Notices for buyer and seller

Notice for Buyers

Before you decided to purchase, you may browse through our auction catalogue on our website www.chritrs.com, or attend our auction previews which are free and open to the public to join, usually two-three days before auction.

How to bid:

Bidding
To bid in person, you will need to collect a numbered paddle at the registration before the auction begins. Please remember to bring your government-issued identity, such as a driving license or passport, with you. If you are a first-time bidder, you will also be asked for your address, telephone number.

To place your bid, simply raise your paddle until the auctioneer acknowledges you. You will know when your bid has been acknowledged; the auctioneer will not mistake a random gesture for a bid. The bidding increments are decided by the auctioneer, and will usually not exceed ten percent of the previous bid. The auctioneer will take increasing bids on each lot, until only one bidder remains. The final bidder will be the one who purchases the lot. Each lot will have a reserve, which is the confidential minimum selling price previously agreed with the seller. If the bidding fails to reach this price, the lot will remain unsold.

Absentee Bids
If you are unable to attend the auction in person, we will be happy to execute written bids on your behalf. This service is free and confidential.

Chritrs publishes an absentee bid form at the back of each catalogue and as a download on www.chritrs.com, which you may use to indicate the item upon which you wish to bid and the maximum bid amount you are willing to make. If you do not have an account yet, your will need to provide your information which required for registration with an absentee bid form, and we will contact you to confirm your identity.

Completed absentee bid forms should be returned to the bid department in our office conducting the auction, by fax (preferred), by post, or in person with any client service staff member.

When we execute an absentee bid on your behalf, the lot will always be bought for the lowest increment that exceeds all competing bids and which meets or exceeds the reserve price. In the event of identical bids, the earliest received will take precedence.

You may also use the Absentee Bid form to indicate more than one item that you wish to bid for, depending upon whether your earlier bid is successful  We are not able to execute "Buy" or unlimited bids.

Written and telephone bids are offered as an additional service with no extra charge, but at the buyer risk. Chritrs cannot accept liability for failure to place such bids. Successful absentee bidders will receive an invoice after the auction.

By Telephone Bids
For most auctions, you may also use the absentee bid form to register for telephone bidding. Based on the information you provided on the form, our representative will contact you from the saleroom prior to your specified lot(s) and will relay your bids to the auctioneer. As the number of telephone lines is limited, it is necessary to make arrangements for this service 24 hours before the sale, with additional advance warning for languages not native to the auction location.

Telephone bids are accepted at Chritrs sole discretion and at the prospective buyer risk. Telephone bidding lines are recorded for the security of both parties, and by bidding on the telephone prospective buyers consent.

Payment
You may pay with cash check, money order or wire transfer, depending on your preference.

You may pay for your purchase immediately after the auction by going to Purchaser Accounts or Cashiers, or an invoice will be mailed to you following the sale. If you pay by check, we ask for your patience as your purchase will be released upon notice that your check has cleared. Payments must come from the invoiced party only - We reserve the right to decline payments received from anyone other than the invoiced party.

Pickup and delivery
Upon payment, you may pick up your purchases at the auction location or arrange to have them shipped. All purchases should be picked up or shipped within ten business days after the auction. After that period, your property will be subjected to a handling charge and you may be charged for storage. If you are interested in shipping, our Art Transport staff will help you with shipping and insurance arrangements.

Buyer premium & tax
Buyer Premium and any local taxes will have to be paid for successful bids by buyers. Thus the "hammer price" - the actual winning bid - is smaller than the amount the purchaser will pay. Consult the relevant bid department or Client Accounts Manager for more information before placing a bid.

Notices for Sellers

We have a huge potential buyer’s data bank, and have connections with efficient sale and PR teams. Utilizing our merit, we aim to achieve the best auction results.

Price Estimation

The first step in the process is to arrange a consultation with one of our departments. If you are not sure which department you should contact, please call one of our General Inquiries representatives in HONG KONG either by Tel (852)3105-9585 or Fax (852)3184-0580.

Depending on your location, you may bring your property directly to our galleries, and meet our specialist there.Evaluation will be conducted, and we will provide you with a preliminary auction estimate.
If visiting our offices is not practical, it is possible to have a basic valuation done by mail or email. Please contact the relevant department.

Decision to sell
Based on the valuation results, you and Chritrs experts will decide whether your property is appropriate for sale at auction. We will also recommend an appropriate venue and possible sale time. If you decide to proceed, you will have to sign a contract, and Chritrs will take the property for cataloguing and photography.

Shipping
Our Art Transport or Shipping Department can help you arrange to deliver your property to our offices if necessary. You are responsible for packing, shipping and insurance charges.

Seller contract
Seller contract covers the reserve price and Chritrs commissions which will affect your bottom line.

Reserve price
Reserve price is the confidential minimum selling price to which a consignor (you) and Chritrs agree before the sale - your property "floor" price, below which no bid will be accepted. If bidding on your item fails to reach the reserve price, we will not sell the piece and will advise you for other options.

Seller commission
Sellers pay a commission that is deducted, along with any agreed-upon expenses, from the hammer price. Should you have any specific questions regarding the selling commission, please call our department for more information. 

After the auction notice and Payment   
Shortly after the sale, you will receive a list of the final hammer price for each item you consigned. We will send payment within 35 days from the day of the sale provided we are in receipt of the buyer payment.

Conditions of business
All prospective buyers are reminded that they are bound by our business conditions, details of which can be found at the back of all Chritrs catalogues.

                             CHRITRS ARTS AUCTION LIMITED