Buying FAQs

A Guide to Bidding at New England Auctions

Welcome to New England Auctions! We offer exciting live and online auctions, sometimes running at the same time. When you place a winning bid, you are entering into a contract of sale with us.

Bidding Options

For your convenience, you can bid as an absentee bidder or arrange to bid by phone. Phone bidding is popular, so please arrange it with us before the auction days to secure your spot. To participate as an absentee or phone bidder, you'll need to agree to our terms and provide your credit card information.

Our Commitment and Policies

We always strive to execute every bid accurately. However, we cannot be held responsible for any missed bids, errors in execution, or technical difficulties such as internet outages that may impact your ability to bid.

The auctioneer will acknowledge the highest bidder as the buyer and has the final say in all bidding matters. We reserve the right to decline a bid or withdraw an item from the sale. In the event of a dispute, our decision is final.

Your Responsibility as a Bidder

We ask that all bidders, especially those joining us online, pay close attention to the bidding process. Please be aware that we are unable to refund or cancel a sale if you have won an item by mistake.

To ensure a fair auction for everyone, bidders who do not complete their purchase or follow these terms will not be able to bid with us in the future.

INVOICING

● Successful bidders will be notified within two (2) business days of the end of the
auction. Most invoices are sent via email on the first business day following an
auction.

PAYMENT
● Successful bidders must arrange for payment within five (5) business days
following the receipt of the invoice.
● A late fee of 5% of the total invoice will be charged for late payments after the
five (5) day deadline. The late fee deadline can be found in the note section of
the invoice.
● A bad bidder flag will be placed on the account at the same time the late fee is
applied. This flag will block any future bidding with New England Auctions.
● First time buyers with New England Auctions who pick up in person must pay by
cash.
● Credit card payments will include a 3.9% surcharge.
● All international bidders must pay by wire transfer. A $35 fee will be added to the
invoice total for wire transfers.
● Payments by check must be made out to New England Auctions and mailed to:
New England Auctions, 14 Business Park Drive Suite 5, Branford CT 06405.
● If payment is made by check, item(s) will be held for up to ten (10) business
days before item(s) is released.

● New England Auctions does not ship or arrange shipping. All shipping is
outsourced. Arrangement and costs of shipping are the responsibility of the
buyer.


● Items are released for pick up in person or by a shipper the Monday following an auction. Inquires about on site pick up or shipping arrangements should not be made until the successful bidder has received their invoice.


● All buyers and shippers must come prepared with appropriate packing materials and help for heavy items. New England Auctions will not wrap or box any item leaving our location.


● Pick ups are by confirmed appointment only at 14 Business Park Drive, Suite5, Branford CT 06405. Please contact the auction house 24 hours in advance to
schedule a pick up Monday through Friday between 9:30AM and 3:30PM.

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STORAGE
● Items that have been paid for but not picked up or shipped from our auction
facility within twenty one (21) days of receipt of an invoice will be stored at a rate of $10 per day per lot for furniture and larger items and $5 per day per lot for smaller items.


● Items not picked up within sixty (60) days of the auction date will be considered
in default and become the property of New England Auctions.

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**RECOMMENDED SHIPPER**

The Village Express, Branford, CT 203-481-7426 or (vexpress@comcast.net), Attn: Kristen.

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*PLEASE NOTE: Once Village Express is retained as the buyer’s shipper, the buyer must contact New England Auctions via phone or email and release the item(s) to Village Express for pick up.

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A list of other local shippers includes:

The UPS Store #5105 at 203-772-4445 or (store5105@theupsstore..com),

Attn: Manjit.

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The UPS Store #2233, Wallingford, CT at 203-949-0050 or (store2233@theupsstore.com), Attn: Jim or Adam.

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Couriers (for licensed transport across state lines):

Outward Bound Courier Logistics, Dalton, MA at 413-854-3676, Attn: Alan or Ben.

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GNLE Delivery, Stockton, NJ at 908-256-3947, Attn: Kieran Giannelli.

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For fine art, furniture, and shippers that crate:

Maquette FAS CT, Branford, CT at 212-925-3067, ext. 3512 

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Plycon Transportation Group 631-269-7000.

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Codogan Tate 718-689-7969. US ART 718-986-6500.

 

 
 
All sales are subject to Connecticut sales tax unless the buyer holds a valid tax exempt/resale certificate (from any state) and submits a signed and dated State of Connecticut Sales & Use Resale Form with their tax-exempt information prior to release of the purchases, even for tax exempt bidders who will be having their items shipped out of state. This form is available at neauction.com and must be updated every 12 months.  We do not collect sales tax on items shipped to other states unless a particular state's sales tax nexus has been met. Sales to out-of-state buyers without a resale certificate, that are picked up by the buyer's representative, will be charged Connecticut sales tax unless the representative is a licensed commercial shipper and provides a Bill of Lading with their DOT # at the time of pick up.

Selling FAQs

 

Partner with New England Auctions to Sell Your Treasures

Whether you have a single item, a complete collection, or are managing an estate or trust, New England Auctions is your partner in achieving outstanding results. Our global reach attracts serious collectors worldwide, consistently realizing record-breaking prices for our consignors.

Why Consign With Us?

  • Reputation: We are valued for our honesty and exceptional service.
  • Expertise: We offer full appraisal services to accurately value your items.
  • Complimentary Estimates: Receive a free, no-obligation estimate of what your property could achieve at auction.

Ready to Get Started?

Let us assess your items. To arrange a consultation, please contact us:

  • Phone: 475-234-5120
  • Email: consignments@newenglandauctions.com (For the most efficient review, please attach clear photographs).

We look forward to representing you and maximizing the value of your consignment.

How We Work For You

When you sell at auction, you're giving our expert auctioneer permission to act on your behalf. Our job is simple: to get you the best possible price for your property. In exchange for our services, our fee is a percentage of the final sale price, known as a commission.

What We Look For

To create exciting and successful auctions, we look for items in good condition, with an interesting history (provenance), that align with today's collecting trends.

Everything You Need for a Successful Sale

You can relax knowing we handle all the details. We host around a dozen auctions a year and provide a full suite of services to showcase your items, including:

  • Stunning photography and engaging catalog descriptions.
  • Beautifully produced online and full-color printed catalogs for our major sales.
  • Expert research to uncover the story behind your items.
  • Secure, insured storage while your property is in our care.
  • Helpful condition reports for potential buyers to encourage bidding.

 

Your Journey with New England Auctions

Once your items are in our care, we treat them like our own. Here is the journey your consignment will take from our showroom to a happy new owner.

Showcasing Your Items Our first step is to bring out the best in your property. Our team dedicates time to researching its history, writing compelling descriptions, and taking professional photographs. We then send you a detailed consignment contract that lists the auction date, estimated value, and our commission rate.

The Preview Period To build excitement before the sale, we display your items in our showroom for about 7 to 10 days, allowing collectors and potential buyers to admire them up close.

On Auction Day You can watch the results live as they happen! We'll also send you an email to let you know the great news.

Receiving Your Payment We make the payment process simple and transparent. You will receive a check for the final bid amount (the hammer price), minus our commission and any fees, within 30 days of the auction, pending payment from the buyer.

In the Unlikely Event an Item is Unsold... If an item happens to be passed during the auction, don't worry. We will automatically place it in a future auction with a slightly adjusted estimate to ensure it gets a second chance to shine