How to Bid at Auction
Ingles & Hayday is a global leading auction house. We hold two fine and rare instrument auctions a year in London. Tim Ingles and Paul Hayday have over forty-five years’ collective experience of auctioneering and are available to guide you through every step of the process. Here you will find a guide on how to buy at auction and more detailed information can be found in the links below.
Absentee / Telephone Bidding
Absentee bids and telephone bids may be accepted until 10am on the day of the auction.
Bidding Online
Registering to bid online is available until 2pm on the day of the auction.
Bidding on the Day
You may register to bid in person outside the Book Room from 1pm on the day of the auction
Simple Steps to Buying at Auction
1. Viewing & Playing
Public viewing – All lots are on public view at Sotheby’s for two days prior to the auction and you are welcome to play on all instruments. Click here for our forthcoming viewing dates.
Private appointments – You are welcome to try instruments or bows in a more private setting, prior to our public view at Sotheby’s, at our 77 Great Titchfield Street office. In some instances, musicians may borrow an instrument or bow to try in their professional environment. Please contact us at info@ingleshayday.com or +44 (0)20 7042 7337 to arrange an appointment.
2. Bidding & Buying
In person – You may register to bid on the day of the auction by completing a registration form outside the saleroom at Sotheby’s. You will receive a numbered paddle with which to execute your bid. There is no need to register in advance to bid in the saleroom. Please note, we require photo ID to complete registration.
Online – You may bid online during the auction via Ingles & Hayday’s online bidding platform. Registration for online bidding is open 30 days prior to the auction. In order to complete registration for online bidding, you will be required to submit a copy of your photo ID, read more
Leave an absentee bid – Leave your maximum bid with us prior to the auction and the auctioneer will bid up to this amount on your behalf. To register, please complete our registration form by 10am on the day of the auction. Absentee bidding is subject to approval and you will receive email confirmation that your bid has been accepted.
Telephone bidding – If you are unable to attend the auction but still wish to bid, you can register to bid by telephone. One of our trained telephone bidders will call you from the saleroom during the auction before your lot of interest. When you choose to bid, they will relay your bid to the auctioneer on your behalf. Please complete our registration form. We recommend returning your completed form at least five days before the auction.
Buyer’s premium – A buyer’s premium will be added to the hammer price of each lot and is payable by the buyer as part of the total purchase price. The buyer’s premium is 20% of the hammer price, which is in keeping with all of our of major competitors, and is subject to VAT. For further information on VAT, read more.
3. Payment & Shipping
Upon successful purchase of a lot, payment can be made via wire transfer in Sterling Pounds or by cheque. Debit card (Visa Debit, Connect or Maestro) and credit card (Visa or Mastercard) can only be used on the day of the sale up to a maximum of £10,000. Please note that lots may only be collected once payment has cleared. If you are unable to collect your lot in person, Ingles & Hayday can put you in contact with one of our recommended shippers. For further information on shippers, read more.