SGS Terms & Conditions
BIDDING NOTICE:
Online - Internet Only – Timed Auction. All bidding activity will take place online. Shipping on all items, no local pick-up. All winning bidders will receive a Settlement email having a "View/Pay Invoice" link attached soon after the auction close. SGS request that each Customer pay within 24-hours of Settlement issuance. Once your funds have cleared, with no outstanding issues, your item/s are shipped. Prompt payments allow faster shipping.
Scammers beware! If payment is not received within 24-hours, SGS will attempt to perform an auto-run against the credit card you placed on file when you registered. For this effort, SGS must add an additional $5 Administration Fee to your invoice, plus the customer is required to “confirm” or “approve” the transaction before the item/s are released to shipping. If no form of acknowledgement has been received from the customer within 7-days, the Item/s may be returned to the auction inventory and all related funds will be forfeited to SGS to cover the additional administration and storage cost caused by the customer’s noncompliance of these Terms & Conditions.
Additional restrictions apply to all “new” Bidders to SGS Auctions, or Bidders with a low Bidder Score;
• Credit Card purchasing is acceptable for any Lot Item having a cost of $600, or less, when the Customer performs the self-pay task, or request that SGS perform the auto-pay task, via email.
• Larger Credit Card purchases are allowed if Customer corresponds with SGS clearly confirming the transaction.
• All high-dollar Lots/Items, specifically silver & gold, coins & bullion, will require that the Customer pay via a Wire Transfer. ACH & eCheck payments are not accepted unless arrangements are made prior to the start of each auction. Be advised that ACH & eCheck payments methods have a 14-day clearance requirements by the banks, and shipping will be delayed.
Note that SGS reserves the right to request a Wire Transfer Payment on any transaction deemed to be a risk. These restrictions do not apply to Bidders having a positive history with SGS.
NOTIFICATION: SGS presents hand-picked coins of high quality, regardless of the grading company’s MS value printed on each slab, and at a guaranteed “Sold Value”. If at any time a customer presents proof that the coin they purchased was over-priced, based on its current state, then SGS will refund the cost difference.
SGS takes great efforts to set the opening “Bid” at a value that allows a good deal for the bidder/purchaser. Once a coin is reviewed for its “more-true” elements of Luster & Details, an opening bid is calculated, then SGS reduces that value to assist in paying for the Buyer Premium and at least a portion of the shipping. In this manner, the customer gets a great deal with each purchase. Beautiful coins deserve consideration, regardless of the grading company someone decided to use long ago, so judge for yourself these beautiful coins.
Private offers (below initial "Bid" value shown), can be sent to; "Stratford1955@icloud.com". Allow 1 to 2 hours before auction closing so the auctioneer can obtain feedback from the consignor, or as soon as possible.
SGS also accepts "Buy-Up" assignments. Tell us what you are wanting, your wish list, and the budget you have to work with. SGS will perform the item/s’ search and purchase everything for you. SGS will never pay more than an item's worth, and we strive to find the good deals available from multiple auction sites. For example: A buy-up order with a $100k budget could take 2-weeks to complete, but all items would be confirmed as a good buy. SGS can also handle all of your NGC/PCGS/Other submittals (raw coins to be graded). SGS would purchase the raw coins for you, then submit to the grading company of your choice.
STRATFORD GOLD & SILVER (i.e.; SGS)
A Bidder's Bid, at all times, represents an irrevocable offer by the bidder to enter into a binding contract to purchase the lot in accordance with the specific provisions of the listing and these general terms and conditions, as applicable, even if a higher bid was received by SGS. In the event that any reserve price of a lot is not exceeded by any bidder's bid, SGS, at its sole discretion, with or without the knowledge of or notice to any bidder, may reduce any reserve price to an amount below the bid of the bidder at any time during an auction and accept the bid made by the bidder. Reserve prices are confidential information of SGS and are not always disclosed to bidders unless specifically stated as such during bidding. Nothing contained in any listing shall be construed to disclose any reserve price unless otherwise stated. In the placing of any bid, the bidder understands and agrees that the bid, once accepted by SGS, will be the winning bid if there is no higher bid by another bidder and if any reserve or reduced reserve on the lot is exceeded by the bid. All bids are binding, irrevocable, and non-cancelable by the bidder. SGS has final discretion on the sale of a lot. All sales are "as-is" and final. In the unlikely event that internet connection is lost, SGS reserves the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel the remainder of the auction.
Sales Tax:
Lots delivered to you, or your representative are subject to all applicable sales/use taxes, if any, unless appropriate permits are on file with Auctioneer. Bidder agrees to pay Auctioneer the actual amount of tax due in the event that sales tax is not properly collected due to: 1) an expired, inaccurate, or inappropriate resale tax certificate and/or declaration, 2) an incorrect interpretation of the applicable statute, 3) or any other legitimate reason. The appropriate form or resale certificate must be on file at and verified by Auctioneer five days prior to Auction, or tax must be paid; only if such form or resale certificate is received by Auctioneer within 4 days after the Auction can a refund of tax paid be made.
SHIPPING & HANDLING
Due to the current Customs & Tariff issues associated with precious metals, SGS cannot ship to Canada unless they have an alternate U.S. address SGS can use. All U.S. shipping & handling is performed in-house by SGS. No local pick-up options are available at this time. Shipping / Handling & Insurance Fees are generally shown within the initial invoice received. Once payment has been received within the accounting system, those funds are not released for up to 24 hours. Once payments are cleared, the shipment generally occurs within one business day.
IMPORTANT NOTE; To prevent any degree of loss, by either party, all items are shipped fully insured, often with a delivery confirmation or signature required. SGS will always strive to keep this cost to a minimum.
Terms;
Buyer's Premium is set at 12.0%
Buyers must pre-qualify to bid using a valid credit card. This card will not be charged automatically unless payments are late or the customer instructs SGS to do so, via email (in writing). Any sale or item sold may require a Wire Transfer, depending on the circumstances involved. Any disruption in the payment confirmation or close-out process will delay shipment.
Returns: Before bidding, understand that all items are sold "as-is", without any form of expressed or implied warranty (the exception being the price guarantee). SGS cannot guarantee the level of grading provided by any grading company such as NGC, PCGS, ANACS, IGC, etc., or the stated purity/weight/otherwise of any metal/stone/etc.. Bidder specifically waives any claim to the right of return of any item because of the opinion, determination, or certification, or lack thereof, by any grading services. Please take the time required to know what you are bidding on. As a general rule, NO REFUNDS!
By placing a bid, the Bidder acknowledges that they are knowledgeable and informed about the item/s for which the Bidder submits a bid, and the Bidder assumes all risk relating to the condition, authenticity, and value of the item. Bidder understands and agrees that Bidder is relying solely on Bidder's inspection, evaluation, information, and judgment when submitting a bid regarding any item and that SGS makes no representation or warranty concerning the value, condition, or authenticity of any item offered for bid. All items offered for bid or sale are sold "AS IS," "WHERE IS," and without representation, warranty, or guarantee of any kind, whether created by statute or by common law. SGS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ANY WARRANTY IMPLIED BY THE COURSE OF DEALING, OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY, WHETHER CREATED BY STATUTE OR BY THE COMMON LAW.
By entering any SGS Auction, the Customer has agreed that no Credit Card Dispute/s will be filed, and that all transactions are final. Bidder shall not dispute, challenge, issue a "Chargeback" or reverse any such payment or charge.
Governing Law and Venue: This Agreement and the rights of the Parties shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Kentucky without the application of any conflict of law principles that would require or permit the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction. Any action at law or judicial proceeding instituted by any Party relating to this Agreement shall be instituted and maintained only in the state or federal courts in Shelby County, Kentucky.