How do I place a bid?
Do I need a user name and password to participate?
How do I see what the current bid on a lot is?
How often do I need to check my bids?
How do I know I've been overbid?
What do I do if I'm overbid?
What do I do if I don't want to go any higher?
What is the Closing Date For Initial Bids?
When is the auction over?
How do I know I'm done?
What is my Initial Bid?
What is my Raise Bid?
What is my Final Bid?
How do I Drop a Lot?
Can I bid any amount I want?
Can I make a proxy bid? Or a jump bid?
What are the estimates in the lot descriptions for?
Are there reserve prices?
What if the lot doesn't reach the reserve price?
Why do you conduct your auctions this way?
I won one or more lots, now what?
When will my invoice arrive?
What is the Buyers Premium?
Is there sales tax?
Are there shipping fees?
What if I'm and IPS member?
What if I have a gift certificate?
How do I pay for my auction winnings?
Why is there a credit card processing fee?
What if I don't mind the credit card fee, and I still want to pay by credit card?
What if I will be away or on vacation during the auction?
How often do you have this kind of auction?
Can I view the weights before I bid?
Why is this called the "Catalog Auction"?
Can I purchase the catalogue?
Is this different from the "Online Auction"?
What if I still have questions or need more information?

Do I need a user name and password to participate?
No. This auction does not require any usernames or passwords. Everything is stored with us locally under your name and address. It is all held private and closely guarded. None of the information you leave is ever stored on the Internet.
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How do I see what the current bid on a lot is?
Go to: http://lhselmanltd.com/auc30/au30.html to see list of lots and current bid amounts. The amount listed next to each lot is the current bid in US dollars. This list will be updated at least twice a day. When you place your bids online, you can check the box that says "Daily Email Report" and you will be emailed this list of current bids daily.
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How often do I need to check my bids?
Daily. Bid prices change all day long. Lots you are bidding on may change several times a day. The best way to stay current with your bids is to check the current bid list at http://lhselmanltd.com/auc30/au30.html, and call or fill out the online form with your bids.
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How do I know I've been overbid?
If you are looking at the current bid list at http://lhselmanltd.com/auc30/au30.html and the amount you bid is lower than the amount listed for that lot, you have been overbid. You can also call us, and we can check your lots for you and inform you of your status.
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What do I do if I'm overbid?
Contact us right away. You can either fill in the online form at http://lhselmanltd.com/auc30/bid.html, call us at 1-800-538-0766 or 831-427-1177, email your bids to lselman@got.net, or fax your bids to us at 831-427-0111. Give us the amount you wish to raise your bids to, or let us know that you are done bidding and you want to let your lots go.
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What do I do if I don't want to go any higher?
If you are filling out the online form, enter the lot you are bidding on, then click the checkbox that says "please drop me from this lot". We will take your name off of the lot. WE MUST HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BID ANYMORE. We will not take your name off a lot unless we hear from you to do so. Don't assume because you don't raise anymore your bid that you are done. You MUST contact us in some way and let us know to take your name off your lots if you don't wish to bid anymore.
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What is the Closing Date For Initial Bids?
We have a date of April 25, 2003 to close initial bids. This means that you must have at least one bid on every lot you wish to bid on, because after this date, you cannot place any initial bids on any other lots. You will only be able to bid on the lots you already are bidding on after this date.
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When is the auction over?
There is no end date to this auction. Each lot closes individually when there is only one bidder left. If you are the high bidder, this is when all your underbidders have dropped off the lot. We will aggressively try to contact your underbidders to get them to raise or drop on your lots. Some lots will close right after the closing date for initial bids, others take longer. Typically bidding will continue for one to two weeks after the closing date for initial bids. Usually after two weeks, you can expect to be done.
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How do I know I'm done?
If you are the high bidder, you are done when all your underbidders have dropped off. If you are an underbidder and do not wish to raise your bid any higher, you are done when you drop the lot. Some lots will close before others. When all of your lots are closed, you are done.
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What is my Initial Bid?
This is your first bid. If you are using the online form, enter the lot number and the amount you wish to bid for the lot. Look for the table on the online form that shows how the bids increment up. If there are no bids yet on a lot, you can make your initial bid at any amount. If there already are bids, typically you will want to bid the next increment. You must have your initial bids in on every lot you are interested in bidding on by April 25, 2003.
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What is my Raise Bid?
This is your second bid, or any bid after your second bid that is not your final bid. Each raise bid will the amount you want to raise your bid to if you've been overbid. If you are using the online form, enter the lot number, and the amount you want to raise you bid to. Typically this will be the next increment above the current bid, unless you want to make a jump bid (see below).
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What is my Final Bid?
This is your last and final bid you will ever make on this lot. Making a final bid says to us that this is the absolute maximum you wish to bid, and you will never want to bid higher. This is the same as making a high bid and dropping the lot. Don't make a final bid unless you know for certain you will not want to bid again. If you may want to bid again, make a raise bid instead.
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How do I Drop a Lot?
If you are using the online form, enter the lot number and click the box that says "please drop me from this lot". WE MUST HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BID ANYMORE. We will not take your name off a lot unless we hear from you to do so. Don't assume because you don't raise anymore your bid that you are done. You MUST contact us some way and let us know to take your name off your lots if you don't wish to bid anymore.
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Can I bid any amount I want?
Yes and No. Yes, you can bid any amount you want, but typically you will want to take the next increment. Note, there are specific increment amounts that must be made. Bids need to increment following this schedule:

$0 to $190 -- $10 $200 to $475 -- $25 $500 to $950 -- $50 $1000 to $1900 -- $100 $2000 to $4750 -- $250 $5000 to $9500 -- $500 $10,000 and up -- $1000

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Can I make a proxy bid? Or a jump bid?
Yes. You can make a proxy or jump bid for any amount above the current high bid. A proxy or jump bid is a bid that is more than one increment above the high bid. Your bid will show at the increment above the high bid, and will continue to increment up as other bidders place bids. You will still show as the high bidder until your jump bid amount is reached. For example, if a lot is at $100, and you want to make a jump bid of $200, your bid will show at $110. The next bidder that bids will go to $120, then you will automatically show as the high bidder at $130… and on and on until your high bid of $200 is reached.
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What are the estimates in the lot descriptions for?
The estimates published are the typical fair market values that we place on each lot. This is by no means set in stone, some lots will close for more than we estimate them to be. The estimates are to be used as a guide, but not the rule.
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Are there reserve prices?
Yes. Every lot has a reserve price. This is the minimum amount that the consignor is willing to receive for their lots. These amounts are held private until there is only one bidder left. A good rule-of-thumb to help determine what the reserve might be is that it should fall within about 80%-90% of the lower estimate. If the reserve is met, the high bidder wins the lot. If the reserve is not met, the high bidder will have first option to take it at the reserve price. If the high bidder does not want to meet reserve, the lot will then be available to anyone, even if they did not place initial bids on it, for reserve price. We will reveal which lots are under reserve about a week or so after the closing date for initial bids. Watch the See Current Bids page online at http://lhselmanltd.com/auc30/au30.html to see which lots are under reserve.
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What if the lot doesn't reach the reserve price?
If you are interested in a weight that has not reached reserve, and there are no other bidders open on it, you can buy it at the reserve price. This is best handled over the phone, we can tell you if the lot is available and what the reserve is. Call us at 1-800-538-0766 or 831-427-1177 to inquire. The consigners will never raise their reserves, but may lower them if the piece doesn't sell. We can negotiate with them for you to see if they are willing to lower their price.
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Why do you conduct your auctions this way?
We have used this method of auctions for now over 15 years. Currently we are in our 30th auction using this method. The best way to think if this auction is to picture yourself in a large auction house, where each lot is displayed and bid on individually. The bidding is over on each lot when only one bidder is left, similar to an auction house setting, where the announcer would give each bidder the opportunity to continue to bid until they didn't want to go any higher. This is also very similar to how a silent auction is conducted. There is no time limit or end date on this auction, other than needing to place your initial bids by April 25, 2003. After that, it takes about a week or two to determine the high bidder and close each lot.
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I won one or more lots, now what?
If you are an winning bidder and all of your lots are closed, we will be sending you an invoice detailing which lots you won, and with the other fees that apply. When that arrives, you can choose how to pay for your auction winnings. Most winning bidders pay by credit card or check. Credit card payments are subject to a transaction fee, see below. When we receive your payment, your weights will be shipped to you.
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When will my invoice arrive?
Typically if you close out before the evening on any given day, your invoice will be mailed that same day. You should see it within a few days of closing.
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What is the Buyers Premium?
Because these weights are all consigned in this auction, we charge a 10% buyers premium commission on the hammer price of every lot that closes. For example, if a lot closes for $100, your price would be $110 for the lot.
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Is there sales tax?
Yes and No. Yes if you are shipping to a California address, or will be picking up your items from our gallery. If we ship within California, you will pay the local tax for your area. If you pick up your items from our gallery, you will pay the local sales tax for Santa Cruz County (8%). If we are shipping out of state, there is no sales tax.
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Are there shipping fees?
Yes. The shipping fees within the US are $10 for your first item, and $3 for each additional item. For example, if you win three weights, your shipping charge would be $16. Your weights will be shipped insured using 2 day FedEx, unless you request otherwise. If you are an international customer, your shipping charge will be $18 per item you win.
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What if I'm and IPS member?
If you are an IPS member, we will continue to send you a stand for each lot you win, but will not be able to take the shipping charge off. You will be charged for shipping for the auction, but not on your regular sales through the gallery. (More info on IPS membership go to: http://theglassgallery.com/ips).
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What if I have a gift certificate?
Since these items are not ours, we can not honor our gift certificates on auction items (ie. the $25 gift certificates IPS memebers receive). Use those gift certificates for regular sales though the gallery. If you have received monies in the form of a gift certificate as a gift from someone (ie. a birthday gift from a family member, etc...), you can use that. Please send it with your payment.
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How do I pay for my auction winnings?
When you are completely closed and have won one or more lot, we will automatically send you an invoice right away. When you receive that, you can send us a check back, or pay by credit card. Typically, people will send a check to pay for their weights to avoid the credit card processing fee. (See below)
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Why is there a credit card processing fee?
Because these items are consigned with us, there is a credit card handling fee. You will pay 3% if you use your Visa, MasterCard, or Discover, and 5% if you use your American Express card. With normal sales through the gallery, we cover the processing charge if you use your credit card. The best way to avoid this charge is to pay by check.
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What if I don't mind the credit card fee, and I still want to pay by credit card?
If you have purchased from us in the past and your credit card is on file, just let us know. Otherwise you can call in your number, or leave it on our secure server at: https://www.turnpike.net/~ips/secure.html. Be sure to mention what the credit card registration is for, and click register.
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What if I will be away or on vacation during the auction?
We ask that if you will be away for an extended time, you still contact us to check on your bids. If you will be completely out of touch and not able to get to a phone or the Internet while you are away, we ask that you make your final bids before you go. Your other bidders will appreciate your timely participation. If you will be away for a few days during the auction, that is fine, but if you can, let us know.
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How often do you have this kind of auction?
We typically run this auction every spring and every fall. On rare years, we have run it during the summer as well, depending on the inflow of consigned weights for the auction. Watch the http://pwAuction.com page for info on upcoming auctions, current auctions, and past auctions.
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Can I view the weights before I bid?
Yes. We have all the 300+ lots on display at our gallery for you to come and preview if its convenient for you. We typically will have an open house where we will showcase the auction weights and have a reception, often with a gallery opening featuring an artist. Watch the event page on our gallery website for information: http://theglassgallery.com/events. If you cannot make it to the opening, the weights are usually on display a week or two before the closing date for initial bids, and will be on display through the duration of the auction. Call us to inquire, or to set up an appointment to view at 1-800-538-0766 or 831-427-1177. If you cannot come by and you have questions on a piece, call us. The weights are on display just a few steps from many of our desks, we are happy to pick them up and describe them over the phone for you.
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Why is this called the "Catalogue Auction"?
This is our Catalogue Auction because we produce a full color auction catalogue which you can purchase. Though this auction is online, it is still run as a catalogue auction, or similar to how an auction would run if we were in a large auctionhouse. We have a separate auction we call our online auction that usually runs 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. (See below)
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Can I purchase the catalogue?
Yes. The catalogue for the current auction is available for $25, or you can buy a subscription of the next three for $60 at: http://theglassgallery.com/books/books_1.html. A limited number of previous auction catalogues are available, which also serve as a price guide for your collection. Please inquire on availability. These catalogues are a beautiful example of a multitude of artists' and studios' works, and will include a prices realized list for each catalogue. The prices realized for the current auction will be mailed to you once the auction is completed if you have purchased the current auction catalogue.
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Is this different from the "Online Auction"?
The online auction is another smaller auction that runs 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week typically and features about 20 to 30 weights and glass items. Items are posted and run typically for two weeks. This auction is similar to how other online auctions are run, we had this auction program was written specifically for us. This auction features online bidding, and requires usernames and passwords. Due to a software upgrade, this auction is currently down. Keep watching http://pwAuction.com for info, as we should have it running again very soon.
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What if I still have questions or need more information?
Please call us if you have any further questions. We are happy to help you with your questions any way we can. You can also read the Conditions of Sale for more info at: http://lhselmanltd.com/auc30/condit.html If you have weights you would like to consign in a future auction, contact Larry Selman at 1-800-538-0766 or 831-427-1177 or email lselman@got.net. If you would like to submit a question for this FAQ, please email lynette@paperweight.com.
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Good luck and happy bidding!
-L. H. Selman Ltd. Staff