Terms & Conditions

General Conditions of Business

These Conditions apply to all sales conducted and services provided by AHJO Pty Ltd trading as Abbeys Group, Abbeys Auctions, Abbeys Property Services and Classic Moves (the Company) and any goods which are held by the Company for transport, valuation, storage or any other purposes.

Estimated Selling Range and descriptions

The company shall not be liable for any error, misstatement or omission in the description of a Lot in any Catalogue, unless the company (and its employees and agents) has engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct.

Warranties of Seller

The Seller warrants to the company and Buyer that:

1. the lot is free from all liens, charges, encumbrances and third party claims including a claim by a spouse.
2. the lot and any written provenance given by the Seller to the Company is authentic.

The Seller has notified the company in writing of:

1. any material alterations to the Lot of which the Seller is aware
2. any concerns expressed by third parties in relation to authenticity, provenance, origin, age, condition or quality of the Lot
3. all information in the Seller’s possession as to the provenance and identification of the Lot and that the information is correct
4. the Seller acknowledges that the company relies on any information provided by the Seller and the Seller agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the company against all Claims arising out of or in connection with this information.

Estimated Starting Price and descriptions, including unsold lots

Auction estimates are provided as a guide only. In some cases, it will not be possible to advise vendors of an estimate prior to auction (eg high volume small items, mixed boxes, paintings requiring research, etc). In these instances, goods will receipted with an estimate of Fair Market Value (FMV) and will be further assessed at the time of preparing lots for auction. The company shall not be liable for any error, misstatement or omission in the description of a Lot in any Catalogue, unless the company (and its employees and agents) has engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct. All items will be sold at best price on the day of auction.

If an item fails to sell at auction, it’s starting price will be reduced in subsequent auctions based on market demand, until an unsold lot is sold. If fees are greater than value, goods will be determined to be of No Commercial Value (NCV) and will be donated or disposed of at Abbeys cost. There will be no notice given to vendors regarding this action.

Reserves

Our aim is to achieve the best price possible for your items and we believe that a public auction is a good way to be sure of the true market value

We accept reserves for items over $500. Reserves for items over $500 must be agreed in writing by the auctioneer.

1. it may only be changed with the written consent of the company although the company may at its own discretion consent to an oral request for a reduction (but not an increase)
2. only the Auctioneer may place a bid on behalf of the Seller,
3. neither the Seller nor any person on the Sellers behalf may bid on the lot,
4. if the Auctioneer is of the opinion that the Seller or a person on the Seller’s behalf may have bid on the Lot, the Auctioneer may knock down the Lot to the Seller without observing the Agreed Reserve and the Seller shall pay the company the Premium in addition to the Seller’s Commission and Expenses.

If a Seller purports to place a reserve on a Lot but that reserve is not an Agreed Reserve, the company will sell the Lot without reserve unless the Seller withdraws the Lot from the Sale.

If there is no Agreed Reserve, the company shall not be liable if the Sale Price of the Lot is less than the Estimated Selling Range

Risk

The company’s own insurance will subsist until payment is made by the Buyer or, in the case of unsold Lots, until the expiry of 7 days after notice from the company requiring the Seller to collect the unsold Lot.

The company advises all Buyers to arrange for their own insurance cover for purchased Lots effective from the fall of the Auctioneer’s hammer to protect their interests as the company cannot warrant that the Seller has insured it’s interests in the Lots or that the company’s insurance cover will extend to all risks.

Payment to Seller

Payment will be available no earlier than ten working days after the sale of goods.  Payments option must be selected on the goods receipt.  Abbeys takes no responsibility for missing payments if incorrect EFT or address details are provided by the vendor.  Contact us for seller fees and payment advice.

The company is only liable to the Seller for payment of the Sale Proceeds if the Purchase Price has been received in cleared funds by the company.

If the full Purchase Price has been received in cleared funds by the company within 2 days of the date of the Sale, the company shall pay the Sale Proceeds, less any applicable fees and charges, to the Seller after 10 days.

If the company rescinds a Sale because the Lot is proved to it’s reasonable satisfaction to be a Forgery and the company has accounted to the Seller for the Sale Proceeds, the Seller must immediately refund the Sale Proceeds to the Company, which will then refund the Purchase Price to the Buyer and make the Lot available to the Seller for collection.

Fees and Charges

A Vendors Commission and other applicable fees and charges will be deducted from the sale proceeds.  Sorting fees may apply for large quantities of boxed goods

Postage for goods will incur a handling fee – contact us for details.  Payment for postage of goods must be received prior to despatch.  Some works of art may fall under the Government’s artists’ resale royalty scheme and as such attract a fee.  These fees will be paid directly to the royalty collection authority on the vendor’s behalf and deducted from auction proceeds.

Withdrawal Fees

A seller may only withdraw a Lot from sale by written notice signed by the Seller.

If a Seller withdraws a Lot from Sale after the date upon which the Lot has been catalogued for auction, the Seller shall pay the company any Expenses plus a withdrawal fee.

Contact us for further details on seller fees and payments.

If the Seller purports to change the Agreed Reserve at any time without the consent of the company, the Seller shall be deemed to have withdrawn the Lot from sale.

The Buyer

The auction (live or computerised) lot will be sold at the discretion of Abbeys Auctions, subject to any Agreed Reserve. Any dispute may be determined by the Auctioneer at his or her absolute discretion and the decision of the Auctioneer shall be final. Every bidder shall be deemed to act as principal unless prior to the commencement of the Sale there is a written acceptance by the company that the bidder is acting on behalf of a third party and that the bidder is not personally liable.

New bidders are automatically allocated a bidding limit of $2000; if you require a higher limit, please contact the company.

All bids placed at timed or live auctions, including the pre-bidding period, are final and subject to buyer’s terms and conditions.

Buyers Premium

In addition to the hammer price, the buyer agrees to pay Abbey’s Auctions the buyer’s premium together with any additional taxes in the place of sale.

Refer to Appendix 1 for Table of Fees

Buyers to satisfy themselves

Lots are sold on an “as is” basis and it is the responsibility of prospective Buyers to examine a Lot prior to the Sale and to satisfy themselves as to the condition of the Lot and that the Lot matches any written or oral description provided by the Seller or the company.

If a Lot is proved to the reasonable satisfaction of the company to be a Forgery then the company may rescind the Sale as agent of the Seller in which case the Seller shall refund the Sale Proceeds to the company, which will refund the Purchase Price to the Buyer and make the Lot available to the Seller for collection provided that:

1. the Buyer provides written notice to the company within 14 days of the auction date of the Forgery allegations
2. the Buyer produces evidence from two independent experts who both agree that the Lot is a Forgery, however, the company reserves the right to request further expert evidence if, in it’s sole discretion, it is not satisfied with the findings by the expert
3. the Buyer returns the Lot to the company in the same condition as it was at the date of the Sale.

Contract of Sale

Subject to the company’s discretion, on the acceptance of a bid by the fall of the hammer a contract of sale is made between the Seller and Buyer. The company is not a party to the contract of sale and shall not be liable for any breach of that contract by either the Seller or the Buyer.

Payment by Buyer

At the time that a prospective Buyer registers to bid he or she must give the company his or her name and address and, if requested by the company, banking or other suitable references or identification and an acknowledgement that they have read and agreed to be bound by these conditions.

The Purchase Price must be paid to the company not later than 2 business days after the Sale unless otherwise stated in Catalogue.

Full payment for all Lots must be made to the company by cash, electronic funds transfer or approved credit card. Phone Payments can only be processed if the total is under $1000. Where the Buyer wishes to pay by bank transfer, bank cheque, personal or company cheque, and the company has agreed that the Buyer may do so, a Lot will not be released until the cheque or transfer has cleared.

Collection of Purchases

All Lots must be paid for and collected within 2 business days after the Sale unless otherwise stated in the Catalogue. The Buyer shall be responsible for any removal, storage, or other charges for any Lots after this day.

Non-payment or failure to collect by Buyer

If the Purchase Price in respect of a Lot is not paid for in full the company may, after a period of 2 business days after the Auction (during which time the company will attempt to contact the Buyer), and in it’s absolute discretion and without prejudice to any other rights or remedies it may have, exercise one or more of the following remedies:

1. The Seller may re-sell the Lot on the Buyer’s behalf without reserve, by auction, private sale or other means, after notifying the Buyer. The Buyer agrees not to dispute the resale price achieved. Auction fees and charges will apply to the resale and will be payable by the Buyer.
2. Remove, store and further insure the Lot at the expense of the Buyer,
3. Charge interest on the Purchase Price (refer to Appendix 1) per month or part thereof from the date upon which the Purchase Price becomes payable until the full Purchase Price has been received by the company from a resale,
4. Retain any Lot sold to the Buyer at the same or any other auction until payment of the Purchase Price by the Buyer,
5. Apply the proceeds of the Sale of any Lot then due or at any time thereafter becoming due to the Buyer in payment or part payment of the Purchase Price,
6. Exercise a lien on or exercise a power of sale over any other property of the Buyer in the power, possession or control of the company,
7. Rescind the Sale of that Lot or any other Lot sold by the Seller to the Buyer at the same time or any other auction sale,
8. Repossess any goods comprising any Lot in respect of which payment is overdue and thereafter resell the same, and for this purpose the Buyer hereby grants an irrevocable license to the company to enter upon all or any of the Buyer’s premises (with or without vehicles) during normal business hours, without prejudice to any other rights of the company, issue legal proceedings against the Buyer
9. Reject a bid from the Buyer at any future auction sale or require the Buyer to pay a deposit before any bid is accepted by the company at any future Sale.

If the Lot is not collected, the company may, after a period of two days (during which time the company will attempt to contact the Buyer), and in it’s absolute discretion and without prejudice to any other rights or remedies it may have, exercise one or more of the following remedies:

1. Remove, store and further insure the Lot at the expense of the Buyer,
2. Rescind the Sale of that Lot or any other Lot sold by the Seller to the Buyer at the same or any other auction sale,
3. The Seller may re-sell the Lot on the Buyer’s behalf without reserve, by auction, private sale or other means, after notifying the Buyer. The Buyer agrees not to dispute the resale price achieved. Auction fees and charges will apply to the resale and will be payable by the Buyer.

The Buyer shall pay all reasonable legal and other costs reasonably incurred by the company or the Seller (whether or not Court proceedings shall have been issued) as a result of the Buyer’s non-payment for and/ or failure to collect a Lot, on a full indemnity basis, together with interest thereon at the rate specified above (3% per month) from the date upon which the Buyer shall have become liable to pay costs.

Absentee or commission bids

The company is prepared to execute telephone bids in live auctions only on behalf of prospective Buyers at no charge on the condition that the prospective Buyer acknowledges that taking instructions by telephone in the course of an auction has inherent risks (such as miscommunication, misunderstanding or other problems caused by a telecommunications fault or failure including a mobile telephone connection falling out).

The company shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions in connection with the execution of absentee or telephone bids. All telephone bids will start at the lowest estimate given in the catalogue.

Electrical Goods – Buyers

No testing is undertaken of electrical items.  Buyer must have an electrician test before use.

Electrical Goods – Sellers

All electrical items must be in good working order, if faulty a surcharge will be levied for handling and disposal of faulty goods. (see Appendix 1)

Electrical Safety Act – 1998 Secondhand Danger

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT MAY BE FAULTY AND SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND TESTED BY A COMPETENT PERSON IN ACCORDANCE WITH AS/NZ 3760

MOTOR VEHICLES – LMCT 11384

NOT COVERED BY STATUTORY WARRANTY

Please inspect carefully and make your own enquiries as to the condition of motor vehicles. Vehicles to be sold at auction are without registration, roadworthy certificate or warranty.

1. Vehicles sold at this auction are NOT covered by Statutory Warranty under section 54 of the Motor Car Traders Act 1986. The trader has no duty under the Motor Car Traders 1986 to repair or make good any defects after delivery. The trader may have obligations under other legislation.
2. Vehicles NOT covered by the Statutory Warranty under section 54 of the Motor Car Traders Act 1986 are:
   • Used cars which are more than 10 years old or, which have been driven 160,000 or more
   • Motorcycles
   • Commercial vehicles
   • Cars bought at public auction
3. Licensed Traders may offer a warranty on vehicles which are not covered by Statutory Warranty under section 54 of the Motor Car Traders Act.

For most used cars, there is a 3 day cooling off period commencing on the day after signing the sale agreement. This reference to 3 days means 3 clear days not including Saturdays, Sundays or days that are wholly observed as Victorian public holidays. If a purchaser decides to cancel the sale agreement, the purchaser must notify the licenced trader in writing before the close of business on the third day. The licenced trader can withhold 1% of the purchase price or $100 whichever is the greater. The cooling off period applies to all used cars except commercial vehicles, used cars bought at public auction and vehicles sold to a body corporate.

ALCOHOL & LIQUOR PRODUCTS

Abbeys Auctions is licenced to auction Liquor products, licence no. 36155285

WARNING : Under the Liquor Reform Act 1998 it is an offence:
– To supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 Years (Penalty Exceeds $17,000)
– For a person under the age of 18 years to purchase or receive liquor (Penalty exceeds $700).

Internet bidding terms and conditions

Supplementary conditions for Online Bidders at our online bidding site are listed below:

AUCTION INFORMATION

Intending bidders need to be aware of the information about the Auction available from this web site, including auction times, product catalogue, Buyers premium, any other charges and times for inspection and collection of goods.

REGISTRATION

A bidder number system applies at Abbeys Auctions. All intending bidders are required to register online prior to bidding to obtain a bidder number.  As a bidder, you will need to complete the Online Bidder Registration Form, which is available after acceptance of the terms and conditions.

After registration you will receive an Online Bidder Number (Paddle number) confirmation and a password via email.

BUYERS PREMIUM AND OTHER CHARGES

In addition to the hammer price, the buyer agrees to pay Abbeys Auctions the Buyer’s Premium including GST.

Refer to Appendix 1 for Table of Fees

The Buyer’s Premium charge is applied to the hammer price after bidding concludes.  The Buyer’s Premium amount is specified in the Terms and Conditions and in the auction information. Other charges may also apply depending on your circumstances (eg: Packing and Postage, Delivery or Storage of uncollected goods).

INSPECTION

All items are sold AS IS, therefore viewing and prior inspection is highly recommended.  *Additional photographs, video viewing and condition reports are available for buyers not attending the auction room in person.

INTERNET SERVICE DISRUPTIONS

Bidders should be aware that the Internet may at times exhibit slow downs and outages that are outside of the control of both Abbeys Auctions and Interbid and that at these times it may not be possible to bid over the Internet at an auction.  Bidders are advised to place bids as early as possible and to use the bid stack to place a limit in advance of the auction of a lot and have the system bid for you.

AUCTIONEERS DISCRETION

Live auctions: The Auctioneers decision is final and there will be no negotiation after the fall of the hammer. The auctioneer has total discretion in choosing to accept a bid from the Internet or from the floor and may, without giving any reason, refuse to accept the bidding of any person or persons.

Timed online auctions:  Final acceptance is when an invoice is raised.

PARTIAL WEBCAST

At times, only part of the auction will be webcast for bidding over the internet so bidders need to check the above auction information to be sure they can bid over the internet for the all the lots they are interested in. Also any lots added late to the catalogue, or altered in the catalogue, or lots reoffered after failing to sell, will in general not be webcast for Internet bidding.

TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

Goods become the responsibility of the purchaser after the fall of the hammer, however goods cannot be removed until payment is made.

Online bidders are required to process payment and provide instructions for collection, storage or delivery as soon as possible after winning bids at auction via our online portal..

Purchases must be completed and goods removed within two working days of sale.

PURCHASE LIMITS

Internet bidders can have various values on purchase limits, this limits how much you can spend at an auction. You can check your purchase limit by logging in to an auction.

The standard purchase limit is $5,000, if you think you need a higher limit please contact Abbeys Auctions no later than 24 hours before the auction to have your limit increased by Abbeys Management.

JURISDICTION

This site is governed by the laws of the State of Victoria, Australia.

ACCEPTANCE

By accepting these terms and conditions and bidding online you warrant that you are at least 18 years of age and able to enter a legally binding contract, that you will be financially responsible for your use of the Interbid auction system and that you will be responsible for any usage by minors or any other party of these auction services under your name or account. So please guard your password like you would a pin number on a bank account and do not leave your computer unattended while logged into the system.

By accepting these terms and conditions you give permission to Abbeys Auctions to use the supplied address and other details for verification purposes and to contact you regarding upcoming auction activity.

APPENDIX 1: FEES

Fees and Charges correct as at 14 November 2024

Buyer Fees

• Buyer’s Premium: 24% of hammer price incl. GST
• Pack & Despatch Service:  contact us for postage / delivery quote

Seller Fees

A vendors commission, lot fees and any other applicable charges will be deducted from auction proceeds.Vendor’s Commission:  By negotiation for large volume or high value consignments.  Contact us for a confidential discussion

• Lotting / Listing Fee:  $11.00
• Withdrawal fee:  24% prior to publication; 48% after publication

Payment to Seller

• EFT or cheque handling fee: $5.00
• Lost or replacement cheques:  $20.00