Buying FAQs
Are catalogues available?
Our catalogues are online approximately 1 week before the date of sale and can be viewed through our website or through Invaluable www.invaluable.com. Please subscribe through the link on our homepage to be notified when catalogues are available online. Printed listings can also be obtained from our rooms during the auction viewing.
Are Condition Reports available?
Condition reports are available on request. This service is free of charge. Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. All lots are open for inspection prior to sale and are sold with all faults if any. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in good condition. Davidson Auctions shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.
How can I bid?
Davidson Auctions offers four ways of bidding: In the room, Telephone bidding, Absentee bidding and Live Online bidding (via Invaluable).
For new clients, photographic identification must be provided in order to register. This should be in the form of government issued ID such as drivers licence or passport, with your name clearly defined as per your registration form.
Bidding in the room:
All clients intending to bid in the room are required to fill out a buyer registration form. Forms can be obtained by visiting our ‘Buying - Register to bid’ section on our website, or in person prior to the sale commencement.
Can I have someone else bid for me in the room?
A person bidding on behalf of someone else must supply a signed letter of authority from that person authorising him/her to bid on their behalf. The letter of authority must contain the full name and address details of both the bidder and the person they are bidding on behalf of. A buyer registration form must be filled out and signed by the person to be invoiced.
Do I need to register for each auction I want to bid in?
In order to bid in person, a signed buyer registration must be received and a bidder ID issued for each sale.
Can I phone bid on a lot?
Requests for phone bidding must be in writing, via email if possible, giving lot number/s, your name, address and phone number. A back up number is also advisable. Our phone bid form can be obtained through the ‘Buying - Register to bid’ menu tab on our website or by clicking HERE and can be mailed, faxed (+61 2 9423 8303) or emailed to bids@davidsonauctions.com.au. You will be notified by email if your request has been approved. Please note phone bids are offered as a service to our customers. Davidson Auctions will not be responsible for errors or failure to execute bids.
IMPORTANT NOTE: LOTS UNDER $300: For lots with a low range estimate of $300 or under, the auctioneer reserves the right to commence bidding on any phone bidders behalf at the low range estimate as listed in the catalogue.
What is an Absentee bid?
An Absentee bid is placing a bid before the auction begins, allowing us to bid on your behalf up to and including that amount. The Auctioneer will execute your bid at the lowest possible price, taking into account the reserve price and any competitive bidding. The amount you leave should be the maximum hammer price you are willing to pay for the item. At the end of an auction, if you are the highest bidder, you are the winner. As the winner of the auction, you only pay the lowest possible winning bid, not necessarily your maximum bid. If identical absentee bids are left by two or more parties, the first bid received by Davidson Auctions will take preference. NB: Absentee bids left through Davidson Auctions and Invaluable will not show on our website. They will actioned live on auction day when the lot comes up (not prior as with bids left on Invaluable that show as you go).
Can I leave absentee bids with you?
Yes, bids can be mailed, faxed (+61 2 9423 8303) or emailed to bids@davidsonauctions.com.au. Absentee bid forms can be obtained through the ‘Buying - Register to bid’ menu tab on our website or by clicking HERE. You will be notified by email if your request has been approved. Alternatively, absentee bids can be left by creating an account through our website and receiving a login. These bids will also be confirmed by email. Please note absentee bids are offered as a service to our customers. Davidson Auctions will not be responsible for errors or failure to execute bids.
Absentee bids can also be placed through Invaluable. Absentee bids left on Invaluable Live Auctions are not the same as bids left directly with Davidson Auctions. Invaluable Live Auction absentee bids are executed by Invaluable Live as and when the lot is being auctioned; and Davidson Auctions is not privy to the extent of your bid. Consequently, occasionally the situation may arise that the auctioneer acknowledges a floor bidder's bid before your Invaluable bid of the same amount can be applied. In such cases, the bid acknowledged by the auctioneer first will take precedence. The auctioneer's decision shall always be final. Any bids placed through Invaluable incur an additional 5% premium (in addition to our 22% buyer’s premium).
How do I register for live online bidding?
All live online bidding is via a third party platform, Invaluable.com. Clients wishing to bid through Invaluable will need to register with Invaluable directly. Please note, a fee of 5% on the hammer price will be added to the invoice for live bidding (in addition to our 22% buyer’s premium). Davidson Auctions will not be responsible for errors or failure to execute bids placed through Invaluable.
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If you do not yet have an Invaluable account, you'll need to create one before you can participate in any auctions on Invaluable. To get started, click Sign Up and enter the requested information.
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Go to the Upcoming Auctions page to see a list of all future sales.
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Click the Register to Bid link that is displayed beneath the Happening Now or View Items button for each sale.
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You are now on the Sign-In/Register page. If you already have an Invaluable account, enter your email address and password to continue to the registration page.
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Provide the information requested and be sure to check off the confirmation box at the bottom of the registration page to agree to the terms and conditions. Then click Register to Bid. Davidson Auctions will review your request to bid and notify you if you have been approved.
Are there additional charges?
Yes, there is a buyer’s premium of 22% of the hammer price, inclusive of GST (Goods and Services Tax) for domestic bidders, international bidders are also charged a 22% buyers premium (GST exclusive).
An additional fee of 5% on the hammer price will be added to the invoice for live bidding through Invaluable.
Payments made by credit card are subject to an additional service charge of 1% (Amex, Mastercard and Visa).
What is the Buyer’s Premium?
Davidson Auctions charges a Buyer’s Premium of 22% on the final hammer price of all lots. The Buyer’s Premium is paid to Davidson Auctions as an auctioneer’s fee.
I have forgotten my password for the Davidson Auctions website.
If you have forgotten your password, enter your registered email address and click on the 'Forgotten Your Login' button on our login page (please note you must use the email address you originally registered with). Your password will then be emailed to your registered email address. If it does not appear in your inbox please check your junk mail folder (this often takes 15-30 minutes). Failing this, you will need to create a new registration.
I need to change my bid, how do I do this?
Contact the office via email: bids@davidsonauctions.com.au or call +61 2 9423 8300 for further assistance. Any changes will not be effected until confirmed by email. (If you have placed a bid through Invaluable, any changes need to be made through Invaluable – we cannot change this for you as we are not privy to your login details).
I am having problems submitting my absentee bid/s online through your website.
Once you have created an online account, there will be a short wait before you can place absentee bids, for administrative purposes. If you are still experiencing difficulty please contact Davidson Auctions by phone (+61 2 9423 8300) or email ( bids@davidsonauctions.com.au).
I am having problems with live bidding through Invaluable.
Please click here to take the Invaluable live bidding tour. Technical support may be obtained by visiting Invaluable’s Help and FAQ section on their website: https://www.invaluable.com/invaluable/help.cfm or contacting their 24-hour customer care line:
From within Australia: (02) 8310-4003
From outside Australia: +1-617-746-9800
By email: customercare@invaluable.com
If you are still experiencing issues, please register an Absentee or Telephone Bid directly with us to avoid missing out.
(Please note; there is no live video or audio for our sales).
I have registered to bid through Invaluable but have not received approval yet.
Approval to bid through Invaluable is at Davidson Auctions discretion and will be granted on review of your application. Please note that any bids placed while you are in ‘Pending’ mode will not get presented to the auctioneer on sale day if you have not been approved by the time the lot comes up for auction.
When you have been approved to bid once with Davidson Auctions, Invaluable will automatically submit a request on your behalf for all future auctions. You'll be notified by email when your request to bid has been approved.
How many lots are sold per hour?
Lots are sold at the rate of 60 – 80 lots per hour, but it varies depending on the speed of the bidders and the type of sale.
What are your bidding increments?
Bid Range: Bidding will advance by:
|
From: |
To: |
Increment: |
|
AUD0 |
AUD199 |
AUD10 |
|
AUD200 |
AUD499 |
AUD25 |
|
AUD500 |
AUD999 |
AUD50 |
|
AUD1,000 |
AUD1,999 |
AUD100 |
|
AUD2,000 |
AUD4,999 |
AUD250 |
|
AUD5,000 |
AUD9,999 |
AUD500 |
|
AUD10,000 |
AUD19,999 |
AUD1,000 |
|
AUD20,000 |
AUD49,999 |
AUD2,000 |
|
AUD50,000 |
AUD99,999 |
AUD5,000 |
|
AUD100,000 |
AUD199,999 |
AUD10,000 |
|
AUD200,000+ |
AUD20,000 |
Where and when can I collect my lots?
Purchases may be collected in person from our Annandale rooms once payment has been received in full. We are open Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm.
Can I collect and pay for my lots when I finish bidding? (in room bidders)
We prefer lots to be paid for and collected on the day following the auction. However, if you need to collect and pay for your purchases during the auction you will need to wait until the auction details have been given to the office. Please allow approx 30-45 minutes after your last successful bid.
When will I receive my invoice?
Invoices will be emailed (or mailed if no email address has been given), within 1-2 days after the auction has ended, once the results have been verified. Please check your junk mail folder or call/email us if you have not received an invoice within the given time frame.
PLEASE NOTE: All goods must be paid for and collected within 3 working days of the auction unless otherwise stated by the auctioneer. Any goods not removed by the allotted time will incur storage and handling fees.
How do I pay for my items?
Payment for lots may be made in cash, bank or personal cheque*, direct deposit* and credit card (Payments made by credit card are subject to an additional service charge of 1%).
Instructions on the methods of payment will be included on your invoice.
Bank transfers should be directed to:
Davidson Auctions Pty Ltd, WBC
BSB: 032-267
Account no. 163323
International Swift Ref: WPACAU2S
(* Lots will be released to buyers once payment has been received and cleared through our bank account).
Davidson Auctions partners with Art Money to make it easier for you to purchase work at auction. Find out more.
Can you post my lots to me?
Unfortunately, we no longer provide in-house packing & postage for our auctions.
Our packing & freight partner is Pack and Send, Balmain. They will be happy to supply you with a competitive quote, with optional insurance on your purchase/s.
Assuming you are successful in your bid(s), you will be dealing with them/paying them directly for the cartage.
Their email is balmain@packsend.com.au, ph +61 2 8065 5385.
Alternate carriers are as follows:
For local artwork deliveries (Sydney metro):
Art Van Go (Sean):
0404 027 445
sean@artvango.com.au
For art deliveries Noosa - VIC:
Logiart Pty Ltd:
0448 456 841 (Karola)
logiart@outlook.com.au
Moving Art (Aidan Hill):
0409 211 077
aidan@movingart.com.au
For art deliveries to Melbourne/ VIC:
Artist Courier Service (Hilton):
0408 343 710
artcour@bigpond.net.au
For art deliveries to Canberra/ Melbourne/ VIC:
The Blue Mexican (Ben Sabel):
02 9816 3016
info@thebluemexican.com.au
Interstate / International deliveries:
Grace Fine Art:
1300 209 031
fineart@grace.com.au
You are, of course, welcome to make your own cartage arrangements if you prefer.
Important note for buyers re items containing ivory: international trade in ivory, or items containing ivory components, is restricted by the CITES convention and requires permissions from the relevant authorities in both Australia (in this instance) and in the country of destination. The sole responsibility for acquiring CITES paperwork & permissions resides with the buyer. Davidson Auctions offers no guarantee that such export permissions will be granted by the relevant authorities, nor will it seek such permissions on behalf of the buyer.
I am interested in an unsold lot.
Requests for unsold lots will not be considered until after the auction has ended. Requests should be made by email where possible.