A & E PIDGEON AUCTIONS & APPRAISALS
Canadian Maritime Auctioneers
NOVA SCOTIA AUCTIONS -- CAPE
BRETON AUCTIONS
We also occasionally conduct auctions in Prince Edward
Island & New Brunswick
Contact Donald or Verna Pidgeon
info@pidgeonauctions.com
Phone/Fax 902-485-5968
Available Monday
to Saturday inclusive from 8 am to 10 pm
by appointment or by chance - NOT Sundays or Christmas
Day
24-HOUR AUCTION INFORMATION HOTLINE -- 902-485-3333
This line does not reach us directly, will not ring into the office or residence & no messages can be left at this number.
It is designed for one purpose only--to keep you informed of all current auction information, so that if you are en route and need time or place of an auction or directions how to get there--call this line; if you are in doubt whether an auction will go on due to weather conditions, call this number; if you want to hear a general list of the items in the current auction, call this number--all current auction information will be kept up-to-date on this line & you can call any hour of the day or night for information
Note: We do not operate a free appraisal service. Also, our insurance does not cover us to give appraisals over the telephone.
It is our policy not to disclose prices after an auction as some people may be purchasing items for gifts or resale & do not want the public to know what they paid for same. The people who come to the auctions are good enough to support us & we feel we owe them that amount of privacy.
Effective February 1st, 2009:
Minimum Consignment value of $1,000 or more
Due to the amount of paperwork involved, we do not take consignments less
than $1,000; however, we are prepared to buy out small amounts (also large amounts or full
estates)
WE
REALIZE MOST AUCTIONEERS DO NOT POST THEIR COSTS, BUT WE FEEL ANYONE
SEARCHING FOR AN AUCTIONEER HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW THIS UPFRONT WITHOUT
HAVING TO CALL AND ASK, BUT PLEASE DO CHECK OUT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE FOR
SAME--IT'S NOT JUST STANDING UP THERE AT A PODIUM AND AUCTIONING THE GOODS
OFF (THAT'S THE EASY PART)....ITS ALL THE PREPARATION FOR MAKING IT A GOOD
SALE--THE ADVERTISING, THE WEBSITE WORK, THE CONTACTS, THE SETUP, ETC., ETC.
ALSO, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR REPUTATION AND THE PRICES WE OBTAIN FOR GOODS!
AUCTION RATES:
Our auctioneering fee is 12%
on household contents, antiques, etc.
We also charge for Disbursements, that is, Out-of-Pocket
Expenses(Advertising and Hired Help) and (if applicable) Hall Rental -
Percentage of these Out-of-Pocket expenses will depend on the size of the
auction and whether or not it is an auction where more than one party shares
the costs. We try to arrange auctions of such a size that the disbursements
do not exceed 11%....however, if the auction is very large and several high
prices are obtained, it could bring the disbursements down to as low as 8%.
Therefore the actual costs for an average sale runs on the average 22% all together.
However, if the goods are very high quality and wil sell for high prices,
that could bring the cost down several points
This does not include hauling costs.
If the owners wish to have their goods taken to a hall, they can arrange for
same themselves or we can arrange for it at cost--i.e, U-Haul charges, gas
and hired help.
It is to be noted that for Cape Breton
auctions, the cost for advertising is higher than on the Mainland as the
Cape Breton Post is almost as expensive as the Halifax Herald and it
is necessary to advertise in both papers when auctioning there as we find
50% of the Cape Breton people get the Post and 50% get the Herald.
In the case of On-Site auctions, if the
owners are not prepared to allow the auction-goers to use their facility,
then a Johnny-on-the-Spot will have to be rented at the owners expense.
NOTE--some disbursements will be covered by Auctioneers out of courtesy on
very high priced auctions.
We provide a 3-part sales slip for each item with individual sales copies for
buyer, seller & auctioneer and provide a simplified accounting statement.
Payment is available approximately 15 business days after auction when all
cheques have been cleared & statements obtained for all disbursements.
For heavy equipment or commercial auctions please call for rates
NOTE: All advertising for auctions here on our website (including photos and list) is offered free of charge. As soon as an Auction is definitely confirmed, we will insert a "forthcoming auction ad" on our "Upcoming Auction" page--the sooner we have complete details for an auction, the sooner the ad for same will be entered on our Website and will stay on there until after the auction. The week preceding the auction, details & photos will be inserted on the "Next Auctions" page.
The quoted auction price includes the sorting & listing of items to be
offered for sale, advertising on website, photos (if
applicable) and setting up of
auction as indicated below
Those who
have known our firm will recognize that for over a third of a century in our field we have acquired
a reputation for setting up and displaying in such a fashion as to enhance
visual impact which maximizes the price at the time of sale. A
direct quote offered to us from the Cox family (in a letter of appreciation regarding their
mother's estate) reads:
"you made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear". (Actually, their
mother had some very nice items, but it is all in the matter of display).
NOTE: For various reasons we are sometimes contracted to conduct private auctions, particularly in cases where a will reads that family members are to receive everything from an estate and not stipulating who should receive which items. In such an instance where the family members cannot decide or they cannot ascertain the actual sentimental values of such items as relating to each family member; then the simplified method is to auction the items off only amongst family members and whatever they bid for the items is deducted from their share of the estate. In such case, our charge is a fair & reasonable flat fee.
Note: Holidays inc. Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Natal Day, Labour Day & Thanksgiving Day are usually booked well in advance. No auctions on Remembrance Day unless it falls on Weekend when there is a Civic Holiday at which time we usually book Civic Holiday as it does not interfere with Remembrance Day Services or Parades. The only partial lots that will be taken on consignment for Holiday sales will be of limited quantity (if space permits) and must be from private homes and of sufficient quality to warrant their addition to such auctions. Consignments may be added to several other auctions throughout the year.
We conduct a lot of our auctions
(other than holidays) from the Kemptown Hall just outside of Truro. It
has proved over the years to be a very popular centre--a nice, clean, new
hall with air-conditioning, good seating & facilities and great homemade
food by the local ladies. Also, there is lots of parking available.
Most important of all, it is located at the Hub of Nova Scotia just about 5
miles outside Truro at Exit 18 or 18A on the old loop off Trans Canada
Highway 104. It has also become a meeting place for
auction-goers.
Advice to anyone considering holding an
auction--do not throw
anything away until the auctioneers have viewed the items. In many
instances, people dispose of items worth thousands of dollars, thinking it
is worthless. Please let auctioneers be the judges of that.
TO RESERVE AN AUCTION DATE, PLEASE CONTACT US AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. AUCTIONS ARE USUALLY BOOKED LONG AHEAD AND IT MAY BE A PROBLEM TO FIT SOMETHING IN VERY FAST, ALTHOUGH WE WILL DO OUR BEST. ALSO, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESERVED A CERTAIN DATE WILL POSTPONE THEIR DATE WHEN THE SALE OF THEIR HOUSE DOES NOT GO THROUGH. AS SOON AS AN AUCTION IS CONFIRMED, WE WILL GET IT ADVERTISED ON OUR WEBSITE WITHOUT COST TO SELLER., THUS INSURING A BETTER TURNOUT FOR YOUR AUCTION.
If the quality of a sale warrants it; and if we are given sufficient time for preparation, we sometimes prepare catalogues detailing the items offered for auction along with many photos from that particular sale; although now website photos are fast outweighing the catalogues.
Note to Consignors: We have until Monday noon before the auction to make any changes to the auction list. If any item is to be removed from the sale which was previously listed, we must know by the preceding Monday morning at 8 AM. AFTER 8 AM ON MONDAY PRECEDING THE AUCTION, EVERYTHING THAT IS LISTED FOR AUCTION MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR AUCTION. THERE CAN BE ABSOLUTELY NO WITHDRAWALS AFTER 8 AM THE PRECEDING MONDAY.
Please note: we do not conduct third-party auctions, that is, where an outside party has been contracted by someone to have an auction done for them. We work directly for the people involved with the goods--whether the owner, family, lawyer, legal guardian or trustee. We have learned in the past when we conducted third-party auctions that they usually added on a substantial amount for themselves before remitting the balance, sometimes leaving the owners to believe that the total amount charged was by us, when, in fact, they, the third party, were pocketing the extra money. In some cases, we have later been contacted by the owners asking why they were charged a higher rate than shown on this page and we had to explain that the third party involved must have added on funds for themselves. In some cases, the third party had even altered our statements to make the owner believe all the costs showing were ours. We are aware that people should be paid for their services, but not at our expense and on our statement.
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