FINDING WHAT YOU WANT
We offer by online auction 1,000s of lots in our auctions every year, many from private cellars, where the vendor needs to make a dispersal.
To find what you want, we post catalogues on our website, around two weeks before each auction.
The lists are promoted from the Brightwells Home Page and contain all the information you require to buy this way.
We promote the items with details of:
- Age/Vintage, Producer/Distiller, Variety and Type
- Photographs
- Condition
- VAT & Buyer Fees
We also occasionally include Tasting Notes.
The lots are either located in our cellarage at Leominster or are located "In Bond", with the bonded warehouse location being described in the lot listing.
VIEWING & BUYER INSPECTIONS
Prospective buyers are welcome to view what we have on site, by booking an appointment in advance and in the knowledge that our paramount objective is to conduct safe viewing in light of the current circumstances.
Viewing is allowed on the days of the week of the sale, between 9am - 4pm.
Terms apply for viewing, which we would be delighted to discuss with you, when you book by calling us on 01568 619719.
We can also discuss condition for prospective buyers who choose to ring in and ask for our phone inspection service. Again, please register your interest by calling us on 01568 619719.
HOW TO BID AND BUY
All our auctions are online, where the time counts down and you place your bids before the clock runs out. Once the clock gets to the end, that is it, there is no extension if someone bids in the last few seconds.
You will need to create a bidding account on our site. Once you have an account, you can register for an auction, by going to a catalogue listing and clicking on the REGISTER FOR AUCTION button.
A deposit is usually payable for joining the auction. If you do not buy anything, then you will get the deposit back. If you buy, we will use your deposit as funds against your invoice. The amount for the deposit is shown at the point of sale registration.
To bid, go to the lots you are interested in and click on their image to open their bidding page. You will find a box where you can enter a bid, information of what the current bid is and what the next lowest amount to bid can be.
If your bid has the value up to or at the reserve, the bid will be taken at its maximum to the reserve.
If the lot has no reserve or if your bid is forced above the reserve by other bidders, then our increment system comes into play and you will see what the next minimum bid can be on the bid page. If your maximum bid is above the increment, the bid will go to the increment, unless someone thereafter forces the bid up to your maximum. Bidders cannot place a bid with the same maximum that someone else has already placed, so a warning will tell you if your bid is the same. You may pay less than your maximum bid if you win, therefore, depending on other bidders.
Bids cannot be withdrawn at any time. All bids are contractually binding. The highest bidder to be the Purchaser and no bidding shall be retracted after the hammer has fallen. The Auctioneers reserve the right to refuse any bidding and in the event of any dispute the Lot may be up again at the Auctioneers’ discretion.
Further tips on bidding in this auction can be found in our Guide To Timed Auctions.
PAYING
Once the auction is complete and our systems have been updated with the sale results, all winning buyers will then be sent by email their invoices.
Our terms are that all items must be paid for within 48 hours of invoicing, after which collection/delivery will be arranged to suit your requirements.
We would just remind bidders that you cannot retract a bid, so your deposit will be lost if you fail to pay for a lot.
We only accept payment by bank transfer, terms will be sent with the email invoice. So, please don't send a cheque and don't bring cash. Payment must be settled before you collect your goods, of course.
COLLECTION & DELIVERY
Our auction centre is based at Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0DE. We own this site, so can accept your wine anytime during the hours of 9am – 4:30pm, Monday – Friday, except for Bank Holidays and in between Christmas and New Year.
Our cellarage is fully alarmed and insured, with 24-hour security monitoring. We are located on the main A49 at Leominster and our ten-acre site has strongly secured access.
No matter where you live or what you want to have transported, we know someone who can do it. Transportation is all about timing, safety, storage and price, and we have been involved with companies who do the job for over thirty years, through various parts of our business. We can arrange delivery for international sellers from most parts of the globe, let alone the UK.
Of course, the alternative is that you are more than welcome to pick up your purchases from our site yourself. We have plenty of parking and loading space or, if you only have a few things to carry, there is a train station conveniently located within a ten-minute walk of our site, with links to the rest of the UK.
One thing we do ask is that purchases are not left with us for days on end after the sale. We expect them to be collected within a week of sale day, after which we will charge storage at £15 plus VAT per day per lot.
