Buyers FAQ

How to find out about Fellows' sales

Our complete sale diary is available online. If you are interested in finding out more about upcoming auctions and events, please take the time to register for our email alerts.

Should you require a current or back issue of any catalogue please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or alternatively telephone 0121 212 2131, our archives are also available to search online.

Are your auction sales open to the public?

Our auctions are open to both trade and the general public.

How can I find more information on the lot I am interested in?

Pre auction viewings are an excellent way to see and handle the lot you are interested in, viewings usually begin two days prior to the sale, Selected lots are available to view between extended opening hours with our specialist staff on hand to answer any of your queries.

What if I am not able to attend a pre auction viewing?

A condition report can be provided on the lot you are interested in if you are unable to attend pre auction viewings. Many of our lots already have condition reports available on the web site. Any requests for condition reports must be sent to us by 4pm the day before the sale, you can request condition reports on line or by telephoning 0121 212 2131, or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fellows strongly advises all potential purchasers to request a Condition Report before placing a bid. Statements in the catalogue regarding the condition of lots in this sale may appear in the description, however, the absence of such a reference does not imply that a lot is in a perfect or near perfect condition, or completely free from wear or imperfection so a full Condition Report is very useful to potential buyers when deciding what to bid.

How can I place a bid?

After viewing or requesting a condition report, and deciding you would like to bid on an item, you first need to register with us. This will only take two minutes and can be done online. To register in person you will be asked to provide your name, full address and proof of identification, either a driving license or passport. We can also take bids over the telephone.

Why do I have to register before I can attend one of your auctions?

Registration is required for VAT purposes and is a legal requirement for Health and Safety purposes. Our administration team also need certain details for invoicing purposes.

How do I follow the bidding on the lots in the auction?

The bidding process is regulated by the auctioneer and each bid normally increases by anything from £10 to £100s depending on the starting price. The selling price is determined by the reserve and any other bids that the auctioneer may have from other potential buyers either in the auction room, a written bid, on the telephone, or bidding live via the internet. A bid may be made at any stage if you are in the auction room by attracting the attention of the auctioneer with a hand or head signal. The auctioneer's decision is final and is a legally binding contract.

Inevitably, there may be occasions when the maximum bids of any of the potential buyers from the above categories will be exactly the same, and the auctioneer has to decide which buyer’s bid he or she accepts. It is not the practice at Fellows for the auctioneer to use the knowledge of a commission bid to force an extra bid out from another bidder but only to match it.Therefore a commission bid may be equalled by a ‘live bid’ from a buyer in the auction room, on the phone or by the internet, and the commission bid will lose. In the event of a bid from the phones or the internet equalling the bid from a buyer in the auction room, the auctioneer will accept the bid from the auction room.

What are the bidding increments?

Inevitably, there may be occasions when the maximum bids of any of the potential buyers from the above categories will be exactly the same, and the auctioneer has to decide which buyer’s bid he or she accepts. It is not the practice at Fellows for the auctioneer to use the knowledge of a commission bid to force an extra bid out another bidder but only to match it. Therefore a commission bid may be equalled by a ‘live bid’ from a buyer in the auction room, or on the phone, or by the internet, and the commission bid will lose. The auctioneers at Fellows will try to follow a set of proscribed increments when taking bids. This means that a potential buyer should therefore know what the next bid will be.

When placing absentee bids please note that your bids will be rounded to the nearest value according to the increments below:

£50 - £100 - £5 increments

£100 - £200 - £10 increments

£200 - £1000 - £20 increments

£1000 - £10,000 - £100 increments

Over £10,000 - £1000 increments

The auctioneer will use his or her discretion to decide whether to accept any bid that falls in between these increments (sometimes known as ‘a split bid’). In the event of a split bid being left with the auctioneer to execute (i.e. a commission bid) the auctioneer may at his or her discretion increase this bid to the next full increment.

What if I can not attend the auction?

There are several ways to bid for an item at auction if you are unable to attend the sale. We can arrange for you to bid by telephone for lots with lower estimate in excess of £100. You are requested to arrange this with Wendy Butler by 4pm the day before the sale. This is a discretionary service and lines are not guaranteed. All telephone bids are recorded during the sale.

You can also leave a commission bid requesting Fellows & Sons bid on your behalf up to the maximum amount you have assigned to each lot. Commission bids can be placed online by registering on the web site. Commission bidding forms are available to pick up at pre auction viewings and are printed at the back of our catalogues.

Fellows also offer live bidding through the-saleroom. Visit: www.the-saleroom.com/fellows. There are no additional fees for using this service. (Buyer's premium applies)

What are the conditions of Buying?

Fellows recommend that all bidders and buyers read our conditions of buying and buyers premium available online or at the back of our catalogues.

The buyer shall pay:
On the first £50,000 of the Hammer Price (of any individual lot) the buyer will pay the hammer price and a premium of 17.5% (plus VAT) or 21% (inclusive of VAT)

On the excess over £50,000 of the hammer price (of any individual lot), the buyer will pay the hammer price and a premium of 10% (plus VAT) or 12% (inclusive of VAT).

Items marked with * contain VAT at 20% on the hammer price.

The seller authorises Fellows to retain beneficially the premium payable by buyers.

When do I pay VAT?

Most goods at auction do not carry VAT - either coming from non-registered VAT sources or being sold under the Margin Scheme rules. At Fellows any item with VAT on top of the hammer price is marked with an asterisk. VAT is payable on all charges such as Buyer's Premium, Vendors' Commission, Insurance, Photography etc.

I am not a UK resident - do I have to pay VAT?

Certain items within our sales are subject to VAT. Those items which have VAT on the hammer price are marked in our catalogues with a star. Under certain circumstances it is possible for the VAT applied to the hammer price to be removed for export purposes, subject to documentary evidence. However, VAT, which is applied to the Buyer's Premium, cannot be removed and must be paid in all circumstances. For any further queries on VAT issues, please contact Sandra Ford on 0121 212 2131 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

After the sale, how do I find out if my bid has been successful?

To find out if you have been successful please contact Fellows on 0121 212 2131, or look online, auction results are posted on the web site shortly after the completion of the sale. (Secondhand Jewellery & Watch Auctions are not included).

How can I pay for my item?

We accept VISA, MasterCard, Switch, Solo, Delta, cheques and cash.

Unfortunately, we do not currently accept Paypal or any other similar online payment system.

In order to avoid delay in clearing purchases, buyers unknown to Fellows & Sons are advised to make arrangements for payment prior to the sale. If prior arrangements are not made, cheques will be cleared before purchases are made available for collection. Please see our full terms and conditions for further details

Please note that we only accept payments in Pounds Sterling, payments in any other currency will be returned to you, and you must not send cash through the post. There will be a surcharge of 1.5% when paying using a credit card but there is no charge for using a debit card. If paying by cheque please allow 5 working days for your cheque to clear through the Banking system. Secure payment facilities are available on our Payment Page. For further details please contact Wendy Butler on 0121 212 2131 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Is it possible to have my item posted to me?

Buyers who wish to have items posted will incur a charge to include postage, packing and insurance. We are happy to quote for this service.

Due to the size and vulnerability of the items in our Antique & Later Furniture and Silver auctions, we are unable to post out these items "in house". We do, however recommend a selection of packaging and shipping companies.

For national and international deliveries, we suggest:

IJK Couriers
07917 500522
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Alban Shipping
01582 493 099
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.albanshipping.co.uk

Please note: Items purchased will not be dispatched without payment received.

What do I do if I want to make a complaint?

Fellows & Sons pride ourselves on our excellent customer service and our strength lies in the relationships we have built over the years with buyers and vendors. If for any reason you are unhappy about any part of our service and wish to make a complaint please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will do our utmost to resolve any issues.

Important Information for Prospective Buyers of Diamonds and other Gemstones

Note 1 – Coloured Gemstones

Historically, many coloured gemstones have been subjected to a variety of treatments designed to enhance their appearance. Certain enhancement methods, such as heating, are routinely used to improve colour or transparency in rubies and sapphires. Other methods, such as oiling, enhance the clarity of emeralds. The international jewellery trade has generally accepted these methods. Other coloured gemstones may have undergone other permanent or semi-permanent treatments such as dyeing, irradiation, coating and impregnation, possibly requiring further re-treatment in order to retain their appearance. Prospective purchasers should assume that all gemstones will have been treated unless statements are made to the contrary. Gemmological reports from internationally recognised Gemmological Laboratories will be noted in the item description where available.

Note 2 – Diamonds

Recent advancements in technology have led to some diamonds being treated in a variety of ways designed to enhance their appearance. These treatments can include fracture filling, laser drilling, irradiation and coating, and whilst all efforts are made to identify such treatments, it is not possible for Fellows to guarantee that all lots containing diamonds are free of these enhancements. Fellows do not knowingly offer treated diamonds for sale, unless of a gemmological report disclosing the type of treatment has been obtained from an internationally recognised Gemmological Laboratory, and stated within the item description. Diamond grades for colour and clarity (see tables below) where printed are intended as guides for prospective purchasers, with the given limitations of mounts and settings, and are not guaranteed by Fellows.

Diamond Grading Terms

Diamond Colour

Clarity