Alex Cooper's conducts two types of auctions:
- Nationally advertised Decorative and Fine Arts Auctions - Main Gallery sales conducted approximately every six weeks including furniture, clocks, paintings, decorations, porcelain and glass, jewelry, silver, oriental rugs and collectibles.
- North Gallery auctions - Held the day after or staggered in between Main Gallery sales. North gallery auctions, generally, are more moderately priced items and include reproduction and decorative furniture, paintings and prints, decorations, porcelain and glass, rugs and collectibles.
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Preview
There are several ways to preview the lots being offered for sale.
- Auction exhibition - We invite you to visit our gallery during preview held days prior to each auction. During exhibition days, auction items are displayed attractively throughout the gallery. Exhibition days allow you ample time to closely examine items of interest. Also on these days our knowledgeable staff can guide you through the vast selection of objects, thus helping you decide on which to bid. Printed catalogues are available for purchase at both the preview and auction. They contain descriptions and pre-sale estimates of each lot.
- Alex Cooper’s website – antiques.alexcooper.com provides full catalogue descriptions with pres-sale estimates, as well as multiple images of most lots. Our website also allows you to download a PDF catalogue, absentee bid form, and terms of sale. Since all lots are sold "as-is," it is important to request a condition report prior to placing a bid on any item.
- Artfact Live - In a partnership between Alex Cooper’s and Artfact.com, Artfact Live provides convenient internet access with catalogue descriptions and multiple images similar to our website. But most importantly, Artfact Live provides you the opportunity to view our auction items and bid absentee or live from anywhere in the world.
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Register
Before you can participate in any of our sales, whether live, absentee or through the internet, you must accept our Terms and Conditions. Please contact our antique auction department with any questions, to obtain additional information or appropriate forms.
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How to Bid
Once you have previewed the lots being offered, obtained a condition report for lots in which you have interest, there are several ways in which to participate in our auctions.
- Live Bidding - By registering at our reception desk the day of the sale, you will be issued an Alex Cooper paddle in order to signal your bid to the auctioneer. As the auctioneer calls bids, simply raise your bid paddle when you are comfortable with the amount being requested by the auctioneer. If you are the winning bidder, hold your paddle up high so the auction clerk can record your bidder number.
- Absentee Bidding - If you are unable to attend the sale, you can complete an absentee bid form (available in our gallery or downloadable through our website). Our intentions are to bid just as you would. The lot usually opens at one-half the low estimate and the auctioneer will implement your bid against live bids, telephone bids, internet bids, other absentee bids, and any applicable reserves, with the intention of obtaining the item at the lowest possible bid price. In the event identical absentee bids are submitted, the earliest bid submitted will take precedence, so please submit your bid forms as early as possible. Unless you are already an established Alex Cooper customer, absentee bidders must submit a 25% refundable deposit of the low estimate or left bid (whichever is higher) in order to qualify. Deposits may be in the form of cash or credit card. Absentee bids may not be implemented if submitted the day of sale.
- Telephone Bidding - Alex Cooper accepts telephone bidding on certain lots. Telephone bidders must be willing to begin the bidding at no less than $500. There is a limit to the number of telephones available, so please submit your bid forms as early as possible. Like absentee bids, telephone bids may not be implemented if submitted the day of sale. Telephone bidders complete the same form as absentee bidders and are recommended to leave a backup bid if we are unable to reach you during the auction. Unless you are already an established Alex Cooper customer, telephone bidders must submit a 25% refundable deposit of the low estimate in order to qualify. Deposits may be in the form of cash or credit card
- Internet Bidding - In a partnership between Alex Cooper's and Artfact, internet absentee and live bidding is available through Artfact Live. Internet bids are implemented electronically by the computers of Artfact Live and, similar to bids left directly with Alex Cooper’s, compete against other Artfact Live absentee and live bids, as well as auction floor live bids, absentee bids, telephone bids and applicable reserves. Artfact Live purchases will incur an online transaction fee in addition to the buyer’s premium and sales tax.
Bidding Increments
Alex Cooper Auctioneers uses the following increment multiples for all bidding, whether live, absentee, by telephone or internet. In the event an absentee bid is submitted outside of the increments, the bid will be placed at the lower increment.
Bid Range
$0 - $99
$100 - $499
$500 - $999
$1,000 - $1,999
$2,000 - $4,999
$5,000 - $9,999
$10,000 - $19,999
$20,000 - $49,999
$50,000 - $99,999
Increments
$ 10
$ 25
$ 50
$ 100
$ 250
$ 500
$ 1,000
$ 2,500
$ 5,000
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Buyer's Premium and Sales Tax
Alex Cooper's does not own the property that we sell at auction; instead we host an auction as a venue to bring buyers and sellers together. When an item is sold, Alex Cooper's receives a commission, a percentage of the hammer price paid by the consignor. We also collect a percentage of the hammer price from the buyer that we call a buyer's premium. A buyer's premium is added to your successful bid price for all purchases. Please read the terms prior to each sale to determine the applicable buyer's premium. The hammer price and buyer's premium are treated as the total purchase price and, therefore, is subject to a 6% (six percent) Maryland State sales tax.
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Payment
All buyers are required to submit payment and pick up purchases within five business days after the end of the auction. Payment may be made by cash, Mastercard or Visa credit card, wire transfer, certified check, or, with approval by Alex Cooper's accounting department, checks made payable to Alex Cooper Auctioneers, Inc. Please note that payment by personal or business check may result in property not being released until funds clear our bank.
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Removal of Purchases
Similar to our payment terms, your purchases must be removed from our gallery within 10 business days after the end of the auction. Shipping arrangements are the responsibility of the buyer. As a service, Alex Cooper's can provide the names of local shipping agents to handle your packing and shipping needs. Alex Cooper's recommends that purchasers receive an appraisal for any items to be shipped in case of damage or loss during the process. For international bidders, certain items sold at auction, such as ivory and tortoise shell, may be subject to import restrictions. Failure to remove your items within 10 business days after the end of the auction will incur a fee of $5.00 per day per item.
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