How to Buy

Seasoned collectors and dealers, as well as novices, find it easy to buy at Pook & Pook. The following are some basics tips which will help you get started.

Catalogues

• At Pook & Pook's Illustrated Sales, detailed catalogues contain descriptions and price estimates of the property being sold, along with color illustrations( in most instances ). The catalogues may also give information about the artist or maker. We provide clear conditions of sale and guidelines regarding bidding, as well as, guarantees for the authenticity of items in the Illustrated Sale catalogues. The catalogues are traditionally available 2-3 weeks prior to the sale date and can be purchased on this site. You may also access our online catalogue for a complete listing of all lots being sold. 

Inspection
We invite you to come in, browse and talk one-on-one with our staff. You can closely inspect the items in which you are interested.  All property to

be auctioned is usually on view during the week prior to a sale. Our professional staff can discuss the quality, background and condition of each piece. Pre-sale viewings are open to the public. All prospective bidders should inspect the property before bidding and/or contact Pook & Pook to obtain condition reports (via email) or (via fax) to determine the condition, size, and any degree of restoration. 

We endeavor to be fair and forthright with our descriptions and condition reports, however bidders must acknowledge that antique items often show normal signs of use and wear, which might not be specified in a condition report.  If you are a very particular client with expectations of perfection for the items you purchase, it is advisable that you inspect items in person or that you do not bother to submit bids as your definition of condition may be more exacting than an appraiser could have time to verify.

Condition report requests must be received 48 hours prior to the start of the auction session.  If there is a two day sale, requests must be received 48 hours prior to the start of the first session!

The Bidding Process
There are three ways to bid directly with Pook & Pook: in person, by absentee bid, and by telephone. All bids must be received in writing

( fax or email ) by the end of business, the day before an auction session begins( i.e. by Thursday evening for Friday sessions and by Friday for Saturday sessions). Bidders may also utilize the internet by bidding via eBay. All clients will be asked to provide a Mastercard or Visa credit card account number and exp. date as a security deposit for bidding.

In Person
On the day of the sale, follow the signs to the Registration Desk to receive a bidder number. If you are a new client, you will be asked to supply a current bank reference and photo identification when you register. The auctioneer usually follows these bidding increments, but variations are at the auctioneer's discretion:

STANDARD BID INCREMENTS
	Bid Range:		Bid Increment:
	0-500		by 25
	500 - 1000		by 50
	1,000 - 2,000		by 100
	2,000 - 5,000		by 200
	5,000 - 10,000		by 500
	10,000 - 20,000		by 1,000
	20,000 - up		by Auctioneer's discretion

Left Bids
If you cannot attend an auction, Pook & Pook can bid on your behalf. With left bids, decide on your maximum bid for a particular lot and then leave an absentee bid form -- written instructions that allow Pook & Pook to bid for you -- at least 24 hours prior to the auction. Pook & Pook will try to secure the piece for you at the lowest price possible under your stipulated maximum bid. We require all bids to be submitted in writing to avoid confusion. To submit an absentee bid, please download the printable Absentee Bid Form(the bid form requires Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to open), follow its instructions, and fax(610-269-9274) the form to us.  You may also complete the online Absentee Bid form and submit the information via email. If you have any difficulties with this process, please email or call us at (610) 269-0695 for assistance with bidding.

Phone Bids
If you would prefer to be directly involved with the bidding, you can bid by phone. To arrange phone bidding, simply contact Pook & Pook via email or fax(see forms below). We make six to seven phone lines available per lot on a first come, first serve basis. Be sure to reserve your phone lines early, so you are not disappointed. Phone bid requests must also be received in writing. Use the printable Absentee/Phone Bid Form to fax us or the online Absentee Bid form and email us your phone line reservations.   Pook & Pook will call you during the auction when the property you are interested in comes up. You'll be involved in the auction action as your Pook & Pook representative relays your bids. Please contact Pook & Pook for more information on arranging telephone bidding. As with absentee bidding, new clients must provide a current bank reference.  Again, if you have any difficulties with this process, please email or call us at (610) 269-0695 for assistance with bidding. 

Note: There are no minimum bidding requirements for phone bidding during Illustrated Sales. However, to utilize the phone bidding service for Variety sales, you must commit to a $500 opening bid.

On-Line Bidding

Utilizing Live Auctioneers and eBay, bidders may now bid live from the privacy of your own computer or leave an absentee bid with eBay. Please visit eBay to review the current sale options and deadlines for bidding on that website. Be sure to read the published Terms and Conditions when registering via the online bidding services as rules, bidding deadlines, and buyer's premiums differ slightly than bidding directly with Pook & Pook.

Sold
If you are the successful bidder, you can collect your property in person, or have Pook & Pook assist you with shipping arrangements. A buyer's premium will be added to the successful bid price and is payable by the purchaser as part of the total purchase price. The buyer's premium for each individual lot is 17% of the successful bid price up to and including $100,000, and 10% on any amount in excess of $100,000. Payment in the form of cash, personal check, money order, or wire transfer must be received within fifteen days of a sale date. Buyers without a tax exemption number are required to pay 6% sales tax. Pook & Pook reserves the right to charge the total invoice amount plus a 2% handling fee to the credit card account of record for any bidder who has not paid within 15 days from the auction date. Shipping fees will be borne by the successful bidder. 

To fully understand all terms and conditions that are applicable to a Pook & Pook Auction, please refer to our Terms Page. Once you register to bid, bidders automatically agree to comply with the Terms and Conditions published, posted, and announced before or during any Pook & Pook auction.

Buying: How to Buy | Conditions of Sale | Terms of Guarantee