GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE OF TOP BRAND AUCTIONS LIMITED, REGISTERED OFFICE: UNIT 5, ROSSINTON BUSINESS PARK, WEST CARR ROAD, ORDSALL, RETFORD, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, DN22 7SW.

1. DEFINITIONS

In these Terms and Conditions of Sale, the following words will have the following meanings:
a) “The Agents” means Top Brand Auctions Limited or any Employee thereof at the time of Sale.
b) “The Auctioneers” means the person conducting the auction, Top Brand Auctions or any Employee thereof at the time of Sale.
c) “The Purchaser” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in condition 4 below and Purchasers shall be deemed to be principals (for the purpose of these conditions) unless to the knowledge of the Agents and Auctioneers they are acting as agents on behalf of a named principal.
d) “The Vendor” means the person owning or having the right to sell the lot.

2. GENERAL CONDITIONS

a) The Agents/Auctioneers act only as agents for the Vendor (unless otherwise directly declared). Vendors are not paid until payment is received from the Purchaser. The Agents/Auctioneers are not necessarily in a position to know the history or assess the quality of lots sold on behalf of Vendors. Furthermore, lots sold are likely to have been subject to wear and tear caused by use or the effects of age and may therefore having faults and imperfections. Purchasers are given an opportunity at the viewing period to examine lots to be sold and will be assumed to have done so. Purchasers are deemed to have satisfied themselves as to the condition of any lots before bidding and lots are therefore sold with no guarantee or warranty being given or implied.
b) The Interpretation Act 1978 applies to the terms and expressions used in these Terms and Conditions of Sale as if contained in statute and these Terms and Conditions of Sale shall be governed by the law of England and Wales and subject to the jurisdiction of England and Wales.

3. THIRD PARTY LIABILITY

The Agents/Auctioneers will not be responsible for any injury, damage, or loss, howsoever caused to or sustained by any person on the Agents/Auctioneers’ premises or any site where an auction is held unless the same shall be caused by the direct negligence of the Agents/Auctioneers, including the period(s) during which viewing and subsequent removal takes place.

4. OFFERS AND BIDS

All offers and bids made shall be treated as offers made upon these Terms and Conditions of Sale, and all persons present at the Auction and offerors acknowledge that their attention has been drawn to these Terms and Conditions of Sale and they are bound by them. Subject to these Terms and Conditions, the highest bidder/offeror shall be the Purchaser, subject to the approval of the bid by the vendor.

5. AUCTIONEERS’ DISCRETION

The Auctioneers have the right to:
a) Refuse any bid.
b) Advance the bidding at their discretion and at such minimum increment as they in their absolute discretion direct.
c) Decide whether there has been a dispute as to the bidding and, if so, immediately re-offer the lot in question.
d) Divide, combine, and withdraw any lots.
e) Exclude any person from the Auction process.

6. VENDORS RIGHTS

Lots offered for sale are subject to the following:
a) Any reserve price placed by the Vendor. Reserves must be reasonable and Top Brand Auctions may decline to offer goods which in their opinion would be subject to an unreasonably high reserve (in which case those goods carry the storage and insurance charges stipulated in the terms of consignment).
b) The right of the Auctioneers to bid on behalf of the Vendor.
c) When a reserve price has been placed (but in no other case) for the Vendor to bid personally or through any agent. d) Once set the reserve cannot be changed without Top Brand Auctions consent.
e) VAT at the applicable local rate if appropriate.

7. DUTIES OF PERSONS PRESENT AND PURCHASERS AND PAYMENT TERMS

7.1 All persons present at an auction sale and or taking part in an on-line auction agree to refrain from conduct which may cause a nuisance to others present
7.2 Upon the Auctioneer declaring any lot sold, the Purchaser shall immediately:
a) Declare his or her name and pay the full purchase price and the Auctioneers’ premium (otherwise known as the Buyers Premium), plus any chargeable VAT, unless prior approval has been obtained from the Auctioneer to pay upon the fall of the hammer a deposit of £100.00 and the Auctioneers’ premium. A handling charge of £3.00 per lot will apply to any lot held on, requiring or containing a pallet. Where a deposit has been approved by the Auctioneer, the balance must be paid in full on the day of the sale or by 12 noon the following day.

b) On proof of payment in full, clear any lot expeditiously and at the latest by the date and times specified in clause 7.3.

c) Pay the Auctioneers premium (Buyers premium) at the rate specified (at 18% unless otherwise specified in the notice to bidders and conditions of auction) of the price realised for each lot, whether sold by auction or private treaty, plus VAT thereon (such premium to belong to the Auctioneers).

d) Should payment not be received within the timescales specified in clause 7 then the Auctioneer reserves the right to retain any deposit paid and resell the lot.

7.3 The time for complying with clause 7.2 above shall be the time specified in the Auction catalogue, or if no time specified there, 4.00 pm on the next working day after the offer / bid was accepted, and in every case time shall be of the essence.

7.4 Top Brand Auctions may at any time at their sole discretion grant the Purchaser an extension of time for complying with clause 7.2 above, in which case the Purchaser shall pay to the Auctioneer in full before moving or removing the Lot interest on any unpaid sums at a rate of 4 per cent above the Bank base rate in force at the time of the sale.

7.5 Payment to be made in Sterling unless otherwise specified in the Auction Sale Catalogue.
Payment will be accepted by:
a) Cash up to an amount of £10,000.00
b) Telegraphic transfer to the account specified in the Auction Catalogue.
c) Bankers draft.

7.6 Until the Purchaser has complied with clause 7.2 above:-
a) Title to any Lot bought shall not pass to the Purchaser.
b) The lot shall be at the Purchasers risk.
c) The Auctioneer shall have a lien over any Lot bought by the Purchaser in the Auction.

8. LIABILITY OF THE AGENTS/AUCTIONEERS AND VENDORS

a) Lots are sold with all faults and defects and with all errors of description and neither Vendor or the Agents/Auctioneers are responsible for any defects whatsoever. All implied conditions relating to description, fitness and quality are accordingly excluded;
b) Subject to c) below, the Vendor and the Agents/Auctioneers do not make or give, nor has any person in the employment of the Agents/Auctioneers any authority to make or give, any express representation or warranty with regard to any lot except that the Vendor has the right to sell it.
c) Where a lot bears a specific catalogue description required by the vendor indicating quality (for example “good condition”) this description shall be taken to be made on the authority of the Vendor alone. The vendor will indemnify the Agent /auctioneer against any claim brought for misrepresentation.
d) The Vendor indemnifies the Agents/Auctioneers that he has the right to sell any lot offered for sale by the Agents/Auctioneers on behalf of the Vendor.
e) It is hereby expressly agreed that the Vendors and Agents/Auctioneers shall have no personal liability hereunder or under any document executed pursuant hereto.

9. CATALOGUE DESCRIPTIONS

The Agents/Auctioneers undertake that care has been taken to see that the catalogue descriptions and advertisements are accurate and reliable, but these are necessarily statements of opinion and must not be relied upon as statements of fact, neither the Vendor nor the Agents/Auctioneers are responsible for errors of description, the genuineness, attributes or authenticity of any lot.
There are no warranty or guarantee with any lots whatsoever all lots are sold as seen , all lots are sold per item, the auctioneer strongly recommend that the bidder toughly inspect any lot in question and is deemed to be satisfied before bidding under no circumstances will the auctioneer or vendor refund any lots once the hammer has fallen.

10. PROPERTY IN LOTS AND TRANSFER OF RISK

The Purchaser shall not become the owner of any lot and the Agents/Auctioneers shall not have any lien thereon, until the lot has been paid for in full, but nevertheless each lot is at the sole risk of the Purchaser from the fall of the hammer or upon receiving notification of successful bids and the Purchaser shall be responsible for providing appropriate insurance cover from this time.

11. DEFAULT BY THE PURCHASER

If the Purchaser fails to pay for or remove any lots purchased by him, or in any way fails to comply with these Terms and Conditions of Sale, the Agents/Auctioneers shall have the right to:

a) Sell the lots without notice to the Purchaser, and if any loss arises from such a resale after deducting the Agents/Auctioneers’ full costs and expenses, the Purchaser shall be responsible to the Agents/Auctioneers for that loss.

b) Where deposit is paid, to forfeit that deposit.

c) To charge interest on any unpaid balance at the rate of 4% above the Bank base rate.

d) To charge for storage arising after the time for removal at the current rate and to release the lots in question to the Purchaser only after payment in full of all storage and removal expenses incurred (as well as the full purchase price).

12. TITLE

Title will not pass to the purchaser until the auctioneer as agent for the vendor has received payment in full.

13. AGENCY AND COMMISSIONS

The Agents/Auctioneers execute commissions received in writing up to one hour before the sale, on condition that the relevant lots have been viewed by the bidder. No responsibility is accepted relating to commissions given to staff other than the Agents/Auctioneers nominated individual.

14. SAFETY OF PLANT AND MACHINERY

a) Purchasers are reminded that under current Health & Safety legislation the sale and use of machinery, the Agent / Auctioneers will so far as is reasonably practical check that all lots sold comply with the provisions and duties of section 6 of the Health and Safety at work Act 1974 and within the meaning of Section 53 of the Act. Accordingly the purchaser undertakes not to use any lot purchased until satisfied that it complies with the relevant local Legislation and Regulations relating to such machines and implements and to indemnify the Agent / Auctioneers against any failure to observe this undertaking.

b) All goods are sold as used and are not supplied as new unless the catalogue clearly states the contrary.

15. REMOVAL OF GOODS

a) The Purchaser is responsible for removing all goods purchased within the timeframe specified in clause 7.3 and undertakes to do so safely and lawfully in accordance with local Health and Safety legislation and regulations and having due regard for safe systems of work where the goods are to be removed from any site owned, occupied or operated by the Agents/Auctioneers.

b) Removal to be completed within one week after the date of purchase, and only once payment has been received, unless a different time is specified in the Auction / Sale catalogue.

c) The Purchaser is responsible to ensure any and all contractors, sub-contractors or employees are qualified and competent in the removal of any purchased items and will operate with due regard to risks inherent in the removal of any equipment. The Purchaser will be responsible for undertaking any assessment of risk, deemed appropriate in connection with the removal of any purchased goods and ensure that the suitable method statements are prepared addressing such risk. Moreover, such consideration will be required from any contractors or sub-contractors employed in the removal of any purchased goods.

For Wednesday Auctions:
Collection to be made by Monday 4pm – if not collected by this time a £10 per day storage charge will be incurred.
If goods are not collected by the following Wednesday: We take £30 storage charge, re-auction the goods and the bidder will be blocked from i-bidder.

16. AGENTS/AUCTIONEERS RIGHTS REF DAMAGE

In the case of a Purchaser causing damage not covered by condition 15 the Agents/Auctioneers shall be entitled to exercise a lien in respect of any and all lots purchased by the Purchaser until such damage or loss has been paid for in full, whether or not the lots or any of them have been paid for in full, such loss and damage to be assessed by the Agents/Auctioneers whose decision shall be final. The Agents/Auctioneers’ assessed sum shall be paid by the Purchaser upon receipt of invoice and payment shall be made forthwith, time being of the essence.

17. INSOLVENCY AND DEATH

Where the Agents/Auctioneers conduct a sale on behalf of a Vendor who is an Administrative Receiver, an Administrator or a Liquidator of a limited company or Trustee in Bankruptcy of an individual: The Vendors shall only act as an agent on behalf of the company or bankrupt (as the case may be) and shall be under no personal liability whatsoever in respect of the contract for sale of any lots; The Vendor, and the Agents/Auctioneers on his behalf, sell whatever right, title or interest the company or the bankrupt may have in the lot;

In the event of any third party proving to have a superior title to right to custody or possession of any lot the Vendor may rescind the contract of sale and upon return of any deposit and/or purchase price to the Purchaser, neither the Vendor nor the Agents/Auctioneers shall be under any further liability to the Purchaser;

If before title to any lot has passed to the Purchaser, the Purchaser, being an individual, dies or enters into a composition or arrangement for the benefit of his creditors or has a Bankruptcy Order made against him, or being a body corporate, has a Receiver or a Receiver and Manager appointed or goes into administration, liquidation or enters into an arrangement for the benefit of its creditors, then in all such cases the contract for sale for such lot may be, at the Agents/Auctioneers’ discretion, rescinded without notice to the said Purchaser. Upon rescission, any deposit paid by the Purchaser shall be forfeited and the Agents/Auctioneers shall be entitled to exercise the rights set out in these conditions of sale on the basis of default by the Purchaser.

18. AGENTS/AUCTIONEERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE CATALOGUE DESCRIPTIONS

Bidders and Purchasers shall be deemed to have accepted that warranties or guarantees appearing in the catalogue have been specifically authorised by the Vendors and the Agents/Auctioneers disclaim all personal liability arising there from.

19. HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974

Section 6 (8) of the Act – In certain instances it may be necessary for the Purchaser to give a written undertaking pursuant to Section 6 (8) of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 (HSWA).

Asbestos / Hazardous Substances
It is expressly brought to the Purchaser’s attention that certain types of plant and equipment could contain asbestos, dangerous chemicals, etc. which if not handled correctly during their removal from the site could be in breach of the HSWA, the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 as amended and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (COSHH) or any other current legislation covering the use of such substances in a working environment.

All purchasers must comply with all current legislation and regulation, including the Water Industry Act 1991 in relation to the removal/disposal of waste/trade effluent including hazardous waste and may be required to satisfy Top Brand Auctions in relation to their disposal/removal procedures. Where waste materials are removed all work must be undertaken by an approved and licensed contractor.

PLEASE NOTE:
A sale by commercial trade auction is not a consumer sale therefore the 1989 Consumer Protection Acts of Law do not apply in respect to Low voltage Electrical Equipment (Safety Regulations), Furniture and Furnishing (Fire Safety Regulations) and Toys (Safety Regulations)

All visitors to the Top Brand Auction site do so at their own risk. Children are not permitted on the site at any time.