Terms & Conditions of Sale
Last updated: May, 2026
Welcome to Classic RI Auctions. By registering for an auction, placing a bid, making a purchase, or otherwise using our website or auction services, you agree to the following Terms & Conditions of Sale. Please read them carefully before bidding.
Classic RI Auctions is a Rhode Island-based auction company offering thoughtfully curated goods from Rhode Island and beyond. Our goal is to provide transparent, fair, and accessible auctions featuring quality antiques, furnishings, decorative objects, estate property, collectibles, art, tools, household goods, and other fine goods.
1. Agreement to Terms
By registering to bid or placing a bid with Classic RI Auctions, you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions, any auction-specific terms posted for a particular sale, and any announcements or updates made before or during the auction.
If you do not agree to these terms, you should not register, bid, or purchase through Classic RI Auctions.
2. Registration
All bidders must register before bidding. Classic RI Auctions may require valid contact information, a billing address, a payment method, and other identifying information before approving a bidder.
Classic RI Auctions reserves the right to approve, deny, suspend, or revoke bidding privileges at any time, for any reason, including but not limited to nonpayment, failure to pick up items, disputed charges, inaccurate registration information, or prior conduct that we determine to be inconsistent with fair auction practices.
3. Bidding Is a Binding Contract
All bids are binding. When you place a bid, you are making an irrevocable offer to purchase the item at that price, plus any applicable buyer’s premium, taxes, fees, shipping, handling, storage, or other charges.
If you are the winning bidder, you are obligated to complete the purchase. Failure to pay for or pick up won items may result in loss of bidding privileges, collection action, storage fees, resale of the item, and liability for any resulting losses or costs.
4. Buyer’s Premium
A buyer’s premium of 12% will be added to the hammer price of each lot unless otherwise stated in the auction listing.
The total purchase price is the hammer price, plus the buyer’s premium, applicable sales tax, and any other applicable charges.
5. Sales Tax
Applicable sales tax will be collected on taxable purchases unless a valid resale or exemption certificate is provided before payment is processed.
For items picked up in Rhode Island, Rhode Island sales tax will generally apply unless an exemption is accepted by Classic RI Auctions. Buyers claiming exemption are responsible for providing proper documentation before checkout. If proper documentation is not provided, tax will be charged.
Buyers are responsible for any use tax, sales tax, duty, import fee, or other tax that may apply to their purchase.
6. As-Is, Where-Is
All items are sold as-is, where-is, with all faults, and without warranty, representation, or guarantee of any kind, except as expressly stated in writing by Classic RI Auctions.
Condition reports, photographs, descriptions, dimensions, age, origin, maker, material, attribution, and provenance are provided in good faith for informational purposes only. They are not guarantees.
Bidders are strongly encouraged to review all photos, read descriptions carefully, ask questions before bidding, and inspect items in person when preview opportunities are available.
7. Descriptions and Condition
Classic RI Auctions makes reasonable efforts to describe items accurately. However, all descriptions are statements of opinion only and should not be treated as statements of fact.
Normal wear, age, repairs, alterations, restorations, losses, chips, cracks, scratches, stains, discoloration, replaced parts, missing parts, odors, or other imperfections may not always be noted.
The absence of a condition statement does not imply that an item is in perfect condition. The mention of a defect does not imply that no other defects exist.
8. No Guarantee of Authenticity or Attribution
Unless expressly guaranteed in writing by Classic RI Auctions, no guarantee is made as to authorship, maker, artist, designer, period, culture, origin, age, material, completeness, authenticity, or provenance.
Terms such as “attributed to,” “style of,” “manner of,” “after,” “school of,” “possibly,” “probably,” and similar language indicate opinion only.
9. Preview and Inspection
When available, preview dates, times, and locations will be listed in the auction details. Bidders are encouraged to inspect items before bidding.
By bidding without inspection, you accept the item based on the listing, photos, description, and your own judgment.
10. Reserves and Estimates
Some lots may be offered with a reserve, which is the confidential minimum price the consignor is willing to accept. Classic RI Auctions may bid on behalf of the consignor up to the reserve amount where permitted by law and platform rules.
Pre-sale estimates, when provided, are opinions only and are not guarantees of value or selling price.
11. Auction Closing and Extended Bidding
Auctions may use a soft-close or extended bidding format. If a bid is placed near the scheduled closing time, the bidding period for that lot may be extended.
Classic RI Auctions reserves the right to pause, extend, reopen, withdraw, or cancel any lot or auction due to technical issues, clerical errors, bidding irregularities, disputes, or other circumstances we determine appropriate.
12. Bid Increments and Errors
Bid increments may vary by auction or platform. Classic RI Auctions may reject, void, or correct bids that appear to be erroneous, fraudulent, made in bad faith, or affected by technical error.
Classic RI Auctions is not responsible for missed bids, internet outages, platform failures, software issues, device problems, or delays in bid transmission.
13. Invoices and Payment
Winning bidders will receive an invoice after the auction closes. Payment is due by 24 hours after invoice unless otherwise stated.
Accepted payment methods may include credit card, debit card, ACH, wire transfer, certified funds, cash at pickup, third party vendors etc. Classic RI Auctions reserves the right to require certain forms of payment for high-value purchases.
Invoices not paid by the deadline may be charged automatically to the payment method on file.
14. Nonpayment
If a winning bidder fails to pay in full by the required deadline, Classic RI Auctions may, at its discretion:
Cancel the sale.
Resell the item.
Charge the buyer for any shortfall, fees, storage, handling, resale costs, and collection costs.
Ban the buyer from future auctions.
Report the unpaid invoice to the auction platform or pursue legal remedies.
15. Pickup and Removal
Most items are sold for local pickup unless shipping is expressly offered.
Pickup dates, times, and locations will be listed in the auction details or invoice. Buyers are responsible for bringing sufficient labor, tools, packing materials, blankets, boxes, straps, and vehicles appropriate for safe removal.
Classic RI Auctions staff may not be available to assist with loading. Buyers are responsible for any damage they cause to property, premises, other lots, or vehicles during pickup.
Items must be picked up during the stated pickup window unless prior written arrangements are made.
16. Failure to Pick Up Items
Items not picked up by the stated deadline may be considered abandoned unless prior written arrangements have been made.
At Classic RI Auctions’ discretion, abandoned items may be stored, moved, resold, donated, or discarded. The buyer remains responsible for the purchase price, buyer’s premium, taxes, storage fees, moving fees, disposal fees, and any other related costs.
Storage fees of $50 per lot per day may apply after the pickup deadline.
17. Shipping
Shipping is not guaranteed unless specifically offered in the auction listing.
If shipping is available, the buyer is responsible for all packing, shipping, insurance, handling, and related costs. Classic RI Auctions may use in-house shipping, third-party shippers, or require the buyer to arrange shipping directly.
Classic RI Auctions is not responsible for loss, damage, delay, or claims once an item has been released to a shipping carrier or third-party shipper.
18. Risk of Loss and Title
Risk of loss passes to the buyer when the auction closes or when the invoice is issued, whichever occurs first, unless otherwise required by law.
Title passes to the buyer only after full payment has been received and cleared.
Classic RI Auctions may withhold release of any item until all invoices and fees owed by the buyer have been paid in full.
19. Returns and Refunds
All sales are final. No returns, refunds, exchanges, or chargebacks will be accepted based on condition, description, buyer’s remorse, failure to inspect, inability to pick up, shipping cost, or change of mind.
A refund or adjustment may be considered only if Classic RI Auctions determines, in its sole discretion, that a material error was made in the listing.
20. Chargebacks and Payment Disputes
By bidding, the buyer agrees not to initiate a chargeback or payment dispute for any purchase made under these terms.
If a buyer initiates a chargeback after receiving an item or failing to pick up an item, Classic RI Auctions may suspend bidding privileges, recover the item, pursue collection, and seek reimbursement for fees, costs, and losses.
21. Withdrawal of Lots
Classic RI Auctions reserves the right to withdraw, combine, divide, relot, or cancel any item before, during, or after an auction.
No bidder shall have any claim against Classic RI Auctions or the consignor for the withdrawal or cancellation of a lot.
22. Consigned Property
Many items sold by Classic RI Auctions are consigned by third parties. Classic RI Auctions acts as an agent for the consignor unless otherwise stated.
The consignor retains ownership until title passes to the buyer after payment. Classic RI Auctions may enforce these terms on behalf of itself and its consignors.
23. Regulated, Restricted, or Special Items
Certain items may be subject to special laws, restrictions, or transfer requirements. These may include, but are not limited to, vehicles, trailers, boats, firearms, ammunition, ivory, taxidermy, alcohol, coins, jewelry, precious metals, and items containing regulated materials.
Buyers are responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable laws before bidding. Classic RI Auctions reserves the right to refuse sale, cancel a transaction, or require additional documentation for any regulated or restricted item.
24. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Classic RI Auctions shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages, including lost profits, lost opportunity, loss of use, or diminution in value.
Classic RI Auctions’ maximum liability for any claim related to a purchased item shall not exceed the amount actually paid by the buyer for that item.
25. Website and Platform Use
Classic RI Auctions may use third-party auction platforms, payment processors, email systems, shipping providers, and other service providers. Use of those services may be subject to separate terms and privacy policies.
Classic RI Auctions is not responsible for platform outages, bidding delays, software errors, account issues, payment processor errors, or data transmission problems outside its reasonable control.
26. Privacy
By registering or bidding, you consent to Classic RI Auctions collecting and using your information for auction administration, payment processing, pickup coordination, shipping, customer service, legal compliance, and future auction communications.
Classic RI Auctions will not knowingly sell bidder information to unrelated third parties. Information may be shared with service providers, consignors, legal authorities, tax authorities, or others when necessary to complete transactions or comply with law.
27. Governing Law and Venue
These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by the laws of the State of Rhode Island, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Any dispute arising from or related to these terms, any auction, or any purchase from Classic RI Auctions shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in Rhode Island, unless otherwise required by law.
28. Severability
If any provision of these Terms & Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
29. Changes to Terms
Classic RI Auctions may update these Terms & Conditions at any time. The version posted at the time of registration, bidding, or purchase will apply to that transaction unless auction-specific terms state otherwise.
30. Contact
Questions about an auction, item, invoice, pickup, shipping, or these Terms & Conditions should be directed to:
Classic RI Auctions
Email: autctions@classicri.com
Phone: 401-477-9679
By registering, bidding, or purchasing, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions of Sale.