How to Buy

All the information you need for how to buy with Hutchinson Scott. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Bidding

Please make your bids clear to the auctioneer and, if successful, ensure that your number can be seen and is called out by the auctioneer. If there is any doubt about either the price or the buyer, please bring this to the attention of the auctioneer immediately. We sell approximately 80–100 lots per hour, but this should be treated as a guideline only.

Our live auctions also allow you to bid online as the sale is in progress — register on this website to bid directly with us.

Buyer’s premium & VAT

A buyer’s premium of 25% plus VAT at the standard rate (30% inclusive of VAT) is added to the hammer price of each lot, except for motor vehicles, where a premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15%) is added. Where a lot is marked with a (#) in the catalogue, VAT is also payable on the hammer price. Lots marked AR may be subject to the Artist’s Resale Right royalty where the hammer price exceeds the sterling equivalent of €1,000.

Estimates & condition reports

Estimates are prepared in advance of the sale, do not include the buyer’s premium (or VAT when this is paid on the hammer price) and are purely a guide. All prospective buyers are encouraged to view the sale; where this is not possible, Hutchinson Scott will provide condition reports without charge. The absence of reference to the condition of any lot does not imply the lot is free from faults or imperfections. Saleroom notices supersede catalogue descriptions.

Absentee & telephone bids

If you are unable to attend we will be pleased to make commission bids on your behalf or take bids over the telephone. Commission bids are timed and where bids are identical the earliest bid takes precedence. Telephone lines are subject to availability and require a minimum lower estimate of £300; telephone bids must be received and clarified by email before 5pm on the day preceding the auction.

Payment & clearance

Payment must be received in full within seven days of the sale to avoid storage costs, and items cannot be removed until payment has cleared. Debit cards are accepted with no surcharge; credit cards are NOT accepted. For bank transfer details please see your invoice. Lots should be cleared from Embsay Mill within 7 days; we will endeavour to allow clearance whilst the sale is in progress, but this cannot be guaranteed.