FAQ's
Sellers pay NO COMMISSION on lots selling for £5,000 and over
When are auctions held at Shapes?
Auctions are usually held on the first Saturday of the month.
When can I bring my items in for valuation/sale?
Sellers can bring in items for sale or advice from Monday to Friday 9 until 5pm. Home visits can also be arranged. (Ten (10) days before the sale to be included in the catalogue)
When do I receive my statement/catalogue?
Sellers receive a catalogue and statement one (1) week before the auction.
When can I view items for sale at the forthcoming auction?
Sales are on view 2 days prior with a late view until 7pm on Thursday, 8:30 - 9:45 am on the day of the sale and 4:00pm on Friday.
What is the hammer commission after sale?
We take 1.18% for insurance and 18% commission for handling the transaction, plus VAT on the commission. Special terms are sometimes offered for important lots or collections.
How are sale items catalogued/presented before and at sale?
Lots are written up in the catalogue, published on the internet and an image is displayed on the screen on the day of the sale.
How are sellers paid?
Sellers are paid by cheque, net of expenses of sale.
This will be my first visit to shapes‚ how can I bid at auction?
Buyers must have a paddle number these can be re-used at each sale and are issued at the cashier's kiosk.
Roughly how quickly do you sell items on the auction day?
We sell at around 120/150 lots per hour in numerical order.
What are the premiums charged for buyers at auction?
Buyers pay the hammer price, plus a premium of 18% plus VAT on the commission.
When can I collect items purchased at auction?
If you pay cash or card the day of the sale you can uplift immediately, cheques must be cleared before pickup. Items must be paid for within five (5) days of the auction and collected within ten (10) days - otherwise storage charges may apply. Please bring your own packaging when collecting.