1. Terms and Conditions
Thies Auctions LLC (henceforth “auction house”), represented by the primary partner, Andreas Thies, along with the approved auctioneer, Michael
Everett, will sell the lots offered as part of catalogs published by the auction house on behalf of consignor or consignors. The general auction terms and
conditions apply not only before the auction, but also after the auction and in any moments of sale. A submission of a bid indicates the terms and conditions
herein and forthwith are accepted.
2. Authenticity and Return policy
The auction house guarantees the authenticity of all items, excluding those
marked as reproductions or repaired. Legitimate claims against a purchased
item’s authenticity must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of
invoice. Any returns must be discussed with the auction house before submission. Although we offer a condition guide within the catalogue to help customers determine quality in tandem with our photographs and descriptions, we
highly recommend a visit to view the objects at our auction house, as there is
no substitute for examining these objects in person. All items are sold in their
stated condition (“as is”) at the time of bidding. Any return request submitted
on the grounds of condition will not be accepted. Returns of any kind will
not be accepted after our accounts have been settled with the consignor(s),
60 calendar days from the close of the auction. All return requests must be
submitted by the original bidding customer of the auction; any return requests
submitted by a third party (such as a customer of the original bidding customer) will not be accepted under any circumstances.
3. Bidding
All customers must register prior to bidding. Customers may place bids live in person or internet stream. In order to bid via internet stream, customers must
also register to use an internet bidding platform as designated on our website.
the auction house also accepts bids via email, fax, and postal mail provided
such a bid is sent with sufficient lead time. Customers who choose to submit
bids in writing must include the lot number as well as a maximum bid. Such
bids will be given as much consideration as live bids. Customers who choose
to conduct bidding via telephone must submit beforehand the lots on which
they intend to bid. The auction house will call each telephone customer five
lots before their desired lot reaches the podium. Each bid is a contract to
purchase; the bidder is personally liable for the monetary amount of any bids
placed, even if he or she bids on behalf of a third party.
4. Auction proceedings
Auctioning will most often commence in the lot sequence listed in the catalog.
However, the auctioneer retains the right to combine, separate, skip, or resequence lots as he deems fit. The auctioneer will typically progress the
bidding on each lot in monetary increments of 10%, although he may deviate the
escalation at his discretion.
The auctioneer may elongate or shorten the presentation time of each lot, to include the time between the presumed highest
bid and the fall of the hammer. The auctioneer will call the highest bid three
times before striking the hammer. In the rare case of two equal high bids, the
auctioneer retains the right to determine the winning bidder; however, in any
case of ambiguity or doubt regarding the highest bid, the auctioneer may elect
to repeat the auctioning of the lot from the starting price; until such a decision
is made, all bids are binding.
The auctioneer retains the right to reach the specified reserves of consignors,
and, as such, may submit bids throughout the proceeding in order to meet
said specified reserve. Should the hammer price still not meet the specified
reserve of the consignor, the winning bidder is bound to the hammer price for
30 calendar days while the auction house and the consignor reach a decision
regarding the sale; the consignor retains the right to refuse the sale of a lot that
has not reached its assigned reserve. Additionally, the auctioneer may, under
the direction of the consignor, cease the auctioning of a lot at any time during
its display or presentation.
Regarding attending the live auction, the auction house retains the right to
exclude persons from attending the auction without stating a reason.
5. Billing and Taxes
Customers will receive invoices within 7 business days of the auction’s close.
The invoice amount owed will reflect both the hammer price of each lot won,
calculated shipping, plus a 20 % buyer’s premium. This buyer’s premium covers auction house expenditures related to the storage, care, insurance, etc.,
for each lot. Additionally, international customers should expect to pay all
customs fees in accordance with the laws of their respective governments.
Attendees of the live auction who wish to settle their invoice and retrieve
their lot(s) immediately should report to 403 Chatham Square Office Park,
Fredericksburg, VA 22405 within the business hours of 0800 and 1700 EST.
It is important to note that attendees of the live auction will be subject to pay
5% VA state (Stafford County) sales tax in addition to the hammer price of
each lot and the 20% buyer’s premium.
All processed invoices are subject to review and possible correction ex post
facto up to 60 calendar days, which could result in money owed to either
the auction house, the consignor or the customer. All overpayments will be
credited.
6. Customer Payment Liability
All payments are due no later than 7 business days from the receipt of invoice.
The auction house accepts all major credit cards, domestic checks and money
orders, and wire transfers. Wire transfers must process fully no later than 12
business days from the receipt of invoice. Customers who elect to use a wire
transfer as their payment method are solely responsible for paying the transfer
fees instituted by their bank. Title of ownership of each lot transfers to the
customer only when the full invoiced amount is received and processed.
Customers who do not meet their payment obligations may be reported to
a credit agency, and their balance may be outsourced to a debt collector.
Alternatively, the auction house may, at its sole discretion, elect to either send
the lot(s) to auction once again, or sell the items privately; in such a case, the
customer will still be liable for the 20% buyer’s premium. The auction house
reserves the right to refuse bids in future auctions from customers who have
not met their previous payment obligations.
7. Shipping and Insurance
Items will ship only after payment is received and fully processed. Packages
will ship within 7 business days of payment processing. The auction house
will process shipments through either FedEx or USPS. Requests for any other
carriers must be expressly arranged with the auction house at the time of
payment. Shipment tracking information will be provided at the customer’s
request.
All shipment costs will include applicable insurance. Any insurance claims
must be reported to both the auction house and the shipment carrier within the
30-calendar-day return window. As each item sold is an antique and delicate
in nature, the auction house makes all attempts to present accurate condition
and wear information to customers, encourages visits to study the items, and
packages all items for shipment with the utmost professional care; with these
safeguards in place, the auction house maintains a warranty for each item’s
authenticity only and does not accept monetary responsibility for any material
defect occurring during transit or once the item has been received.
8. Condition Guide:
1 = Mint
2 = Excellent
3 = Fine
4 = Poor
Every item listed is an antique and was, in its era, intended for use. Thus, all
items will exhibit natural wear. Any defects beyond typical aging or repairs
will be listed in the item description. Restoration efforts, unless clearly
assessed, may not be included in the description. The auction house encourages all customers to inspect items thoroughly before placing bids. Returns
requested on the grounds of condition discrepancy will not be honored.
9. Disclosure
To protect the public with respect to all of our customers, our company is
committed to the utmost care and prudence in dealing with contemporary
historical items from the era of the Third Reich.
Our company does not seek to glorify any aspect of the Third Reich. We do not endorse fascism, racism, or
fundamentalism of any kind. The depicted items from the Third Reich serve
only the purposes of civic information, defense of unconstitutional efforts,
art, science, research or teaching, and current affairs or history, and are auctioned merely as artifacts.
If you are a customer who resides in Germany, by owning this catalogue
you agree to the above in accordance with (§§ 86 a, 86 StGB). Our company
accepts bids only from those German citizens who are committed to strict
compliance of this statute.
Similarly, if you are a customer who resides in a country with statutes restricting the purchase, sale, shipment, import, possession, etc. of these historical
items, you agree that you are solely responsible for knowing and complying
with the laws of your government.
10. Legal information
The auction house conducts the live auction and all sales in the state of
Virginia, USA, and follows all of the laws and regulations of its jurisdiction.
furthermore, the licensed and bonded auctioneer complies fully with all laws
and regulations set forth by the Auctioneer’s Board of the State of Virginia.
The auction house, its agents, the auctioneer, or the owner of any rented facilities shall not be held liable to any person for damages to their person or property while in, on, our about the auction house premises or rented facilities,
nor shall they be held liable for any defects. All persons are on the premises
at their own risk and shall defend, indemnify, and save the auction house, its
agents, the auctioneer, and/or the owner of any rented facilities from any and
all liability whatsoever.
The laws and regulations of the
state of Virginia and the United States shall apply for all legal proceedings between the customer
and auction house or the customer and auctioneer, even if the litigation is
conducted abroad.