Buying
See how easy it is to buy at Auction Team Breker …
Even after 36 years as the world’s leading Specialty Auctions of “Technical Antiques”, we still get lots of questions from new clients and customers as well as beginning collectors.
We explain on our “Selling” page how easy it is to consign a single goody or entire collection via our international representatives (please see the phone and fax numbers on the previous page!) through our worldwide container shipping. Now we would like to explain how easy it is to buy directly at Auction Team Breker in Germany from your home or office .
No matter whether you are an advanced collector, a museum curator or director, an ambitious enthusiast or just a beginner, you will find your most wanted collector’s items and exhibit pieces in our world’s leading Specialty Auctions of “Technical Antiques”.
The fully illustrated catalogues are always mailed to subscribers 3-4 weeks prior to the sale and are distributed worldwide. They contain photographs of every item and include descriptions in German with English captions on the major items.
If you would like a complete English translation, just ask us or your closest international representative and we will get the description to you as quickly as possible (usually overnight). We will fax it to you directly to make bidding easier for you.
It is, of course, best to personally (or by friends) inspect the desired items during our convenient viewing times which are published in the catalogue.
Over the years we have sold more than 80% of all offered material to absentee bidders around the world. You can, with confidence, join the thousands of satisfied buyers who use our catalogues with photographs and accurate descriptions of each item. We don’t use flowery terms and we also provide separate ratings for both visual/cosmetic and technical conditions. We rate items on a scale of 1 – 6 (one being the best and six the worst) so that you have a true picture of each lot.
After studying our catalogue you are able to analyze the offered item perfectly. For example, a typewriter with condition rating of 4/2 means, visually or cosmetically the machine does not look good and shows its age, but technically it works well. On the other hand, an indicated rating of 2/5 tells you that the machine looks good, but does not work at all as important pieces are missing.
No matter whether you are an advanced collector, a museum curator or director, an ambitious enthusiast or just a beginner, you will find your most wanted collector’s items and exhibit pieces in our world’s leading Specialty Auctions of “Technical Antiques”.
The fully illustrated catalogues are always mailed to subscribers 3-4 weeks prior to the sale and are distributed worldwide. They contain colour photographs of every item and include descriptions in German with English captions on the major items.
If you find any lots you are interested in, simply fill out and sign the order form contained in the catalogue . You may also print the bid form on the next page. Indicate your maximum bid (excluding commission of 21.8% plus tax = total 25.94%) and mail or fax the form so that it reaches our office (or that of your closest representative) no less than two days before the auction. Bids by e-mail are not accepted.
We guarantee that we will not use your maximum bid (as most auction houses do), unless it is necessary to win the lot for you. If you take part in the auction as an absentee bidder, you can be assured of getting the items you want by sending high bids. Once again, we will not use the high bid unless we must to obtain the item for you! For example, if you bid EURO 1,000 on an item and the bidding in the auction hall goes to EURO 500, you will get the item for EURO 550 (plus 25.94% commission). The rest of your EURO 1,000 remains untouched! This way, even as an absentee bidder, you can by way of the high written bid be “present” at the auction without having to spend more money than you planned to.
You can indicate your preference for shipping (in case you are successful) on your bid sheet. The choices are Premium/airmail (approximately 1 week), Economy/SAL (approximately 2 weeks), airfreight, UPS, FedEx, Post office or personal pick-up.
The invoice for your winning lot will be mailed or faxed (overseas only) on the first workday after the auction. It will contain information on all bids and hammer price. We ask that all invoices be paid promptly. Our staff will prepare your packages and determine the most economical manner of shipping based on weight, number of boxes and volume. We suggest you pay these costs by credit card to avoid high bank charges. No matter where you live or what you’ve won, we will find a way to get your “goodies” to you safely.
After we receive full payment for the merchandise and shipping, your collectibles will be on their way … to enrich your collection.
See, how actually easy it is to buy as an absentee bidder from your home or office. The catalogue makes it simple. Don’t forget to order today by filling out the “Catalogue Order”page. Print it, mail it (with payment), or fax it with your credit card number and expiration date to our head office in Germany or to your nearest representative. For security reasons, no e-mail orders, please.
Good luck and happy hunting.