Selling at Auction
Valuations:
How can I get my items valued?
You can submit a valuation request online, send information and photos to us via post or visit us at one of our offices.
If you would like a postal valuation, please give as much information as possible and include:
- Photograph of the whole item
- Photograph of the front and back
- Photograph of any hallmarks/marks or inscriptions
- Indication of the size (We find it helpful if you use a ruler or pound coin to show scale)
- Weight in grams (You can use kitchen scales)
- Additional information such as documentation or provenance
What are your charges and fees?
Our seller's commission charge is 15% (plus VAT).
A marketing fee is charged at £10 (plus VAT) per lot.
There is also a loss/liability charge of 1.5% (plus VAT) per lot.
How do I bid on a lot?
To bid on a lot, first ensure you have an online account with Fellows. Once you do, simply click ‘Place Bid’ and enter your bid amount.
How do your valuations compare to insurance valuations?
Although we take into consideration the details from the insurance document, an insurance valuation is for like-for-like replacement value rather than the resale value of the item. As such, the value we would expect an item to achieve at auction is usually significantly lower than the value for insurance.
How do I get my items to you?
You can visit one of our offices or post the items to us at:
Fellows Auctioneers
Augusta House
19 Augusta Street
Birmingham
B18 6JA
Please include your name, address and telephone number.
When should I expect to receive my cheque?
Our cheques are dispatched on or before the 15th working day after the sale. If you prefer to be paid by bank transfer, please let us know.
Buying at auction
Before the auction
How can I contact a specialist?
You can learn more about our team here. Select the relevant department and click 'contact' below the appropriate name to send a message to the specialist.
What ID do I need?
We need to see two documents; proof of identity and proof of address.
This two-stage approval process is to verify your identity and protect against cyber fraud.
Forms of identification needed:
1 – Proof of identity
Driver’s license (UK residents only)
OR
Passport (non-UK residents)
2 – Proof of address (this must be in the bidder’s name and match the address on file)
Utility bill
OR
Bank statement
What happens to my ID once it’s been approved?
In line with government legislation, we delete it once we have completed our checks.
How can I receive a printed catalogue?
You can pick up printed catalogues at either our Birmingham or London office, call us on 0121 212 2131 to arrange a catalogue subscription. Please note that there is a cost involved for this subscription. All of our catalogues are available free of charge on the website and can be downloaded as PDFs.
Bidding
How can I place a bid?
You can participate in the auction in a number of ways:
- In person at our Birmingham saleroom
- On the telephone. A member of our team will bid on your behalf while talking you through the process
- Using our online bidding platform.
- By leaving an absentee or commission bid. You specify a maximum amount and the auctioneer will bid on your behalf up to that amount. This can be done online.
After the auction
Why is my invoice total different to the amount I bid?
When you place a bid on an item, the hammer price does not include Buyer's Premium.
What is the Buyer’s Premium?
On the first £100,000 of the Hammer Price (of any individual lot) the buyer will pay the hammer price and a premium of 25% (plus VAT) or 30% (inclusive of VAT)
On the excess over £100,001 of the hammer price (of any individual lot), the buyer will pay the hammer price and a premium of 15% (plus VAT) or 18% (inclusive of VAT).
Please check the additional surcharges for live bidding across the different platforms.
How do I pay?
You can pay securely online, by cheque, by bank transfer, in person or by telephone. Find out more about Payment and Shipping options.
I get this error message when I try to make a payment online
I'm sorry we can't find that invoice, please try again.
This could be an error with inputting the invoice number. Please be aware that the first two digits of your sales invoice are the letters SI (Sierra, Indigo), the remainder are numbers.
How long will I have to wait for my items?
For larger items please allow up to 6 working days after successful payment for dispatch. Smaller items will usually be sent within 3 working days following completion of payment. All UK are sent via a next-working-day service.
I have moved house or have a different address than the one where my payment card is registered. What should I do?
If you have recently moved or wish to have your items sent to a different address, please contact us prior to the auction. We cannot accept alternative addresses for first-time buyers and your items will be sent to the address on the ID/payment card. If you pay by bank transfer we can ship to any worldwide address of your choice.
How much did a lot in a previous auction sell for?
You can view past auction results by using the online archive. You will need a My Fellows account to use this service.
Can I return an item that I don’t like?
Refunds will not be given for “buyer's remorse”. This does not affect your statutory rights. Goods purchased through public auction are exempt from the Right to Cancel, as per The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.
If, when you have received it, there is an issue with the item you have purchased please get in touch with us.
Postage
What are the postage costs?
We are delighted to be able to offer our customers free worldwide shipping on the majority of the items we auction, subject to our T&C's which can be found here.
Please note, you can collect your items for free from either of our offices. Please get in touch if you would like your items delivered free of charge to our London office.
What delivery service do you use?
We use Royal Mail as standard. For some invoices, including heavier items or overseas addresses, another courier or postal service may be used
Are my items insured?
All of the parcels we send out are insured. Please speak to a member of the team if you have any questions.
What happens if my items are damaged in the post?
Please let us know as soon as possible. We will log a claim with the service used to ship your items. Claims can take up to 3 months to process.
I have bought a large item from one of your sales, can you post this to me?
Unfortunately, we cannot post items over 2kg. Please contact us for details of couriers that will package and deliver the items to you if needed.
I have bought an item that contains glass and am unable to collect. What should I do?
We are normally unable to post items that contain glass. Please contact us for details of couriers that will package and deliver the items to you if needed.
If you would like us to post items that contain glass, we require a damage disclaimer from you. Please get in touch to arrange this.
Why are there customs charges?
Customs charges are a mandatory fee for many buyers outside of the UK. Please refer to your government’s policies on importing goods from the United Kingdom.
My Fellows Account
How do I change my account password?
Your password can be changed by logging into your My Fellows account and selecting ‘Login Details’ . From here you can click the ‘Change Password’ button.
How do I change the email address on my account?
Please get in touch with a member of the team to arrange this.
How can I change which emails I receive?
You can update your email preferences by logging into your My Fellows account and selecting 'My Account'.
Where can I see my bids and invoices?
You can see all of your bids and invoices by logging into your My Fellows account and selecting 'My Bids'.
Can I see the progress of the items I am selling?
You can keep track of the items you are selling by logging into your My Fellows account and selecting 'My Consignments'.
