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When it comes to buying and selling, auctions are one of the oldest, most reliable methods around. While the online marketplace has made shopping more convenient, there’s something timeless about the auction process that continues to draw people in. At Windsor Auctions, we’re a bit biased, of course, but we believe that buying at auction offers numerous benefits, both practical and environmental. So, let’s explore why auctions are such a fantastic way to find what you need – and maybe even get a great deal in the process.   The Greenest Way to Shop In today’s world, where sustainability is more important than ever, auctions stand out as one of the greenest ways to shop. When you buy at auction, you’re not just acquiring something unique; you’re also helping to give new life to items that might otherwise end up in landfill. Whether it’s a vintage piece of furniture, a collectable, some jewellery, or an antique, buying at auction is all about reusing and repurposing items that still have plenty of life left in them. Unlike mass-produced goods, many items sold at auction are one-of-a-kind, and by purchasing them, you’re reducing the demand for new products, the manufacturing of which often comes with a significant carbon footprint. Plus, as auction houses like ours increasingly embrace online platforms, it’s easier than ever to participate in auctions from the comfort of your home, making sustainable shopping more accessible than ever – although we always recommend attending our auctions in person, as it’s much more fun!   A Wide Variety of Unique Items One of the biggest advantages of buying at auction is the sheer variety of items available. At Windsor Auctions, we pride ourselves on offering an eclectic mix of goods – from household items, jewellery and furniture to antiques, collectables, and even vehicles. Whether you’re a first time bidder or a seasoned collector looking for a specific item, there’s always something for everyone. For instance, if you’re not a fan of flat-pack furniture and would prefer something with a bit more character and sturdiness, an auction is a fantastic place to find high-quality pieces at a fraction of the cost of new items. And the best part? You can come...

  When it comes to collectables, the auction world can be quite a minefield. Figuring out which items are in high demand and which ones aren’t can be tricky. Popular culture often drives these trends, leading to fluctuations in value. But, we’re here to share some insights on the most sought-after collectables at auction.   Popular Culture and Collectables   Popular culture is one of the main factors for determining the demand for certain collectables. For instance, toys like Matchbox cars, and Hornby train sets, are highly coveted, as well as movie-related ones like original Star Wars figures. The key factors here are popularity, scarcity, and condition. People love finding items still in their original boxes because these tend to be rarer and in better condition, which makes them more valuable.   Traditional Collectables   Traditional collectables such as coins and stamps continue to do well at auctions due to their historical significance and rarity. Take coins, for example, rare misstrikes or those made from precious metals like gold and silver are particularly prized. Similarly, certain stamps like the Penny Black can vary greatly in value. While some Penny Blacks are relatively common and affordable, others, due to their rarity, can fetch high prices. It’s all about the scarcity.   Contemporary Collectables   Contemporary collectables like rare sneakers and trading cards (think Pokémon and sports cards) have skyrocketed in popularity. You’ll see countless videos on platforms like TikTok of people opening packs of trading cards, hoping to find rare ones. The value of these items is driven by rarity and popularity. However, not all contemporary collectables maintain their value. The recent plunge in NFT prices is a reminder of how quickly markets can change.   Comic Books   Comic books is a category that spans generations. They appeal to both older collectors, who seek comics from their youth, and younger fans, who are drawn to iconic characters and storylines. The nostalgia factor is strong here, with many collectors are essentially buying back parts of their youth. Collectors will buy comics they couldn’t necessarily afford when they were younger, but now they have enough disposable income to do so.   Sports Memorabilia   Sports memorabilia is a broad and popular...

  Participating in online auctions can be a great way to enjoy the excitement of an auction and bid on items from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a first-time bidder, understanding the process can help you make informed decisions and improve your bidding experience. This guide will walk you through the essentials of buying online at Windsor Auctions.   Registration Process for Online Bidders   To start bidding online with Windsor Auctions, you need to register on one of the platforms we use: The Saleroom or Easy Live. The registration process is straightforward and standard, the platforms require information like your name, address, telephone number, email address, and card details for verification purposes. Registration is free and allows you to browse our auction listings and get familiar with the process before placing any bids.   How the Online Auction Process Works   Bidding online at a live auction is similar to being in the auction room. When your desired lot comes up, you’ll see the bidding increments on your screen, along with a bid button to place your bid at the current price. Keep an eye on the screen and be ready to bid quickly, as the auctioneer will keep the pace fast to maintain momentum.   What to Look for When Browsing Auction Listings   If you can’t attend preview days, you can still get detailed information about auction items online. Each listing includes a description and photographs, and you can request a condition report through The Saleroom or Easy Live platforms. Simply click the button to ask questions about the item, and our team will provide the necessary details. While online resources are helpful, there’s nothing like seeing and handling the items in person.   Strategies for Placing Bids in an Online Auction   Knowing your limits is crucial when bidding online. Set a maximum bid amount to avoid overspending. If you can’t be present during the auction, consider leaving an auto bid. This feature allows the software to bid on your behalf up to your specified limit, ensuring you stay within budget even if you’re unable to monitor the auction live. Auto bids are particularly useful if you have other...

We all know the premise of an auction. Items are up for sale, if you want them you bid, if you don’t want them you don’t bid and when the hammer falls the item is sold. But, in the last year we have seen an increase in people who won’t honour this, especially on our online platforms, and they find themselves experiencing what we describe in the industry as buyer’s remorse.   At one of our previous auctions, we sold a fishing boat and the buyer wanted it delivered to London, which is not something we offer, and she claimed she could not come and collect it. As a compromise, we offered to deliver it to her holiday home in Cornwall, but the buyer pulled out and refused to honour the deal. The same problem arose with another buyer, who to our surprise, turned out to be a fellow auctioneer and should be well aware of how the process works. He bought an item at one of our auctions, but after researching it, he decided he had bid too much and refused to pay. These situations are not only frustrating for the seller, but they’re also extremely time consuming to deal with for our business. A year ago this would happen every one or two months, but over the last ten months, we’re dealing with this problem five or six times every auction. We have a few options on our end if something like this happens. If instructed by the client, we will pursue the buyer for the money, this involves persuading them that they are morally obligated to pay, which in our minds is true. And then we can place the item back in our next auction with the buyer as the client, so that they can recoup their losses. In a few cases we have had to go as far as blocking buyers from all online auctions. If they try to go to another auctioneer the software will show that they have a block on them and the auctioneer can choose not to approve them to bid. We don’t want to have to do any of this and we try our best not to. Mistakes happen and...

Selling at auction might sound easy enough. Choose an item, take it to an auction house, listen to an auctioneer talk really fast and shout out loads of numbers. Sold! But, there a few things it’s worthwhile knowing before you sell at auction to make the most of the experience. There are two different types of people who sell at auction. Private individuals, which will be most of you reading this, selling an item you might have bought, found, collected or already own. Or, there are those of you who have had a family member or loved one pass away and you’ve been left with a house full of stuff and you might want to sell some or all of it at auction. Here at Windsor Auctions, we cater for anyone and everyone. If you’re in the category of vendor looking to sell a handful or even just one item, we’ll take it all. Unlike many auction houses, we have no minimum price for an item. We sell everything all the way from £55,000 vases and £10,000 table dividers, both of which were sales we made recently, all the way down to a spoon for a tenner, we’re not fussy and would rather it comes to us than ends up in a landfill. And, if you have a whole house that needs clearing, we’ll come over and sort that for you, our own staff, our own lorries and our own teams, unlike most auction houses who will outsource all of this. Once we’ve got to the house, we’ll appraise every item and we’ll provide you with a stock list including all the individual items with descriptions, guide prices and estimates, before you decide what you want to sell and what you want to keep. When you’ve chosen what you want to sell, we’ll decide where to put the reserves on the items, which is the lowest price you’re happy to sell for, to make sure they’re protected. After that you’ll sign what you want to sell over to our care and do not fear, everything is insured, as we decide which of our auctions would be most suitable to place your item and then we’ll put it in front...

Auction TV shows are great, but come and experience the real thing!

There are countless shows on TV nowadays that give an insight into the world of auctions, from Antiques Roadshow to Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt, among others.   But, none of them can compete with the experience of coming down to a real auction house.   I’m partial to an auction TV show myself, I think the personalities and presenters are great and I’ve even had the pleasure of speaking with many of them, from David Harper to Michael Baggot, on my podcast, The Gavel and The Gabble.   I enjoy the competitive format and varied nature of the shows, they’re fun and it makes for easy viewing on a Sunday evening.   This seems to be an opinion held by a number of households throughout the country, as the viewing figures for these auction TV shows are off the charts.   It’s understandable, because people love the idea of discovering hidden treasure that could just as easily exist in their own homes and seeing how much it might be worth.   And yet, for whatever reason, this does not seem to translate to the number of people who attend auctions in real life.   On any given day as an auctioneer, I’ll see as many interesting and valuable items as are featured on these TV shows, if not more, come through my auction house.   And in terms of entertainment value, it’s far more exciting to go to an auction house for an hour than it is to sit and watch it on TV.   There’s lots of noise, people moving around, plenty of chatter, loads of banter. It’s just an exciting and dynamic place to be.   You don’t even have to come down for the whole day, it could just be for an hour to see the lots you’re interested in and then you can shoot off afterwards.   Watching on TV or bidding online is one thing, but why not come and be a part of the beating heart of the process?   So, I would encourage anyone who likes watching auction TV shows from The Bidding Room to Cash in the Attic or whatever else, to come down and be a part of...