What you can do Here
Buy, Sell, Do Both, Learn
Buying
Buying Chinese and Asian art and antiques should be easy fun and above all straightforward.
Selling
We think selling online should result in the Sellers being able to seamlessly work with buyers interested in what they have to offerer.
Do Both
You can of course be both a buyer and a seller. Even if you're not a dealer by trade. Collectors often want to trade up, change directions and refine their area of interest, you can do both here.
The basic Rules
For Everyone
Terms & Conditions, Basics Always be polite.
For sellers: List things correctly.
For Buyers: Pay for your purchases.
First things first, you do need an account.
More Details: "Frequent Questions"
Overview Terms ^ Conditions and Usage
This site was built and developed for the sole purpose of enabling collectors and dealers of Asian art and Antiques to transact business in a reasonable way, without the ham-handed arbitrary rules and high transaction fees common on other art and auction websites.
It is our wish that this site will provide a platform for sellers to become more successful in building their businesses and a place for collectors to make informed, safe and wise purchases.
Fakes and copies, we will do everything within our power to keep the site clean of misrepresented or unintentional listings of copies that can deceive buyers.
We do of course recognize that not all copies or reproductions are easily recognizable all of the time by everyone. Sellers posting them in error may simply lack the hands-on experience to verify accurately all items presented for sale.
We will endeavor to work with any seller posting in error an item we believe to be inaccurately described. Sellers who consistently offer blatant copies and are evidently doing so to take advantage of Buyers will be denied selling privileges on the platform. So please adhere to these terms & conditions while preparing listings.
All of the site’s features have been developed based on comments and suggestions from Bidamount.com’s users during the site’s construction. We continue to welcome any and all additional suggestions going ahead. Our goal is to try to make this the best possible option for BOTH Dealers and Collectors to use.
If you want to communicate with a seller or buyer directly, this is your business. We do ask however that sellers not sell items listed on the site privately off-site through private communications to avoid the otherwise applicable Seller Fee, this is all we ask. For this site to grow and be continuously upgraded and maintained all users need to participate accordingly for the site remain sustainable.
If you have your own website and wish to share items on it with users of Bidamount~Live in the course of normal business, this is of course fine.
About Selling, Terms & Conditions
Selling basics
Add The Selling Option to your account
At the top of each page on the menu bar is the “Become A Vendor” button. Click it, add the needed information and you’re all set.
Written Listing Requirements
All items listed must be accurately titled and described, including a declared age or period. All listings MUST have accurate condition reports stated clearly in writing. All items must have stated dimensions.
Photos
All photographs must be clear-in focus, well lit and measure no smaller than 700 pixels on its longest side, nor greater than 2,000 pixels on any side. Anything smaller is worthless and anything larger is undisplayable. Optimal sizes are in the 900 to 1300 pixel range.
NOTE: For best results and site appearance uniformity we encourage that all photographs be taken using either White, Light Grey or White to Dark Gray/Black Gradient backgrounds.
Good photos make a world of difference.
In general
Answer inquiries quickly, be specific when communicating and be certain of what you put in writing. Shipping charges can only include the actual transportation expenses excluding packaging costs, materials, packing time etc..”Restocking Fees” are not to be changed.
Selling Details
Sales Commission; Flat 8% of the actual selling price of item only.
What SELLERS agree to.
Items posted for sale via fixed price or auction must have the following information included.
- **Guaranteed clearly stated age or period.
- **Country of origin.
- Dimensions.
- Condition Report.
- Payment Options.
- 8 Photos minimum.
- Photos must be well lighted, in focus, and at least 700 pixels wide or tall.
- Modern post 1959 copies of old objects regardless of descriptions shouldn’t be listed.
- Sellers who do not provide all of the required information will be reminded to do so. Refusal to provide required information will result in account suspension or usage termination.
To optimize the appearance of your listings, we encourage all sellers to take all photographs on *White, Light Grey or Gradiant White to Dark Grey-Black backgrounds.
*Photo Paper backgrounds can easily be bought online in rolls or sheets for nominal amounts of money. Contact us if you need help.
Shipping
Shipping fees, including insurance, shall not be more than actual charges.
Sellers MUST retain copies of ORIGINAL shipping labels in the event of a delivery dispute for a minimum of 6 months.
The cost of Boxes, packing materials and “handling fees” shall not be added onto the selling price.
Delivery Confirmation a package is considered delivered if confirmed by the carrier Tracking Number, or Via Signature. We recommend that any item picked up in person or delivered by the seller should be signed for as proof of receipt.
Shipping Insurance. Shipping insurance is up to the seller and buyer. Keep in mind, in the event an item is lost in transit or damaged, the Seller is responsible no matter what for making a full refund of all payments connected to the sale.
How Shipping Is To Be Done
- For each listing within the Descriptions and Shipping box, provide estimated shipping costs for the item to a few regions of the world. Be as accurate as possible. i.e. USA, EU, Asia. etc.
- After your item itself sells and is paid for, now calculate the ACTUAL shipping cost to the buyer’s address.
- Send the buyer an invoice for the shipping.
- Once the shipping is paid send the package. Also, send the customer the Tracking Number.
**Note: If you aren't sure about the age or country of origin of an item, try posting an image on the Bidamount FORUM linked off the LEARNING Page (top menu) for help. Or ask us for assistance.
About Buying
Buying
read all information provided by the seller
Do not hesitate to ask questions, or for clarifications. Examine images by enlarging them with the button upper right on each image.
payments
If you buy an item, pay for it instantly with any of the options provided. Keeping your account requires that all payments must be made within three days unless you’ve made other arrangements with the seller. You are responsible for any and all applicable Taxes related to the transaction.
Shipping etc.
Sellers will not charge you more than the ACTUAL cost of transport.
Buying Details
- What BUYERS agree to and benefits.
- Selling prices do not include shipping unless the seller says so within the listing.
- Buyers are responsible for paying all applicable Sales Taxes as part of the purchase price. A valid dealer Re-Sale or Tax Exempt number may be used to avoid this charge by submitting a photo/scan of the Tax Exempt certificate to the seller.
- NOTE: The certificate MUST have been issued for the purpose of buying and selling of ANTIQUES, Art or “Used Goods” specifically.
- Buyers are responsible for paying all duties and international export and import fees if any.
- Placing an auction bid is an agreement to buy the item at the price offered or less if it sells for less. Failure to pay the full amount due including shipping will result in account termination.
- *All items must be paid for within 72 hours of the end of an auction.
DELIVERED Packages: Buyers are fully responsible for delivered packages left outside or in public hallways if they are damaged or stolen. All packages “SCANNED” by the carrier as “DELIVERED” will be treated the same as packages having a delivery signature for confirmation purposes.
Fees, Kept Simple
Fees - 8%
We've gone to great lengths to keep it reasonable
- Commissions Simplified, all sales will be subject to a modest (we think) 8% Commission. The Commission will apply ONLY to the item selling price, excluding Shipping, Sales taxes etc.
- Payment paid via Stripe (credit cards) will automatically be deducted from payments of sold items at the time of payment to the seller.
- PayPal payments will go directly to the Seller in full. Once a month BidAmount-Live will invoice the seller for the 8% commission.
- Items paid for via check, wire transfers. The seller will deduct 8% from the item selling price (not including shipping and taxes) and submit the amount to Bidamount-Live via Paypal upon receipt of cleared funds. This is an honor system for now. If an item is sold and not recorded as unpaid, the account may be suspended until the matter is resolved to start 3 weeks after the close of the lot, unless other arrangements have been made.
- Shipping and Insurance charges will not be included as part of the Seller’s Fees.
- Sales Taxes will not be included as part of the Seller’s Fees.
- No Buyer’s Premium or any additional listing fees. 8% will only be charged on SOLD and Paid items.
NOTE: Sellers applying high shipping charges in excess of actual costs to Fixed-price or Auction items will subject the seller to likely account suspension or termination.
We did our best
While considering all of the above, we spent a large amount of time examining what other auction and selling platforms charge. We looked at what was unfair, what was reasonable and went from there, we then cut it by 50%.
More User Details About BidamountLive, Buying and Selling and Using The Site
Returns & Disputes
Having a problem?
Keep it friendly and cooperative.
We recognize things can go wrong or that problems may arise of all kinds. Lost packages rarely happen but it can. Things can get broken via poor packaging or just bad luck.
The trick is to handle it as part of doing business as quickly and fairly as possible.
Basic Dispute Issues.
The three most common Dispute issues are.
- Item not as described, this can include undisclosed condition issues.
- Not delivered, lost in transit.
- Wrong item.
Solutions
Can't resolve it?
In the event, a reasonable resolution cannot be reached, open a formal dispute with us. We will ask that both the Seller and Buyer provide us with their sides of the issue.
We will make suggestions to reach an amicable solution. If all else fails, we will make the final decision as fairly and equitably as possible.
Failure to satisfy our final recommendations can result in loss of use on the site.
Just A Bit More
Very simple, 8% of all sales will be automatically deducted from payments of sold items paid via PayPal, Stripe (Credit or Debit Card), Apple Pay.
- Shipping and Insurance charges will not be included as part of the Seller’s Fees.
- No Buyer’s Premium or any additional listing fees. 8% will only be charged on SOLD and Paid items.
- Items paid for via check, wire transfers. The seller will deduct 8% from the item cost and submit the amount to Bidamount-Live via Paypal upon receipt of cleared funds. This is an honor system for now. If an item is sold and not recorded as unpaid, the account may be suspended until the matter is resolved starting 3 weeks after the close of the lot, unless other arrangements have been made.