A few basics will round out your Dawson & Nye auction experience. At Dawson & Nye, the first-time bidder and the veteran auction goer have an equal chance of "winning" an item -- known in auction parlance as a "lot" -- and enjoying the excitement of buying auction. Read further to better understand the auction experience.
Dawson & Nye accepts antiques and collectibles from consignors all over the country. These goods are photographed, their condition evaluated, and a pre-sale estimate determined by Dawson & Nye specialists. Along with a photograph and a description, the pre-sale estimate is listed in the catalog. A customer from anywhere in the world can then peruse the printed or online catalog and select a lot or lots for bidding.
Before each auction, Dawson & Nye hosts previews, or exhibitions, of the items to be auctioned. The previews are free of charge and open to the public. Knowledgeable auction house staff are available to answer questions about the lots. Antiques and collectibles, whose age and character lend them value, are sold "as is," so please look carefully and ask questions before you bid.
Most auctions take place on Saturday, with previews on the preceding Wednesday or Thursday. Again, the auctions are free and open to the public.
There are three ways to bid on an item, in person, by phone or by fax.
(You will need Adobe Reader to read our registration forms)
Please view our Conditions of Sale (PDF).
To participate in person, complete and fax us the Bidder Registration Form (PDF), so we can assign you a numbered paddle. At the auction, you can bid for items by raising the paddle. Each time a customer raises a paddle, the price of the lot increases, until the highest bidder wins the item.
To participate by phone, complete and fax us the Bidder Registration Form (PDF) and the Bidding Agreement for the Phone (PDF). During the auction, a Dawson & Nye staffperson represents you, while you give instructions by phone to bid further or to stop bidding.
To bid by fax, complete and fax us the Bidder Registration Form (PDF) and the Absentee Bidding Form (PDF), including a maximum price you are willing to pay for each lot selected. During the auction, Dawson & Nye staff will bid on your behalf, trying to win the lot at the lowest possible price. Dawson & Nye staff execute the customer.s bid as if it were their own.
Bidding rises in specified increments. Items thought to be worth $500 or more are accompanied by a pre-sale estimate. Bidding generally rises by about ten percent with each bid. The following chart shows the bidding increments for several price ranges.
| Bidding Increments | Estimate Price Range |
| $10 | under $100 |
| $25 | $100 - $500 |
| $50 | $500 - $1000 |
| $100 | $1000 - $2000 |
| $250 | $2000 - $5000 |
| $500 | $5000 - $10,000 |
| $1000 | $10,000 - |
Example: An antique doll has a pre-sale estimate of $30 - $80. Bidding begins at $30 and rises in ten dollar increments to $40, then $50, then $60. The winning bid -- known as the "hammer price" -- for the lot is $60.
Occasionally lots are "bought in," which means they are unsold. This happens when there are no bids on a lot or when the bids don't reach the "reserve price". The reserve price is a figure determined by Dawson & Nye and the consignor as the lowest possible price for which an item can sell. The reserve price is a percentage -- 80% or less -- of the low estimate.
Winning bidders can pay for items by cash, check and credit card. The final price of a lot includes applicable New Jersey Sales Tax and a "buyer.s premium," an 18% fee added to the hammer price.
Dawson & Nye experts are eager to share their knowledge and their enthusiasm for auction-buying, as well as to answer questions about specific items in the catalog, the bidding process, or making shipping arrangements. Contact us today.
