Terms & Conditions

1. General

1.1 - These Terms and Conditions govern all auctions conducted by Square and Compass Auctioneers Ltd ("the Auctioneers"), including online and in-person sales.
1.2 - By participating in our auctions, whether as a buyer or vendor, you agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions.
1.3 - Square and Compass Auctioneers Ltd reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time.

2. Definitions

"Vendor" refers to the person consigning goods for auction.
"Client" refers to any person requesting additional services provided by Square & Compass Auctioneers.
"Buyer" refers to the person placing the highest successful bid.
"Lot" refers to any item or group of items consigned for auction.
"Hammer Price" refers to the final bid accepted by the auctioneer.
"Buyer's Premium" refers to the fee payable by the buyer on top of the hammer price.
"Vendor’s Commission" refers to the fee payable by the vendor on the sale of their items.

3. Selling at Auction (Vendor Terms)

3.1 Acknowledgements

3.1.1 - The Vendor authorises Square & Compass Auctioneers Ltd to deduct commission at the stated rates, plus VAT at the current rate on the date of the Sale, in addition to expenses from the hammer price and acknowledges Square & Compass Auctioneers’ right to retain the Buyer’s Premium payable by the Buyer in accordance with Square & Compass Auctioneers Conditions of Sale.

3.1.2 - The Vendor warrants to Square & Compass Auctioneers and to the Buyer that he is the true owner of the Property or is properly authorised to sell the Property by the true owner free from all encumbrances

3.1.3 - The Vendor will indemnify Square & Compass Auctioneers, its servants and agents and the Buyer against any liability under the Misrepresentation Act 1987 or the Consumer Protection Act 1987 or any statutory re-enactment thereof and any breach of these Terms and Conditions of Sale.

3.1.4 - The Vendor warrants that all information supplied to the Auctioneers is accurate and indemnifies the Auctioneers against any liability however arising in respect of any inaccuracies in the above information and against all costs and expenses incurred by or on the Auctioneers behalf in dealing with any claim arising in that respect.

3.2 Commission and Fees

3.2.1 - Vendor’s commission is charged on a sliding scale of 6-12%, subject to the final hammer price, in line with the scale below.

£1 - £250 – 12%
£251 - £1000 10%
£1001-£2,500 – 8%
£2,501-£10,000 – 7%
> £10,000 - 6%

3.2.2 - A lotting fee of £2 per lot is charged at the time of consignment.

3.2.3 - Additional charges may apply for photography, cataloging, and enhanced listings. These charges will be negotiated and made clear with the vendors agreement required.

3.3 Reserves

3.3.1 - Vendors may set a reserve price, which must be submitted in writing at least 48 hours before the auction.

3.3.2 - If no reserve is set, items will be sold to the highest bidder.

3.3.3 - If an item does not meet its reserve, the Auctioneer may re-offer it in a subsequent auction. If a vendor wishes to remove the item from the sale they must do so by written or electronic communication at least 48 hours before the auction. At the Auctioneers discretion, you may be charged 5% of the estimate or reserve price to withdraw.

3.4 Payment to Vendors

3.4.1 - Net proceeds will be paid within 28 days of the auction, provided full payment has been received from the buyer.

3.4.2 - If the buyer defaults, no payment will be made to the vendor until funds are secured. Once full payment has been received from the Buyer, the auctioneer will remit the sum due to the vendor within 5 working days.

3.5 Liability and Insurance

3.5.1 - Square & Compass Auctioneers Ltd operates as an agent for buyers and sellers and does not take ownership of consigned items unless explicitly stated.

3.5.2 - The company holds Public Liability Insurance, but liability is strictly limited to what is outlined in these terms.

3.5.3 - Square & Compass Auctioneers is not responsible for any indirect, consequential or incidental loss of damages, including (but not limited to):

- Loss of business, profit or opportunity.

- Emotional distress or disappointment.

- Misinterpretation of item descriptions or valuations.

3.5.4 - Items in Square & Compass Auctioneers Ltd's possession are not automatically insured. It is the responsibility of the vendors and buyers to arrange their own insurance for valuable items.

3.5.5 - While every care is taken, Square & Compass Auctioneers does not accept liability for loss, theft, fire, flood, or accidental damage while items are stored, displayed, in transit or during a sale, except in cases of gross negligence.

3.5.6 - If an item is lost or damaged while under auctioneer control before sale or during sale, compensation is limited to:

- The lower estimate of the item, as stated in the auction catalogue.

- If no estimate was given, compensation will be capped at the agreed reserve price.

- If no reserve was set, Square & Compass Auctioneers Ltd's liability is limited to £250 per lot, and the amount decided is at the discretion of Square & Compass Auctioneers Ltd

4. Buying at Auction (Buyer Terms)

4.1 Buyer's Premium

4.1.1 - A 21% Buyer's Premium + VAT is payable on the hammer price.

4.1.2 - A minimum fee of £2 per lot applies.

4.2 - VAT

4.2.1 - Where applicable, VAT is charged on services, not goods, and is payable at the current UK rate.

4.2.2 - Items marked with an asterisk (*) are subject to VAT on the hammer price.

4.3 Bidding and Payment

4.3.1 - Bidders must register and be approved before participating.

4.3.2 - Payments must be made in full within 5 working days of the auction.

4.3.3 - Accepted payment methods: Bank Transfer, Debit/Credit Card (subject to a handling fee of 1%), Cash (up to £5,000).

4.3.4 - Late payments may incur storage charges or resale of items at the buyer’s expense.

4.4 Collection/Shipping
4.4.1 - Collection is available by appointment only, or two hours after end of auction on sale days. Buyers are advised to contact in advance to avoid disappointment.

4.4.2 - Square & Compass Auctioneers offer shipping options with respected 3rd party couriers, alongside an in house shipping service. Full details can be found in our shipping policy.

4.5 Auctioneer’s Discretion

4.5.1 - The Auctioneer reserves the right to refuse bids, withdraw lots, or re-offer items at their discretion.

4.5.2 - In case of bidding disputes, the Auctioneer's decision is final.

4.5.3 - In the event that bids are placed simultaneously in the room and online, the auctioneer has complete discretion to decide which bid takes priority. This will usually be the bid in the room.

5. Additional Services

5.1 Probate & Estate Clearances

5.1.1 - Square & Compass Auctioneers provide estate clearance services, including valuations for probate and insurance.

5.1.2 - Fees are based on the volume of goods and level of service required and will be agreed prior to services commencing.

5.1.3 - All cleared items, unless explicitly stated by the customer, are dealt with as deemed appropriate by Square & Compass Auctioneers. Unsuitable or unsellable items may be disposed of or donated at the company’s discretion.

5.1.4 - Clients must ensure that:

- They have legal ownership or permission to clear the property and can provide evidence to back up this claim.

- Any hazardous, perishable, or restricted items (e.g., firearms, chemicals, counterfeit goods) are declared in advance.

5.1.5 - Square and Compass Auctioneers is not responsible for any personal items left within furniture, clothing, or other items. It is the client's duty to check all belongings before clearance.

5.1.6 - Square and Compass Auctioneers accepts no liability for damage to the property during the clearance process unless caused by gross negligence.

5.1.7 - Any agreed fees for clearance services must be paid in advance where applicable.

5.2 Free Appraisals

5.2.1 - Square and Compass Auctioneers offers free, no-obligation appraisals for potential auction items.

5.2.2 - Appraisals are opinion-based estimates and do not guarantee a final sale price. Market conditions may affect valuation.

5.2.3 - Appraisal reports provided do not constitute legal documentation and cannot be used as a formal valuation for insurance, probate, or financial purposes.

5.2.4 - Square and Compass Auctioneers accepts no liability for loss, damage, or misinterpretation based on an appraisal.

5.2.5 - Items presented for appraisal remain the sole responsibility of the owner unless consigned for auction.

6. Liability & Warranties

6.1 Item Descriptions

6.1.1 - All items are sold "as seen", and descriptions, while provided in good faith, are opinions only.

6.1.2 - Buyers should inspect items before bidding.

6.2 Electrical & Mechanical Goods

6.2.1 - Items are not tested for functionality or safety unless stated otherwise.

6.2.2 - Buyers purchase at their own risk.

6.3 Forgery & Authenticity

6.3.1 - If a lot is proven to be a deliberate forgery, the buyer may be entitled to a refund, provided the claim is made within 14 days of purchase and accompanied by expert evidence.

7. Data Protection & Privacy

7.1 Use of Personal Data

7.1.1 - Square and Compass Auctioneers Ltd processes buyer and vendor data in accordance with UK GDPR laws.

7.1.2 - Information is used for account management, fraud prevention, and marketing (where consent is given).

7.2 Bidding Behaviour & Risk Management

7.2.1 - The Auctioneers reserve the right to monitor bidding activity and restrict participation if deemed necessary.

7.2.2 - Suspicious or fraudulent activity will be reported to the relevant authorities.

8. Governing Law & Disputes

8.1 - These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
8.2 - Any disputes arising shall be resolved through mediation where possible, failing which, they shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts.