About our Live Auctions...
Preston Hall Gallery generally holds auctions six times a year. Join our mailing list to receive notice of upcoming auctions.
Previewing the Auction
All previews are by appointment only. To schedule a preview, contact us at 214-718-6624 or email us at info@prestonhallgallery.com
Read and Understand the Conditions of Sale
This is the single most important thing you should do before bidding at any auction. Unfortunately, it is the one thing that most bidders fail to do. Please take a few minutes to read and understand our Terms and Conditions. If you have any questions about them, please contact us and someone will try to address any concerns you might have. Do not wait until after you have made a purchase to clarify something in our Terms and Conditions.
The Terms and Conditions of Sale are the rules and regulations that govern each auction. Click here to download the Terms and Conditions of Sale. (Please read this carefully.)
Evaluate
If you are interested in a particular lot, contact us and we will provide as much information about the item as possible. Detailed condition reports are often available upon request.
Set a Limit
Before a sale, decide what your limit is on any item you wish to purchase. Don't get carried away by telling yourself "Just one more bid and I'll win." You never know how much a competing bidder is willing to spend. You don't have a lot of time during the auction to debate how much to spend, so plan ahead. Don't forget to factor in the buyer's premium, sales tax, if applicable, and shipping and packing charges.
Attending the Auction
Our auctions are held online only. The full online catalog and the auction itself are viewed at Live Auctioneers. We start at lot #1 and sell the lots in consecutive order at roughly 100 lots per hour.
Remember the Shipping and Packing Charges
Experienced auction buyers know that it costs money to have things packed and shipped. Bidders who are new to the auction world often forget to factor in these costs. Before bidding, try to get an estimate of the cost to pack and ship your item(s), should you be the successful bidder. If possible, give a call to a local packer and shipper, describe the item you are thinking about purchasing (approximate size, if possible, etc.) and tell them where you will be shipping the item from (Dallas, Texas) and to what Zip Code or address it needs to be shipped. Do not make the mistake of buying a painting the size of your refrigerator for $50 and thinking “What a bargain!” You must also factor in the cost of shipping and packing your purchase, which can sometimes turn your “bargain” into a “money pit”.
Be a wise auction buyer and you will always be a happy one!
Bidding
At a traditional auction, you raise your paddle to bid. If you want to be the successful bidder, you keep raising your paddle until the auctioneer declares you the winner. At an online auction, you "raise" your "virtual" paddle by clicking on the bid button. Keep clicking to raise your bid amount and to become the winner! Remember, there is an additional charge (Buyer's Premium) added to all items, plus sales tax, unless you have a valid resale license on file with us.
It is important to remember when bidding at our online auctions, that they are held and conducted just like non-virtual auctions held inside an auction house or gallery. You may be competing with telephone bidders and absentee bids, not just other online or Internet bidders.
Absentee/Telephone Bid
You may leave an absentee bid if you can't or don't want to be present online during the auction. We will act as your agent and bid for you. In the case of absentee bids, we do not start with your maximum bid unless there are multiple bids below yours that force us to open the bidding with your highest bid. We will always try to buy a lot for the lowest price possible. About 80% of the successful absentee bids are sold for less than the maximum. To leave an absentee bid or to request a telephone bid, download the Absentee/Telephone Bid Form and fax it back to us. Telephone bidding slots are limited. If we cannot accommodate you, we will contact you in advance of the auction and you may leave an absentee bid instead.
Bid Live Online On Our Next Sale: July 25, 2016 10:00am PT
BID LIVE At Our Upcoming Auction | View Full Online Catalog
Payment
If you are the winning bidder, you will receive an invoice via email shortly after the sale. This email will contain a link that will allow you to indicate by which method you will be paying. If you are paying by credit card, you can enter your card information at that time using the link provided in your email. Please refer to the payment info page and review the Terms and Conditions of Sale for more detailed information on paying for your purchased lots.
Shipping and Pick Up Of Purchased Items
Preston Hall Gallery is not responsible for shipping any purchases. All items should be paid for the day of the sale and picked up preferably on the second weekday after the sale (our offices are closed for pickups on Mondays), but in any case, no later than 5 (five) business days after the auction, or a storage charge may be levied. No item may be picked up until full payment has been received. In cases where payment is made by check, you will not be able to redeem your purchase until the check has cleared and the funds have been credited to our account. You or your agent are responsible for bringing your own boxes and packing material for all items, small or large, and your own crew to assist with the moving and loading of any items. Our staff is not responsible for carrying items to your vehicle. A list of independent movers is available here. If you are having an item shipped to you, you must fax us an authorized release form.
Selling at Preston Hall Gallery
Most property at Preston Hall Gallery is sold on consignment, for which the auction house may receive a commission, but occasionally we will purchase an entire estate or offer items at auction that we own or have an ownership interest in.
Send Us Photos
You can mail or email photos to Preston Hall Gallery by addressing them to info@prestonhallgallery.com or mail them to Appraisals, Preston Hall Gallery, 2201 Main Street, #820, Dallas, Texas 75201.
If possible, include measurements and 2-3 photos of each item from various angles. Also, include as much information as you can about your item(s).
Because of the large volume of requests we receive, we can only give estimates on 2-3 items per person via mail or email. We cannot give jewelry appraisals based on photos. All estimates based on photos may change at such time that we physically inspect the items.
If you’re primarily interested in whether we will accept your items for auction, you may include photos of up to 15 of what you consider to be the best or most representative items, with a description of what other items you have.
Please include your phone number and email address in case we have additional questions.
Preston Hall Gallery generally tries to have a minimum value per consignment of $1200 overall, or $100 for a single item, although there are some exceptions from category to category.
Consignment Agreement
Download a copy of the Master Consignment Agreement. This Agreement may be modified to meet a consignor’s specific needs, and consignment fees may vary depending on the items being consigned.