Book Auction
Concepts/Operational Procedures
Auctioneer acting as Agent for Bidder:
A bidder may request that the auctioneer or a person designated by the auctioneer act on the behalf of the bidder. The Bidder will provide written (e-mail is OK) instructions in the form of specifying:
1. The item or items to be bid on
2. The price which is firm to be bid on each item
or
3. The maximum price to be bid on any item with the understanding that the auctioneer (or agent*) act as a live bidder and bid only so that the lowest price be obtained.
In case "2" (above) the bidder's instructions are essentially, "I wish to bid $XX for item YY." It is a firm bid and at a single price.
In case "3" (above) the bidder's instructions are essentially, "I wish to have the auctioneer (or auction house) bid on item YY up to $XX." The effect of having the auctioneer act as agent is the same as having a third party doing the bidding from the floor of the auction house. There is an inherent conflict of interest in this arrangement since the auction house benefits from selling any item at a higher price. The integrity of the auctioneer (or auction house) is a stake in this case in carrying out the wishes of the bidder and acting as a faithful agent. This integrity can be easily tested since records of bids would be kept for a designated period, and be open to inspection, but only open to bidders (or their agents properly authorized) and to proper government officials.
Records of bids are kept intact for 14 days after the end of the auction and then are destroyed (or erased).
*The agent may be someone designated by the auctioneer or the auction house to act in behalf of and only in behalf of the bidder. Technically and legally, it is the same as if the bidder were to designate a third party, often in secret, to bid on an item or items on behalf of the bidder.
We list all bids next to the item on the web page. We do not identify the bidder.
Inquiry on bidding carries a cost of $5 to cover copying, handling, and postage. If a bidder has requested the auctioneer to act as agent, then that bidder has the right to obtain copies of e-mail or other written documents relative to a specific item and the attendant bidding. This means that anonymity of bidders by U.S. Mail or by e-mail does not exist. At auctions, there is limited anonymity of bidders to the extent that other bidders may or may not know the identity of any bidder. However, all bidders must register at the outset of the auction to have the right to participate and are given some kind of identification.
Bidding increments:
In order to allow reasonable increments (money amounts) on bids, the following schedule is authorized:
up to $5: 25 cent increments
$5 up to $10.00: 50 cent increments
$10. up to $20: $1 increments
@20 up to $50: $2 increments
$50 up to $200: $5 increments
$200 up to $500: $10 increments
$500 up to $2,000: $20 increments
$2,000 and up: $50 increments
Conditions of Payment:
Payment may be in cash, check or money order.
Time must be allowed for check to clear.
Personal checks are acceptable, subject to clearance.
Payment must be made within two (2) working days of the end of the auction. Delivery into the U.S. Mail (or other systems) will be sufficient proof of prompt payment. It is recommended that e-mail notification of posting of payment be made since mail delivery varies widely.
If payment is not received within 10 working days of the end of the auction, the sale (and bid) is declared void and the next lowest bidder obtains the item (if that person still wants it).
Any defaults on payment will exclude the defaulter from further business with the auction house.
Conditions of Shipment:
Items are normally shipped by U.S. Mail (USPS) and uninsured. If the bidder wishes to insure the item, that cost will have to be added to the bidder's cost.
" + S&H " is defined as "Plus shipping and handling" which includes packaging, postage and delivery to the USPS and may vary from item to item.
Many persons prefer United Parcel Service (UPS) which roughly costs three times that of parcel post within the U.S., but is insured at modest cost. [We have found UPS to be very reliable.]
Shipping does not occur until payment has cleared.
Auction Schedule:
Auctions are held once a month, for the first seven (7) calendar days of each month. Therefore, as an example, the auction opens at 12:01 a.m. on September 1st and closes at midnight (11:59+ p.m.) on September 7th.
No bids dated before or after the above seven day period will be accepted.
The auction catalog will be posted to the Internet one week before the end of each month.
Auction Content in Types of Books:
The following subject categories will be covered:
Aviation
Cinema / Movies / Motion Pictures / Hollywood
Political topics / Politics / Government / Governance / Management of Government / Governmental Operations
Rare books and First Editions
Remainders / Over-runs of publishers
Railroads and Railroading
Sports
War