful, we'll email you confirmation of your purchases.

Payment will normally be collected from your registered card the following day. For purchases exceeding £1,000, we'll contact you to arrange payment by bank transfer.

For full payment details, please see 'How much does it cost to buy at Plymouth Auction Rooms?' above.

Click here to view the full conditions of sale terms & conditions.

How do I get my items valued for auction?

 Plymouth Auction Rooms offers free, no-obligation auction valuations, whether you have a single item or an entire collection.

There are several ways to obtain a valuation:

1. Visit Our Saleroom

Valuations are available Monday to Thursday, 9am–4pm, with appointments preferred to ensure the appropriate specialist is available.

Simply bring your items along and we'll advise on their likely auction value. If suitable for sale, items can usually be left with us, and we'll provide a receipt and details of the auction.

For larger collections, we recommend sending photographs or contacting us before visiting.

2. Online Valuations

Visit our Valuations page to upload photographs and details of your items. Our specialists will review them and respond with an initial auction assessment.

3. Home Visits

For larger collections, house contents and items that are difficult to transport, we offer home valuation visits throughout Devon and Cornwall.

Please contact us or call 01752 254740 to discuss your requirements.

4. WhatsApp & Video Valuations

Send photographs or a short video directly to us via WhatsApp on 07432 056261 for an initial assessment.

We can also arrange a video consultation where appropriate. Please email info@plymouthauctions.co.uk or call 01752 254740.

A reserve is the confidential minimum price at which an item may be sold.Our specialists will recommend an auction estimate based on current market conditions and, where appropriate, agree a reserve with you before the sale.Please note that we do not accept reserves on lots valued below £100.The auctioneer may exercise discretion to sell a lot up to 10% below the agreed reserve.In certain circumstances, a charge may apply to items that remain unsold due to a higher reserve. Any such charge would be discussed and agreed with you beforehand.

Selling Commission

Our standard selling commission is 18% plus VAT, calculated on the hammer price.

For Swarovski crystal, our standard commission is 20% plus VAT.

We are happy to discuss individually tailored commission rates for higher-value items and larger collections.

A £5 processing fee per lot also applies. All charges will be explained and agreed before your items are entered for auction.

Insurance

Items in our care are insured against all risks at the midpoint of their auction estimate.

Settlement

Payment to sellers is normally made within 21 days of the auction, by bank transfer or cheque if preferred, provided the buyer has paid in full.

If a buyer fails to pay, we will contact you to discuss the next steps in accordance with our Conditions of Sale.

If a lot does not sell during an auction, there will be a nominal fee at the auctioneer’s discretion. As per these terms, we charge a fee of £10 for premium individual lots and £5 for multiple lots.