Anyone bought from Sotheby's or similar?
Anyone bought from Sotheby's or similar?
Author
Discussion

matrignano

Original Poster:

4,665 posts

227 months

Monday 10th April 2023
quotequote all
Have my eye on a watch currently at auction in Hong Kong.

Am I right in thinking Sotheby's takes a 26+1% cut on the hammer price, and then I have to deal with shipping, VAT and Duty when bringing the watch back to the UK?

Is there any "comeback" with Sotheby's if the watch is in a worse condition than described, or if it turns out to be a fake?

Muchas gracias!

T6 vanman

3,286 posts

116 months

Monday 10th April 2023
quotequote all
Just to add .... Sothebys will also remove and not ship the strap if it's endangered species ... ie Alligator leather

matrignano

Original Poster:

4,665 posts

227 months

Monday 10th April 2023
quotequote all
U wot?

Do they just chuck them in the bin hehe

nikaiyo2

5,440 posts

212 months

Monday 10th April 2023
quotequote all
In general auctions are bound by the law of place that the auction takes place, so in this case HK law.

Not sure there would be any comeback at all for condition issues, I am not sure how they describe things but it’s not unusual for auctions to be very vague with descriptions.

In the U.K. unless they state something as fact then they are not bound by it, so if they have not made representations to condition you have no comeback at all. They can’t mislead but that’s about it.

Not sure I would bother with an HK auction unless the watch was very cheap or very rare.

T6 vanman

3,286 posts

116 months

Monday 10th April 2023
quotequote all
It was no laughing matter when FM relieved me of £400 for a new one

matrignano

Original Poster:

4,665 posts

227 months

Monday 10th April 2023
quotequote all
nikaiyo2 said:
In general auctions are bound by the law of place that the auction takes place, so in this case HK law.

Not sure there would be any comeback at all for condition issues, I am not sure how they describe things but it’s not unusual for auctions to be very vague with descriptions.

In the U.K. unless they state something as fact then they are not bound by it, so if they have not made representations to condition you have no comeback at all. They can’t mislead but that’s about it.

Not sure I would bother with an HK auction unless the watch was very cheap or very rare.
I wouldn't normally bother with auctions either but the watch seems like a very good deal at predicted estimates, even factoring hammer premiums.
Might make a trip of it and collect in person too

BrokenSkunk

4,903 posts

267 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
matrignano said:
I wouldn't normally bother with auctions either but the watch seems like a very good deal at predicted estimates, even factoring hammer premiums.
Might make a trip of it and collect in person too
I believe that is known as a "come and get me" estimate.

matrignano

Original Poster:

4,665 posts

227 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
BrokenSkunk said:
I believe that is known as a "come and get me" estimate.
Let's see. It's not THAT cheap!

2 and bit days to go and still below estimate, no reserve either

T6 vanman

3,286 posts

116 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
I promise not to bid against you whistle

matrignano

Original Poster:

4,665 posts

227 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
That's definitely not a come get me price!!

Cotty

41,486 posts

301 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
Just curious who they are using for shipping.

T6 vanman

3,286 posts

116 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
They used FedEx for my HK auction win