A Guide to Buying at the Rago Arts and Auction Center

Buying at auction need not be intimidating. We don’t want it to be.

So, whether you are new to auctions or simply in search of a particular piece of information, the following is intended to explain our process for bidding and buying.

Please don’t hesitate to call us at 609/397-9374 or e-mail us with questions once you have read through this short list. That’s what we’re here for.

Ways to Bid: There are four ways to bid: 1. In person 2. By submitting an absentee bid (you’ll find a form included in every catalogue and available online) 3. On the telephone during an auction and 4. Online and live during an auction through the eBay Live Auctions website.

Registration: In order to bid at auction, you must qualify and register for a paddle number. First-time bidders should be prepared to offer proper identification, usually in the form of a driver’s license and valid credit card. If you plan to bid live, registration takes place on the day of the auction.

Catalogues: We sell full color print catalogues with every lot pictured and described for all auctions we hold. We also list our catalogues online.

Previews: A public preview is held prior to each of our sales, so that prospective buyers can inspect the property being offered and speak with our experts. The hours are posted through our advertisements, mailers, online, and in the catalogues. All are most welcome.

Condition Reports: You must be completely satisfied that you understand an object’s merits and flaws before bidding. Do not hesitate to contact one of our experts should you need particulars not contained in a lot’s catalogue description. We include a form for such requests in every catalogue or you can download the pdf. You can also call us or send an e-mail the week before the auction for more information, as well.

Terms of Sale: This is the contract governing the purchase of all property sold at auction. When you buy at auction, you automatically agree to the Terms of Sale. This contract covers auction house policy, including warranties and guarantees. It is posted online and included in all catalogues.

Estimates: Each lot in our catalogue is given a low and high estimate. These are guides for prospective buyers and, where possible, reflect the price fetched by similar objects selling recently. Estimates cannot be treated as a predictor of the actual selling price, which can be influenced by factors as diverse as the number of individuals bidding and the stock market’s most recent fortunes.

Reserve: The confidential minimum price established between the seller and the auction house. The reserve at our Auction Center will never be higher than the low estimate. We rarely have reserves on lots below $500 in value.

Bidding: Bidding goes in lot order and according to the increments posted in the Terms of Sale, unless determined otherwise by the auctioneer. If you are the successful bidder on a lot, the auctioneer will acknowledge your paddle number and you will be the new owner of that property.

Hammer Price: The selling price announced for a lot is the hammer (or successful bid) price. . If you are successful on a lot, the auctioneer will acknowledge your paddle number and you will assume ownership.

Buyer’s Premium: A buyer’s premium will be added to the amount of the successful bid price for all lots purchased at auction. Please see Terms of Sale for each auction.

Sales Tax: All applicable taxes will be charged on the sum of the hammer price plus buyer’s premium, unless you have a valid resale license and complete the necessary certificate of exemption. Lots shipped out of state are not subject to NJ state sales tax.

Payment: Payment can be made by check, wire transfer, cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Paypal. Payment is due immediately after the auction. If you are not here in person to get your invoice, it will be mailed to you (or e-mailed to you if you bid through eBay) the week after the auction. We cannot release purchases for shipping or delivery until payment is made. If the payment is by check, we reserve the right to hold merchandise until the check clears.

Removal of Property/Shipping: All property must be removed from the auction house by 30 days after the sale. Should you chose, we can help get your property safely on its way.

Sales Results: Sales results will be available before 2:00 p.m. on our first business day following the auction by phone at 609/397-9374 or online. If you want to know the lots on which you were successful, please call us that day after 2 p.m. (It takes us a few hours to check and verify results.)

Unsold Lots: Unless specified otherwise by the consignor, unsold lots are available for sale after an auction, posted online for 30 days. All lots are offered for the lowest possible selling price plus half our established buyer’s premium. Unsold lots on which there are reserves are offered for the reserve price. Unreserved lots are offered for the opening bid, usually 50% of the low estimate.

If you have any other questions about how to bid and buy with us, please call us at 609/397-9374 or e-mail us. We thank you for your interest and your business.