Goods to be entered in a Sale are accepted subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. Goods must be delivered to the Sale Rooms by the Vendor no later than the published closing date for the anticipated sale and only delivered on designated bringing-in days.  N.B. Cottees Auctions Limited can arrange for the collection and the delivery of Vendor’s goods to the Sale Rooms by prior arrangement, collection charges will be levied for this service at that time in addition to sale charges.

2. All goods submitted for sale must be owned by the Vendor or the Vendor must have the authority of the owner to sell the goods on their behalf.

3. A Vendor’s ID must be obtained from the Office before any goods can be accepted. Cottees cannot be responsible for non labelled items.

4. Details of all goods to be sold must be listed by one of our Assistants on an Entry Form. 

5. N.B. Whilst Cottees Auctions Limited makes reasonable efforts to correctly catalogue Vendors’ goods they accept no responsibility for incorrectly catalogued goods.

6. Cottees Auctions Limited reserve the right to separate or combine items submitted for sale by a Vendor into such lots as deemed, by Cottees Auctions Limited, to be in the best interest of both parties.

7. Where goods are assets of a Vendor’s business which is registered for VAT purposes details of the VAT particulars must be advised in writing to Cottees Auctions Limited.

8. Cottees Auctions Limited reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any goods, especially those deemed by Cottees Auctions Limited to be unsuitable for sale or un-saleable.

9. No electrical items can be sold without having first been tested for electrical safety and must be fitted with a safety plug. A fee of £2 per item is charged for electrical safety testing.

10. No foam filled furniture manufactured before 1989 can be sold by Cottees Auctions Limited.

11. Reserve Prices. If possible reserve prices should be agreed with our Auctioneers or Staff at the time of delivery or prior to the Auction. Reserve prices below £10 cannot be accepted. Cottees Auctions Limited reserves the right to sell any item attracting a bid within 10% of the Reserve. An Offering Fee of £2 each will be charged on Reserve priced goods not-sold.

12. Cottees Auctions Limited reserve the right to charge Vendors full Buyer's Fees and Charges when, by accident or design, Vendors successfully bid for their own goods under hammer. N.B Charges and fees will be applied at the discretion of Cottees and are subject to change at any time.

13. Payments:- Auction proceeds will normally be available within 14 days of the sale, except when a Purchaser’s payment has not cleared.

    < £10 - Vendors with payments of less than £10 will be expected to collect their payments in cash from our Office.

    ³ £10 - Vendors with payments of £10 and over will be posted a cheque to settle their payment.

    N.B. Cottees Auctions Limited reserve the right to make payments by cheque or cash at their discretion.

14. Not-Sold Goods
    Any goods not-sold in a sale may be sold in the next suitable sale, or disposed of if deemed unsaleable, unless removed from the Sale Rooms by the Vendor the day following the auction.   White goods i.e. cookers, fridges, TVs, computers etc. will be subject to a £25 deposit charge when the goods are left with us, this deposit will be returned if the item is sold, or if not sold when the Vendor collects the unsold item (no later than the Friday following the Auction).

15. Any item with a Reserve which is not-sold, may be entered into the next suitable sale with the Reserve automatically reduced by 15% unless Cottees Auctions Limited is informed otherwise. Goods remaining unsold after two auctions will be "disposed of" unless collected by the Vendor the day following the auction without exception.

16. No items offered for sale in the outside areas of Cottees or the Old Produce hall will be catalogues or described in detail before being offered for sale. All goods will be sold "as seen".
17. All goods offered for sale in the main Antiques and Collectables section of the auction including Poole Pottery, Model Railway and Special auctions will be described and included in a detailed printed catalogue.
18. Details of these items will be included in a printed Vendor's sales invoice.
19. Goods for auction can only be accepted and lotted in in the presence of a Cottees staf member. Goods collected from a Vendor's house will be sorted and lotted by a cottees staff member on arrival at Cottees Auctions Limited.
20. Sale and Other Charges are applicable as follows:-

a) An Entry Fee of £2 per lot per sale.

b) A Commission of 15% will be charged on the hammer value.

c) Electrical Safety Test £2 as applicable.

d) VAT will be added to all charges and fees .

N.B. All charges and fees will be applied at the discretion of Cottees Auctions Limited and are subject to change at any time.