First Time Buyers
If you have not bought with us before, we suggest you carefully read the following guide to buying at Adam's. Our Conditions of Sale may be accessed at any point, which should be read in conjunction with this brief guide. Any queries you may have can be addressed to our fine art team, who are more than pleased to assist you in any way they can, alternatively you can e-mail us directly to info@adams.ie.
Registration
We operate a paddle bidding system. To bid at auction you will need a paddle number. To register for a paddle you must fill in and sign a Bidder Registration Form. You may be asked to supply identification upon registration, by way of passport or driving licence together with a valid credit card. This is a security measure which applies to new registrants only. Always allow plenty of time to register. Should you need to clarify anything you are unsure about, please feel free to call us on 01-6760261 or e-mail us at info@adams.ie.
The Auction
Lots are offered for sale in numerical order as they appear in your catalogue. We offer for sale an estimated 80-120 lots per hour, depending on the particular category of sale. We recommend that you arrive in plenty of time before the lot you are wishing to bid on is up for sale. Bids are increased at the Auctioneers discretion by approximately 10% of the bid price. To bid, raise you paddle clearly and promptly, allowing sufficient time for the Auctioneer to note your number upon the success of your bid. It is important to note your paddle number, as this will be your reference for later payment.
Absentee Bidding
Written/Absentee Bids
If you cannot attend an auction in person, Adam's can bid on your behalf, acting upon your instructions to secure lot(s) for you at the lowest possible price, based on the bidding on the day. This is a free service which requires you to fill out an Absentee Bidding Form, detailing your bids, giving your price limit for each specific lot and requesting Adam's, without legal obligation of any kind, to bid on your behalf. Buyer's premium plus VAT will be payable on the hammer price in the event of a successful bid. All bids must be received within 24 hours before the sale in order to ensure their safe execution.
Create a "My Adam's" Account
Alternatively you can log on to our web site www.adams.ie and create an account by signing up and registering your particulars online. The process involves supplying valid credit card information. This is a once off request for security purposes, and once the account is activated you will not be asked for this information again. The card information supplied is securely stored by Sage Pay. You can leave absentee bids online, and add, edit or amend bids accordingly as well as bidding over the internet in real time through "Adam's Live". You can also view your invoices, bid history, wish lists & other useful functions including paying your invoice and creating you very own personalised catalogue with search tags that will notify you once a catalogue is uploaded for your key word search.
Register now for a "My Adam's" Account
Telephone Bids
An alternative to written or absenttee bids is telephone bidding. This may be arranged on lots with a minimum estimate of €500. As the number of telephone lines is limited, early booking is recommended. (We also recommend that you leave a "Security" bid in case we are unable to reach you by telephone.) Telephone Bidding Form. Please note buyer's premium plus VAT will be payable on the hammer price in the event of a successful bid.
Post sale results are available on our website, click on results and search the database by sale date and title.
Adams Live Bidding
Adam's broadcast all our in house auctions live over the internet. You can bid live by registering for a "My Adam's" account and by signing in during the auction through Adam's Live, which is activated 30 minutes before the auction start time at adams.ie. You can see and hear the Auctioneer, with bid's being relayed in real time. There is no additional internet surcharge to bid via Adam's Live, pay the same as a room bidder.
Buyers' Premium
Please note Buyer's Premium is 25% incl. VAT on the hammer (BID) price.
Where a lot is being shipped outside of the EU, the VAT on Buyers Premium may be Zero rated for VAT purposes being an Export. Adam's need to secure proof of export from a recommended shipper in order to avail of this facility. Our Accounts team can answer any queries you may have in this regard.
Payment
All purchases must be paid for within three calendar days of the sale. Our payment terms are cash, banker's draft or cheque drawn on an Irish bank. Cheques will take a minimum of eight working days to clear the bank, unless they have been vouched to our satisfaction prior to the sale, or you have a previous cheque payment history with Adam's. We also accept the following Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, & American Express (subject to a surcharge of 3.65%). For debit cards including Laser card payments there are daily limits on payments. Bank Transfer details are available on request. Please ensure that all bank charges are paid in addition to the invoice total, in order to avoid delays in release of the items. Goods will only be released upon clearance through the bank of all monies due.
> Make an Online Payment securely through Sage Pay
Collection
Collection of purchases is the responsibility of the buyer. We are happy to assist the buyer by recommending a carrier, however goods remain at the buyer's risk from the fall of the hammer. Goods remaining uncollected three days after the auction date may be subject to storage & handling charges, therefore it is important that you make collection within the designated time, as detailed in the important information for purchasers in your sale catalogue. If you are unable to remove your item immediately you will need to arrange storage and shipping. For international deliveries an export licence may be required. While we can provide Certificates of Antiquity, it is the responsibility of the buyer to assess any export and custom requirements.
This is intended as a guide only. Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us by either telephone or email. We look forward to seeing you at auction.