Penland Benefit Auction Absentee Bidding Information

Thank you for your interest in absentee bidding at the Penland Benefit Auction!

Step 1:

You will be prompted to pay a $25 absentee bidder fee. If you have any questions about registering online, please call Cindy Gibson, absentee bid coordinator, at 828.765.2359 x 1308 or email bidding@penland.org. Your bidding fee includes an auction catalog.

Step 2:

Download and complete the absentee bid form.

Step 3:

Submit your completed absentee bid form by email to bidding@penland.org, by fax to 828.765.7389 or by mail to Absentee Bidding, Penland School of Craft, PO Box 37, Penland, NC 28765

The Fine Print

Absentee bids may be submitted by mail, phone, email, or fax until noon on Friday, August 25, 2023. Bids are accepted for silent auctions, live auctions, and centerpieces. Bids will be executed for you by our absentee bid team at the lowest price permitted by other bids or reserves and in an amount up to but not exceeding the specified amounts. In the event of identical absentee bids, the bid received first will take precedence. All bids must be finalized by noon on August 25.

Successful bidders will be contacted on Monday, August 28 and invoiced for the purchase price and the cost of shipping. Your purchase price will be the amount of your successful bid. NC sales tax does not apply to this charitable event. Penland accepts cash, personal checks, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express.

Please read the conditions of sale below.

Rules for Phone Bidding

Your absentee bid can be executed by staff as outlined above, or you may arrange bidding by phone. Phone bidding is available for the live auction on Saturday (1:00-3:00 PM). Phone bidders will be called before the piece comes up for auction and your bids will be executed together, in real time, by a member of Penland’s absentee bid team. Phone bidders are required to provide a telephone number where s/he can be reached for the duration of the live event. To arrange phone bidding, please contact Cindy Gibson, absentee bid coordinator, at 828.765.2359 x 1308 or bidding@penland.org.

Conditions of Sale

Regarding both the live and silent auctions, Penland School assumes no risk, liability or responsibility for the authenticity, quality, or value of the items. Estimates of values and descriptions have been made based on information provided by artists. Everything is sold “as is” and is subject to the conditions and restrictions stipulated in the catalog.

Silent auction bid increments are predetermined including a minimum and a “close-out” bid (buy-it-now option). Live auction bid increments are set by the auctioneer. The highest bidder for any item shall be the purchaser. In the event of a dispute, the auctioneer shall have the sole and final discretion to determine the successful bidder or to reoffer or resell the article in question. Designation of your bid as the winning bid is a legal contract to purchase the item.

Penland will make every effort to execute absentee bids as submitted; however, Penland cannot be responsible for any inadvertent error or failure to execute a bid.

NC sales tax does not apply to this charitable event. All items have been donated to Penland School of Craft, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Successful bidders are purchasers of items of value. As such, the bids are not tax-deductible except in the amount by which the purchase price exceeds the item’s fair market value. The amount, if any, that the purchase price exceeds the item’s fair market value appears on your invoice. Please keep the invoice for your records and consult with your tax advisor for details.

Shipping

Penland staff will contact you following the auction to confirm shipping arrangements and will notify you of the actual shipping cost that will be charged to your card.

Items will be shipped via UPS Ground, FedEx, or US Mail and will be insured for the purchase price. Please allow three to six weeks for packing and delivery. Crated items may require additional time for packing and delivery.

Shipping is not available for some items due to fragility, size, or weight. Items marked $$$ shipping may incur higher shipping costs due to high insurance values or oversize packaging requirements. Items marked crate plus shipping may require crating and freight delivery; please note that the minimum cost of a crate is $150 plus the cost of freight delivery service. Items marked art handler shipping may require a professional art moving service for packaging and delivery. The cost of this service will be paid by the purchaser.

Shipping charges will include the carrier costs, insurance, packing materials, and a $25 handling fee for each item shipped.

Absentee Bidding