BUYING INFORMATION
1. Pook & Pook’s auctions are open to the public. Buying at auction is easy and our knowledgeable staff is available Monday through Friday to assist you with any questions you may have about bidding at auction (please call (610) 269-4040 or email us at info@pookandpook.com with any questions).
2. There are four ways to bid through Pook & Pook: in person, absentee bids, bidding by telephone and internet bidding through Bidsquare. Please keep in mind that phone, absentee and internet bidding should be arranged, and registration confirmed, well before the start of each auction session.
3. The final sale price is the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium (and any applicable sales tax). At Pook & Pook, the buyer’s premium is 22% (see Conditions of Sale, 25% if bidding through Bidsquare).
4. Pook & Pook holds several different kinds of auctions. Our Period Furniture, Fine Art and Decorative Accessories Auctions include antique furniture, fine art, folk art, oriental carpets, porcelain, and period accessories. The items in these auctions carry a limited guarantee which protects bidders from any major discrepancies in the description that affect the value of the item(s) purchased (see Terms of Guarantee). Our Decorative Arts Sales feature a range of items including furniture, art and accessories, which are sold as is with no guarantees. Our Decorative Arts Sales are fun and fast paced and offer bidders the opportunity to take home unique pieces at reasonable prices.
5. When you come to Pook & Pook, please be sure to bring your driver’s license and a major credit card for the purpose of opening an account with Pook & Pook and registering to bid.
6. When bidding at auction you have entered into a contract, which means that if you are a successful bidder, you are required to pay for them. It is therefore important that you inspect all items before you make a purchase (look at the image, read the description, review the condition report, inspect the item in person if possible and, if you still have questions, please submit a request to conditions@pookandpook.com or give one of our experts a call at (610) 269-4040 and we’ll be happy to assist you). We endeavor to be fair and forthright with our descriptions and condition reports, however we ask that bidders acknowledge that antique items often show normal signs of use and wear consistent with age that may not be specified in a condition report. If you have expectations of perfection in the items you purchase, it is advisable that you inspect lots in person and that you do not submit absentee bids as your definition of condition may be more exacting than an appraiser could have time to verify (see Conditions of Sale for more information or click on the Condition/Photo Request Form to ask a question).
7. We sell about 100 lots per hour during our Period Furniture, Fine Art and Decorative Accessories Auctions and about 150 lots per hour during our Decorative Arts Sales. When the auctioneer says “sold”, title of the lot passes to the high bidder. In the case of a dispute, the auctioneer’s decision is final.
8. Once you have made a purchase at our auction house, you can pay for it with cash, check, bank check, money order or bank wire transfer (see Payments page for more detailed information). Major credit cards are also accepted, however, there is a 3% surcharge to pay with a credit card. Once payment is received our staff will retrieve your purchase, or, if you are not attending the auction in person, release your purchase to the shipper of your choice. We do ask that anyone purchasing large items call ahead to make sure we have someone available to assist you with loading your purchase. All items must be paid for within 10 days of the day of sale and picked up within two weeks of the day of sale (see Payment and Shipping for more information).
