TASMANIAN STAMP AUCTIONS ONLINE – TERMS of SERVICE and CONDITIONS (Registration)

ACCEPTANCE
Submitting a bid on any lot offered for auction on the Tasmanian Stamp Auctions Online website constitutes acknowledgment of the following Terms of Service and Conditions of Sale.

AUCTIONEER
Ross Ewington, the sole proprietor of Tasmanian Stamp Auctions (ABN 86 657 437 499) is the auctioneer and will conduct all auctions in accordance with the commercial and ethical requirements prescribed by the Australasian Philatelic Traders’ Association. The auctioneer has the final decision is settling any dispute and reserves the right to a) refuse registration to use the site; b) terminate an auction or withdraw a lot without prior notice and c) terminate a registration to use the site if a member attempts to use the site not in accordance with the stated rules and conditions and d) cancel any bid.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership to this web-site is only available to those you can form a legally binding contract. This web-site does not permit anyone under the age of 18 years to register. If any member fails to sign up with their correct age the account will be terminated immediately.

GENERAL TERMS
Each lot is offered as being genuine (unless otherwise indicated) and correctly described.

The purchaser is at liberty to reject a lot if he/she proves that it is not genuine or as described: a) Local buyers must advise us of the rejection as quickly as possible and return the lot within 7 days; b) Overseas buyers must provide written notice of the rejection by mail, fax or e-mail within 7 days of receiving the lot and return the material within 14 days.

The onus of proving a lot not to be genuine or as described lies with the purchaser. Proof of the inability of an Expert Committee to express a definite opinion will not discharge this responsibility.

No lot can be rejected if, subsequent to the sale, it has been immersed in water or treated by any other process unless our permission to subject the lot to such immersion or treatment has first been obtained in writing.

Lots stated to contain collections and/or undescribed stamps must be taken with all faults (if any) and by reason of the foregoing the purchaser of any such lot shall have no right to reject the same. Similarly, lots described “as is” cannot be returned.

Items described as having defects are not returnable on account of such defects.

Illustrated items showing obvious defects are not returnable on account of the condition depicted.

Expert’s Opinion (Extensions): If a purchaser wishes to obtain an expert opinion on any lot (that is not a mixed lot or collection containing undescribed stamps), we may, if so requested in writing or by fax or e-mail at least 24 hours prior to the sale closure, extend the period in which the lot(s) may be rejected to no later than 90 days from the date of sale. The purchaser shall (if we agree) submit the lot(s) to a recognised expert or Expert Committee. Extensions necessitating more than 90 days from the date of sale will, unless circumstances are exceptional, only be granted if the permission of the vendor has been obtained. We will require the lot(s) to be paid for pending the receipt of the expert opinion, the cost of which will be the liability of the purchaser. If an extension is required on an item already possessing a certificate dated within 10 years of the sale, written notice must be given at least 3 days prior to the sale in order that the vendor’s permission for further expertisement may be obtained. If any item receives a certificate indicating that an item is not as described (not genuine, faulty, etc.) all costs will be refunded to the buyer upon evidence of the costs occurred in obtaining such an opinion.
Unsold lots - most unsold lots will be available for purchase at the original starting price using the BUY OUT facility only for a short period after the closure date of an auction.

BIDDING
The highest bidder shall be the purchaser of a lot.

Lots will be purchased at a price equal to one bid above the second highest bid received.

Agents bidding on behalf of undisclosed clients are responsible for both payment and the safe delivery of the lots purchased.

A bidder is responsible for checking their bids before sending them to the website. Bids may be retracted or reduced upon application to the auctioneer up until one hour before an auction closes. A client who wishes to increase a bid may do so using the normal bidding facility. Please note that if the leading bidder places a higher bid, THIS WILL NOT INCREASE the current high bid by one increment i.e. you cannot ‘run yourself up’.

BIDDING INCREMENTS
$1 to $15 ~ 50c --- $15 to $40 ~ $1 --- $40 to $80 ~ $2 --- $80 to $150 ~ $5 --- $150 to $300 ~ $10 --- $300 to $500 ~ $20 --- $500 to $1000 ~ $25 --- $1000 to $1500 ~ $50 --- above $1500 ~ $100

PAYMENT
An electronic invoice will be sent to all successful purchasers within 48 hours of an auction closure. If a purchaser has any special requirements regarding the delivery of any item won, these should be communicated to the auctioneer during this period.

It is important that successful purchasers DO NOT SEND PAYMENT before receiving said invoice.

Successful bidders are obliged to pay for their purchases and any postage, packing, insurance costs (and GST where applicable) immediately upon the receipt of our invoice. Payment by Visa or Mastercard is encouraged and incurs no additional cost. Card details may be forwarded to us via our secure server at http://tsauctions.com

Other acceptable methods of payment comprise electronic fund transfer (EFT), a cheque of money order in AU$ or cash if collecting any purchases in person at our office.

OVERDUE PAYMENTS
If the buyer does not make a full payment within 30 days from the invoice date, the auctioneer may a) terminate the contract with the buyer with any monies received from the buyer being returned minus an account service charge of 20% (incl GST) of the total amount owed or b) terminate the contract and resell the lot(s) with any shortfall being met by the original purchaser or c) apply any monies due at the time from the auctioneer to the buyer in full or part payment of the amount owing or (in serious cases) d) take legal action against the buyer for damages for breach of contract.

BUYER’S COMMISSION
There is NO buyer’s commission or premium to pay on any lot.

AUSTRALIAN GOODS and SERVICES TAX
As participation Tasmanian Stamp Auctions Online auctions is available in a global sense, the sale price of any lot is the export price i.e. if the buyer is not a resident of Tasmania or a mainland state/territory of Australia that is the amount that has to be paid for purchase. Where GST is applicable though it will be automatically added to the ‘hammer price’ but only if the vendor is the proprietor, a stamp or coin dealer registered for GST or a private seller who is not a resident of Australia. Please note that GST is applicable to all packaging and handling charges wherever the buyer lives as deemed by the Australian Taxation Office.

LAWS
These Terms of Service shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Australian state of Tasmania.

AMENDMENTS
Any amendment to these Terms of Service and Condition will be made available to all registered members immediately after such changes are made.