FINDING WHAT YOU WANT
We offer thousands of lots through our online auctions each year, with consignments from both private cellars and wine merchants.
Our auction catalogues are promoted on the Brightwells website and provide buyers with all the information required to place bids online.
Each lot is carefully catalogued and may include:
- Vintage or age
- Producer or distiller
- Wine variety, region or spirit type
- High-quality photographs
- Condition information where relevant
- VAT and buyer’s fees
Where appropriate, we may also include tasting notes and additional information of interest to prospective buyers.
Lots are either stored at our auction centre in Leominster or held In Bond at a bonded warehouse. Wines and spirits offered In Bond are clearly identified and sold through designated In Bond auctions.
VIEWING & BUYER INSPECTIONS
Prospective buyers are welcome to view lots held at our Leominster auction centre by appointment.
To arrange a viewing and discuss the available viewing arrangements, please call our team on 01568 619719.
We can also provide condition reports and further information about individual lots over the phone. Please contact our team on the number above with any enquiries.
HOW TO BID AND BUY
All of our auctions are conducted online and operate on a timed basis. Each lot has a countdown clock, and bids can be placed at any time before the bidding closes. There are no time extensions, so bids placed in the final seconds will not extend the closing time.
Registering to Bid
You will need to create a bidding account on our site. Once you have an account, you can register for an auction, by going to a catalogue listing and clicking on the golden REGISTER button that shows towards the top right of the catalogue page, once logged in.
A deposit is usually required when registering for an auction. The amount will be displayed during the registration process. If you do not make a purchase, your deposit will be refunded. If you are successful, the deposit will be credited towards your invoice.
Placing a Bid
To place a bid, select the lot you are interested in by clicking on its image. The lot page will display the current bid, the next minimum bid and a box where you can enter your maximum bid.
If your maximum bid reaches the reserve price, the bidding system may take your bid directly to the reserve.
For lots offered without reserve, or where bidding has already exceeded the reserve, our automatic bidding increment system applies. The system will bid on your behalf at the next available increment, up to your chosen maximum, as other bids are received.
This means that you may pay less than your maximum bid if you are successful.
Two bidders cannot place the same maximum bid. If another bidder has already submitted the same maximum amount, you will be notified and asked to enter a different bid.
Binding Bids
Please bid carefully, as bids cannot be withdrawn and all bids are contractually binding.
The highest bidder shall be the Purchaser and no bidding shall be retracted after the hammer has fallen. The Auctioneers reserve the right to refuse any bidding and, in the event of a dispute, the Lot may be put up again at the Auctioneers’ discretion.
For further information and useful bidding tips, please see our Guide to Timed Auctions, or contact our team on 01568 619719.
PAYING
Following the close of the auction, successful buyers will receive their invoices by email.
If the total value of your purchases is less than the deposit paid when registering, we will only take the amount required to settle your invoice.
All purchases must be paid for within 48 hours of invoicing. Once payment has been received, collection or delivery can be arranged to suit your requirements.
Please note that all bids are binding and cannot be withdrawn. Failure to pay for a successful purchase may result in the loss of your deposit.
Payment is accepted by bank transfer only, with full payment instructions provided on your invoice. We are unable to accept payment by cheque or cash.
Payment must be received in full and a collection appointment arranged before goods can be released.
COLLECTION & DELIVERY
Our auction centre is based at Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0DE. As we own and operate the site, purchases can be collected between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year.
Our storage facilities are fully alarmed and insured, with 24-hour security monitoring. Conveniently located on the A49 at Leominster, our ten-acre site also benefits from secure access.
Delivery
Whether you require delivery within the UK or internationally, we can recommend experienced transport providers to suit your requirements. We have established relationships with specialist transportation companies with decades of experience in the safe handling and delivery of valuable consignments.
For international buyers, we can also recommend specialist export and transportation companies offering fully insured delivery services.
Collection
Buyers are very welcome to collect their purchases directly from our Leominster auction centre, where ample parking and loading space is available. Leominster train station is also conveniently located within a ten-minute walk of our site, with connections to destinations across the UK.
Storage
We ask that all purchases are collected or dispatched within two weeks of the auction. After this period, storage will be charged at £10 plus VAT per lot, per day.
