How to buy
Buying at auction
Buying at auction should be fun, rewarding, and exciting. Here are a few tips to help make it easy.
Research is key
Find out what we have to offer by exploring our website. We provide email alerts to our clients about our upcoming auctions and auction results.
Make sure you know how and when the auction is offered. Specific details are included in the email alerts and on our website. Be sure to note if the auction is conducted live or online. If offered online, it is important to be aware of the closing date and time. All our auctions include a live and online preview; check the dates and times of both.
Explore the online catalogue
Every item we offer is researched by our specialists and presented with an image, description and estimate enabling you to bid confidently. A printed catalogue may be available for some auctions. Online catalogues can be found by selecting an auction on our upcoming auctions page.
Attend the preview if possible
Examine items of interest and take advantage of the expertise of our specialists who are available to answer your questions.
Make sure you know what you are bidding on:
- Condition of the item. Condition reports are available.
- Dimensions of the item.
Understand associated costs and charges
Buyer's premium and applicable taxes are added to the hammer (final) price.
Buyer's premium: The buyer shall pay the auctioneer a commission at the rate of 20% on the hammer price, plus VAT of 23% (applied only to the commission) on all individual lots.
Registration is required to bid
Registration is required for all auctions, live and online. There is no charge for registering.
Registration for a live auction can be completed at the preview for an auction or on the night of the auction. Upon completion of registration you will be assigned a bidder's number.
Registration for an online auction must be completed online. You only need to register once to participate in all of our online auctions. Register here.
Bidding
Live auction bidding
Bidding in person: raise your hand or bidding number. After your first bid, the auctioneer will watch for you.
Absentee bids: if you cannot attend the auction, you may register an absentee bid with our office. We will assign a staff member to bid on your behalf to purchase the item at the lowest bid not exceeding your specified maximum. Absentee bids must be received at least four hours prior to the auction. Click here to fill out our Absentee Bid Form. Not for use in online auctions.
Telephone bids: A member of our staff will bid during the auction on your behalf. You will be contacted by telephone just prior to the item being offered. You must contact our office at least four hours in advance of the auction to arrange telephone bidding. Please note due to volume of telephone bid requests, this service is available on a first come, first served basis. Click here to fill out our Telephone Bid Form. Not for use in online auctions.
Online auction bidding
Place online bids anytime up to the noted end time for the desired lot. If a bid is received in the final five minutes of the auction, the countdown clock is reset an additional five minutes, until no further bids are received. You can leave absentee bids by entering the maximum amount you would like to bid up to. The software will bid on your behalf up to that amount.
Bidding increments for online auctions
| Price range | Increment |
|---|---|
| €0 – €99 | €10 |
| €100 – €499 | €20 |
| €500 – €999 | €50 |
| €1,000 – €2,999 | €100 |
| €3,000 – €6,999 | €200 |
| €7,000 – €12,999 | €500 |
| €13,000 – €29,999 | €1,000 |
| €30,000 – €69,999 | €2,000 |
| €70,000 – €149,999 | €5,000 |
| €150,000 – €299,999 | €10,000 |
| €300,000 – €599,999 | €20,000 |
| Over €600,000 | €50,000 |
You may leave a maximum bid which will instruct the computer to bid on your behalf only as much as required to remain the highest bidder up until your maximum bid.
Create a Morgan O'Driscoll account
You can create an account by signing up and registering your particulars online. You can leave absentee bids online, create your own watch list, follow artists you may be interested in, view your bidding history and winning bids, and update your account profile as well as other useful functions including paying your invoice.
After the auction
Live auction payment
Payment for purchases must be made within 48 hours of the auction. We accept payment by:
- Cash
- Bank draft
- Electronic transfer
- Visa or Mastercard
- Debit card
If you are not present at the time of the auction you will receive an invoice via email. Payment can then be made using our online payment option or any of the methods mentioned above.
Online auction payment
After you have won an item in an online auction please wait to receive an invoice via email. Payment can be made using our online payment option or any of the methods mentioned above.
Shipping, collections and storage
There are a number of options available with regard to shipping, collections and storage subject to our Terms and Conditions.
- Items may be collected from our Skibbereen office at No.1 Ilen St., Skibbereen, Co. Cork, +353 (0) 28 22338 during office hours at no additional cost. Please arrange this in advance so that the collections department shall have it taken out of storage and ready for collection.
- Items may be collected from our Dublin office at Lis Cara Business Centre, 51-52 Fitzwilliam Square West, Dublin 2, +353 (0) 1 6650425 during office hours, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) at no additional cost. As all items are stored in our Skibbereen office we must be advised to have your purchased lots delivered to the Dublin office. All payments are made through our Skibbereen office before items are taken to Dublin. Items are generally delivered to our Dublin office between 10 to 14 days after a sale.
- Delivery within the 32 counties of Ireland can be arranged at a cost starting from €40 including VAT for items up to approximately 102cm x 102cm. It is possible to ship a number of items in one parcel and pay only one shipping charge. Please request insurance if required.
- For shipping within the European Union and internationally, please request a quotation. If any import or export licences are required it is up to the customer to arrange this at their own expense. Our shipping department is available to help with any enquiries you may have.
- Items must be paid for and collected within 7 days after the sale. Items not collected are liable to a storage charge (1% of the hammer price or a minimum of €15 per item per week).
Packing and shipping
All due care and attention will be paid to the packing and shipping of your framed work(s) of art.
Unless you have instructed us to remove the glass from the frames, where the work of art is framed with glass, the Shipping Department of Morgan O'Driscoll will package the item(s) in such a way as to prevent damage, within reason.
Items with glass are not insured for damage to the glass. Please refer to this passage from Morgan O'Driscoll's Terms and Conditions:
16. The buyer shall be responsible for all packing and shipping costs for the purchased property. Purchased Lots may be packed and handled by the Auctioneer, its employees, servants or agents. Where this is done it is undertaken solely as a courtesy to buyers and at the discretion of the Auctioneer. Under no circumstances shall the Auctioneer, its employees, servants or agents be liable for damage of any kind and howsoever caused to any purchased property as per our Conditions of Sale nor shall the Auctioneer be liable for the errors or omissions of, or for any damage caused by, any packers or shippers which the Auctioneer has recommended. If you wish to have an item delivered to your home or office within the 32 counties of Ireland this can be arranged with a local courier. (We do this as a courtesy to our customers and are not responsible for any loss or damage caused during delivery). Please contact our office to agree charges and timings.