How to Bid - Rules
Bidding on Items. You must be a registered user to bid on items. By bidding, you are stating that you are ready and willing to purchase that item for your bid amount, plus any shipping charges disclosed in the listing. If you are outbid, or your bid does not meet the seller's reserve price, you are under no obligation to buy. But in all other cases, you are entering a contract with the seller to buy the item, and to deliver payment within the time period specified. If you cannot pay please don't bid. Your bids are final and non-retractable. Bidding begins immediately by phone and online. We are online at http://www.thgolfauction.com for all of our auctions. We will not accept e-mail bids.
Minimum Bid. TGA will predetermine the number of Item(s) in an auction. TGA will set the minimum bid on each item to be agreed upon by both TGA and Consignor. The Minimum Bid, if not agreed upon, shall be approximately thirty percent (30%) of the retail value. The Minimum Bid is designed to encourage bidding. If an item is incorrectly described online, TGA reserves the right to rectify such error and email to all active bidders the correct description. For phone bidders, all corrections will be read over the phone to the prospective bidder.
Extended Bidding. TGA uses an "extended bidding" process to close all of our auctions. All lots in the auction close at the same time. After 6:00 pm EST, for the current auction, the auction continues until there are no bids placed on any lots in the auction in a fifteen (15) minute time frame. For example, during "extended bidding", if Lot #1 receives a bid within the fifteen (15) minute time frame, the WHOLE auction is extended 15 minutes. All bidders are all on the same playing field and are all equipped with the information required to ensure that the only reason they do not win a given lot is they are not interested in the lot or the price for the lot went above their threshold. The auction is not closed until all bids have been made, and when the auction is closed, the high bidder on every lot is the person who is willing to pay the most for the item. This is precisely what auctions are supposed to accomplish.
This system is great fr bidder in that every lot goes to the bidder who is willing to pay the most for the item, and great for consigners in that each lot is sold to the bidder with is willing to pay the most. Also, bidders have the ability to transfer their purchasing power from one lot to another on all lots as they have been outbid. This is a great example of the reason to use an "extended bidding" closing style. This promotes higher prices, which is great for consignors, while at the same time allowing bidders not to be "shut out" which in turn is great for bidders. When dealing with auctions with many lots, having the ability to transfer the purchasing power is a good strength, oftern resulting in higher prices. Please feel free to contact The Golf Auction with any questions or cmments. Good luck bidding.
Shipping/Damage. TGA will not be responsible for any item(s) that are not in TGA's possesion. It is recommended that the Consignors use a shipping company that will provide insurance for the item(s) for transit to TGA. TGA will maintain full property and liability insurance in the event there is theft or damage to the item(s). TGA will also insure that item(s) in TGA's possesion will be shipped insured back to Consignor or Bidder. In the event of theft or total damage to the item(s), TGA agrees to pay the Consignor the proceeds of the insurance coverage, less the commission due to TGA. Unless previously agreed upon, the insurance value (coverage) of any consigned item will be two (2) times the amount of the minimum bid set for the item(s) pursuant to this agreement.
Collections of Payment. TGA has no obligation to enforce or collect payment from any Bidder/Buyer. If any Bidder/Buyer does not pay TGA for any Item(s) within sixty (60) days after the end of an Auction, TGA has the right to offer the Item(s) to the 2nd highest bidder for payment. If Auction does not have a 2nd highest bidder, the Consignor has the right to request TGA to return the Item(s) to the Consignor at Consignor’s expense, or Consignor has may choose to leave the Item(s) with TGA for placement in subsequent Auctions. If Consignor chooses to leave item with TGA for subsequent Auction, Consignor must put in writing to TGA that Consignor requests that the Item(s) be placed in the subsequent Auction.
Commissions. Consignor agrees to pay a commission to TGA of twenty five percent (25%) of the successful bid price for each of the Item(s) or lot sold. TGA will also charge the Bidder/Buyer of the Item(s) a commission of no less than fifteen percent (15%) of the successful bid price of each of the Item(s) or lot sold. Consignor will also be responsible, unless otherwise agreed upon, expenses of, but not limited to, restoration, grading fees, special authentication, etc.
Payment. When TGA receives payment from Bidder/Buyer, within thirty (30) days TGA will remit to the Consignor the Net Proceeds for the Item(s). The “Net Proceeds” consist of the amount of the total proceeds collected, less the commissions (both Consignor and Bidder/Buyer) and any expenses.
Consignor Ownership. Consignor warrants to TGA and Bidder/Buyer of the Item(s) that Consignor is the sole owner of the Item and the Item are free and clear of any liens or claims, and the Item sold to Bidder/Buyer will be free of liens or claims and Consignor has provided TGA with this information. Consignor agrees to indemnify the Bidder/Buyer and TGA harmless from any damages (including attorney fees) relating to the breach of your agreements in this Agreement. The warranties and indemnity will survive the completion of the transactions described in this Agreement.
Bid Shilling. It is agreed to by TGA and Consignor that neither Consignor nor anyone acting on Consignor’s behalf may bid on Item(s).
Authenticity. TGA may, at any time during an Auction, remove the Item(s) if there is any doubt to the authenticity of the Item(s). The Item(s) will be returned at the Consignor’s expense. Except in paragraph 4, Consignor may withdraw any Item(s) from TGA.
Counterfeit Item(s). Consignor agrees to allow TGA to rescind the sale of any Item(s) if TGA learns the Item(s) are inaccurately described or learn the Item(s) are counterfeit or forged. It TGA notifies the Consignor of such action, Consignor agrees to return to TGA any proceed paid to the Consignor and Item(s) will be returned to Consignor.
Dispute Resolution. Consignor and TGA agree that all disputes hereunder shall be resolved first, though mediation, and if unsuccessful, then though binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in accordance with the applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. The venue for mediation and arbitration shall be Pinellas County, Florida. Judgment of the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction over the non-prevailing party. All legal fees will be the responsibility of non-prevailing party.
Comments. If you feel we have missed something, or the explanation is not clear enough, please contact us at sales@thegolfauction.com and we will email back promptly. Please include your specific questions or comments in the email, and if your questions are regarding a particular auction, include the title of the auction, or the item number in your email. We look forward to working with you.
Return Policy. All items are sold AS-IS and all sales are FINAL. Many of our auction items are already framed. Without removing the frame, it is impossible to know the condition of the areas not seen. The Golf Auction does not assume responsibility for the condition of areas hidden by the framing or matting on these specific item(s). For this reason, our catalog descriptions on these auction items are written extremely carefully, paying acute attention to detail.
Disclaimer. The Golf Auction is not responsible for computer or human error which may result in any customer dissatisfaction. We reserve the right to accept or reject any and all bids or bidders.