Terms & conditions

Please read the following terms and conditions carefully. Bidding in our auctions indicates acceptance of these terms. Please be aware that we are not a retail shop, and you are purchasing used items. There may be scratches, cracks or other blemishes. We attempt to show any issues in photographs, but we are human, so if you have any questions, please ask. 

  1. ALL PROPERTY SOLD “AS-IS, WHERE-IS,” ALL SALES FINAL. No warranty express or implied is provided by Casco Bay
    Auctions, LLC (hereafter referred to as Casco Bay Auctions) or its consignors. Catalog descriptions and condition reports are statements of opinion only, and in no way release the buyer from responsibility to make a full and careful assessment of the material prior to bidding. Buyers may submit requests for conditions prior to 48 hours before the beginning of a sale, and we will make our best effort to thoroughly answer their questions. However, Casco Bay Auctions makes no guarantee to the completeness of a condition report, and the responsibility to make a full assessment prior to bidding still lies with the bidder or bidder’s agent.

  2. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall be the purchaser. The auctioneer reserves the right to reject any bid. The
    auctioneer has the sole right to re-offer a lot and/or settle disputed bids. The record of sale kept by Casco Bay Auctions will be taken as final in the event of a dispute.

  3. At the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer,  bidder assumes full risk and responsibility for the property, including the obligation to pay the full purchase price including the hammer price, buyer’s premium and other applicable fees, including storage and internet bidding fees. Title to the property passes upon payment in full of hammer price, buyer’s premium and other applicable fees. 

  4. Casco Bay Auctions reserves the right to reject bids from any bidder, for any reason.

  5. A buyer’s premium will be added to the hammer price of each lot; the buyer’s premium for floor bidders and bidders using our in house
    online bidding platform is 23% of the final bid for credit card payments, discounted to 20% for cash and check. For bidders on LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable and AuctionZip, the buyer’s premium is 28%, discounted to 25% for cash or check.

  6. PAYMENT. Unless prior arrangements have been made, payment is due at the conclusion of the auction from bidders in the audience. For phone, internet and absentee bidders, payment is due within 5 days of the sale. Payment is accepted by cash, check, credit card and wire transfer. Casco Bay Auctions reserves the right to hold property until funds have cleared, and to require identification for payment from bidders without an established bidding history. Payment not received within 30 days will be charged a 1.5% monthly interest charge. Property not paid for may be resold, with the non-paying bidder responsible for the original buyer’s premium, and any shortfall between the original hammer price and the second hammer price. The bidder shall not be entitled to any surplus over the initial hammer price.

  7. PROPERTY PICK UP.  Shipping is the responsibility of the purchaser. We offer in house shipping for nearly everything. Per item 3, items are your responsibility at the fall of the hammer.

    • Customers may pick up their items at our Freeport, Maine gallery. Please call ahead to make an appointment.

    • Small items not picked up within 14 days will be moved to our shipping department, and buyers will receive a shipping invoice. As outlined in section 8, any items with unpaid invoices are forfeited to Casco Bay Auctions without refund.

    • Large items not picked up within 14 days will be charged a late pickup fee of $5 per item, per day. Pieces will not be released without payment of storage fees. Items not picked up within 60 days may be resold at the auctioneer’s discretion, with any proceeds less storage fees and a 30% commission remitted to the original buyer.

  8. SHIPPING. Casco Bay Auctions offers in house shipping for most items. Buyer is responsible for all shipping carrier charges, plus packing and handling costs as calculated by Casco Bay Auctions. In house shipping is not available for large artwork with glass, and the auction house reserves the right to refer shipments to a third party shipper as necessary. Casco Bay Auctions cannot be responsible for damage to frames. Insurance is required on all items over $200.

      • International buyers are responsible for all import duties and taxes. Casco Bay Auctions will not falsify prices paid on customs documents.

      • Any items with unpaid shipping invoices after 14 days are forfeited to Casco Bay Auctions without refund.

  9. Some lots carry reserves or minimum selling prices. This is a figure agreed upon by the consignor and the auction house below which a lot will not be sold. The auction house will execute the reserve bids. The reserve will not exceed the low estimate, but estimates can be changed either in writing or verbally by the auctioneer at any time prior to the offering of each lot. The auctioneer may withdraw lots prior to the offering of each lot. Per item 3, the auctioneer may reject any bid that is far below the value of the lot.

  10. PHONE BIDDERS. Under no circumstances will Casco Bay Auctions be responsible for problems incurred with telephone bidding.

  11. INTERNET BIDDING. Casco Bay Auctions utilizes several online bidding platforms. Bidders using those platforms agree to the terms of the bidding platform as well as CBA conditions of sale. Casco Bay Auctions shall not be liable for any errors or outages of the online bidding platforms we utilize. In the instance of an outage of one or more online bidding platforms, CBA reserves the right to postpone the sale to a later date.

  12. ENDANGERED SPECIES. Certain lots may contain materials from animals protected by federal or state law. It is the responsibility of the
    potential bidders to make sure shipment to their location is allowed.

  13. COMMUNICATION & PRIVACY POLICY. Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy, available at https://cascobayauctions.com/privacy-policy/. Buyers may also be contacted via email and/or text message by Casco Bay Auctions and our partners to facilitate transactions. You agree to receive these communications, which may sometimes fall outside of regular business hours.

  14. BREACH OF CONTRACT. If a buyer fails to fulfill their obligations under this agreement, Casco Bay Auctions may, at their discretion pursue any and all remedies, including but not limited to: cancelling the sale and retaining any payments made as liquidated damages, reselling the property privately or at public auction on behalf of the buyer, in which case the buyer shall be liable or all costs, including commission, storage, and any shortfall if the lot brings less than the original purchase price, removing the property to storage at the expense and risk of the buyer.