How do I Bid?

Items are auctioned live on-air. An auctioneer will open a gallery by presenting the three items in that gallery, they will then move to open another gallery, returning to review the first gallery and then selling it. You can call in your bid at 854-3636 or toll-free at 1-800-639-0036 any time after the auctioneer opens the gallery and before the gallery is closed. The highest bid taken at the phone bank before the gallery is closed will be declared the high bidder.

Major items valued at over $500 are presented several times throughout the evening before being sold, allowing more time during the night to bid. Special items valued at over $1000 are presented over one or more evenings before being sold. Bids are accepted for Majors and Specials at any time during the auction until that item is sold. (See below for details on Specials & Majors including live bid-offs.)

An auction item is identified by its item number, description and gallery. If you wish to bid, please call 854-3636 or our toll-free number 1-800-639-0036. Have the item information, your name, address and telephone number or your Express Bid number (link to Express Bid form) ready. Your operator will tell you the current bid on the board. Our advice is to bid quickly and bid high if you want the item. While we try to have the highest current bids on the boards at all times, there are 15 phone operators taking bids simultaneously. It is best to bid as high as you are willing to pay.

How do I know if I am the high bidder?

Names of high bidders are not announced on-air. If you are a high bidder you will receive a confirmation call or confirmation message from us on that particular night or the next day. Please be available to receive this call. Items that remain unconfirmed will automatically be offered to the next highest bidder.

Please note: To help us confirm that you are the high bidder, please give an accurate evening and daytime phone number to the phone operator so that we can reach you as quickly and easily as possible.

Can I place a Pre-Bid?

Pre-bids are accepted on our web-site for Majors & Specials only up to the start of the auction. All bids must be in whole dollars, and must be accompanied by your name, address and contact phone number. The highest pre-bids for each item are verified by phone before being acknowledged for the auction.

What is an Express Bid #?

Express Bid Numbers are designed to help you bid faster. Simply call Shirley Winslow at 222-3636 ext. 361 between the hours of 9 - 3 to obtain your personal express bid number. Or, click here and fill out our quick and easy Express bid form. We'll assign an express bid number to you and email it to you. It's that easy!

Please note: Pre-bids are accepted up until the close of the business day on October 21, 2004.

What are Majors and Specials?

Major items are those valued at $500 or more and presented multiple times during the evening that they are sold. Special items are valued at $1000 or more, and are presented over several evenings before being sold. Bids are accepted for Majors and Specials at any time during the auction until that item is sold. You can view Majors and Specials and place a pre-bid by clicking here.

We encourage bidders who wish to engage in a live, competitive bid for Majors and Specials to stay alert during presentation of the item (which occurs a number of times) and when the bidding closes for the item. When we announce we are "ready to sell a major/special" and it is sold, the five highest bidders are offered the chance to participate in what we call a "live bid-off". During a live bid-off each bidder is represented by a volunteer over the phone who will act as their agent in a "live" auction until the item is sold. If you are particularly interested in an item our advice is to bid high enough to secure your place in the live bid-off.

Please note: All winning bids for Major and Special items must be confirmed by a credit card payment immediately following the live bid-off procedure. There are no exceptions. The credit card will be charged that night and the charges cannot be reversed.

Can I place a Pre-Bid?

Major items are those valued at $500 or more and presented multiple times during the evening that they are sold. Special items are valued at $1000 or more, and are presented over several evenings before being sold. Bids are accepted for Majors and Specials at any time during the auction until that item is sold. You can view Majors and Specials and place a pre-bid by clicking here.

We encourage bidders who wish to engage in a live, competitive bid for Majors and Specials to stay alert during presentation of the item (which occurs a number of times) and when the bidding closes for the item. When we announce we are "ready to sell a major/special" and it is sold, the five highest bidders are offered the chance to participate in what we call a "live bid-off". During a live bid-off each bidder is represented by a volunteer over the phone who will act as their agent in a "live" auction until the item is sold. If you are particularly interested in an item our advice is to bid high enough to secure your place in the live bid-off.

Please note: All winning bids for Major and Special items must be confirmed by a credit card payment immediately following the live bid-off procedure. There are no exceptions. The credit card will be charged that night and the charges cannot be reversed.

What is an Overbid Incentive?

Because all proceeds from the auction directly benefit Rhode Island Public Television programming, we sincerely appreciate bids that are over the donor value of the item. As a special thank you, those who over bid will enjoy a donated complimentary thank you gift from the station.

How can I pay for my item?

Items can be paid for by cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express. Check payments of $500 or more must be made with a cashier's check.

Will I be charged sales tax?

The state of Rhode Island requires us to apply the same 7% state sales tax on our merchandise as other auction houses and retailers must charge. Please remember that the state tax will be added to your high bid when you pick up and pay for your item. Most gift certificates for services are sold with no RI State tax applied, however, they may carry specific tax requirements upon redemption. Please check your gift certificate to be sure of any taxes that may apply.

When can I pick-up my item?

Confirmed high bidders must pick up and pay for their items during the scheduled pick up and pay hours. Accommodations cannot be made outside of these scheduled hours. Rhode Island PBS reserves the right to reallocate or dispose of items in any manner it deems appropriate if the confirmed high bidder does not pick up and pay for their items within the agreed upon period of time. All items are sold as-is and all sales are final.

Click here for a link to directions and map to Rhode Island PBS.

Can my item be shipped?

Most of the items in the Arts & Antiques Auction are fragile therefore we encourage that you pick them up. Gift Certificates can be sent via USPS certified mail for an additional $6 charge. We will gladly work with any outside courier service you hire to pick up for you with your advance payment and approval. Special arrangements for shipping can be made with the Auction Director. Rhode Island PBS reserves the right to require pick-up for any item that is too fragile, large or cumbersome to be safely and/or easily shipped.

How do I volunteer?

We need volunteers before the auction to help write copy and pick up donated items. During the auction we need individuals and organizations to help answer phones and assist with other auction-related tasks. Please contact Shirley Winslow, the Volunteer Coordinator at 401-222-3636 ext. 361 or email at swinslow@ripbs.org.

Do volunteers have priority bidding?

Volunteers and station employees must leave the studio and call from an outside line to bid on auction items. No bidding is allowed from within the studio.

Conditions Of Sale

Rhode Island PBS assumes no risk, liability or responsibility for the authenticity of the authorship of any property identified in this catalog (that is, the identity of the creator, period, culture, source or origin, as the case may be with which the creation of any property is identified herein). All property is sold "as is." Rhode Island PBS does not make any warranties or representations of any kind or nature with respect to the property, and in no event shall they be responsible for the correctness of description, genuineness, attribution, provenance, historical period or condition of the property. No statement in the catalog or made at the sale or in the bill of sale or invoice or in the script or elsewhere shall be deemed such a warranty or representation of an assumption of liability.

Rhode Island PBS makes no representations or warranties; expressed or implied, as to whether the purchaser acquires any reproduction rights in the property.

Rhode Island PBS reserves the right to withdraw any property at any time before actual sale. Unless otherwise noted by the donor, items are not exchangeable.

Items are sold to the highest bidder at the full amount of the successful pre-bid or telephoned bid. In the case of duplicate bids, the earliest bid received will be the one selected.

Rhode Island PBS reserves the right to reject a bid from any bidder. The highest bidder acknowledged by Rhode Island PBS shall be the purchaser. In the event of any doubt on the part of Rhode Island PBS as to the validity of any bid, Rhode Island PBS shall have the sole and final discretion either to determine the successful bidder or to re-offer and resell the article in dispute. If any dispute arises after the sale, Rhode Island PBS sale records shall be conclusive in all respects.

We want to thank the following companies for donating refreshments for our volunteers.