Dragged all the way to Alton recently to a collective sale. Big mistake. It was a Saturday so was expecting the usual dredge of 'Saturday shoppers' just getting in the way but what I wasn't expecting was the 12.5%+vat (min £10) buyers premium. That makes a £5 bucket of chainsaw parts a bit of a joke. Walked once around the field and went home. When I later looked at the website I was quite shocked at what they were charging:
General Auction: 28%+VAT
Architectural Auctions: 15%+VAT
Farm Auction: 12.5%+VAT
Online auctions may include an additional Premium of 3%+VAT
Saleroom.com / iBidder.com / BidSpotter: Internet Bidders are subject to an additional Premium of 4.95%+VAT
So having given up with that I went to a viewing for an on-line auction with a different agent. This time checked first and a much more sensible premium of 3%+vat. There was a box of pins and shackles I though I'd have a go at - £20 tops. Get home and go online, I have to open an account with them. Then I have to log on and register to bid, but, I can't bid until I've paid them a £2,000 deposit! Seriously? Rang them to find out what it's about and no, you've got to cough £2k before you get to wave your finger. They didn't get the £2k, but they did get the finger. The only thing there possibly worth more than that was a very ropey combine.
Wifey recently went to a junk auction at the village hall they do twice a year. They wanted a £20 cash deposit before you could bid.
Am I missing something somewhere?
Rant over.
