Buyer's and seller's premiums
Auctioneers charge buyers and sellers a percentage of the hammer price - known respectively as the buyer's premium and the seller's premium (the latter is also referred to as vendor's premium, vendor's commission or seller's commission). This fee in the UK is usually also subject to VAT.
Each auctioneer sets its own rates for these premiums. Check their terms and conditions for details.
![img_71-1.jpg](/media/33310/img_71-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131814813670000000)
ATG letter: Why should dealers have to justify their retail pricing?
17 September 2018MADAM – In your round table report on charging for expertise (ATG No 2358), you identified topics raised in the discussion and asked us to give our views them. So here goes:
![img_14-1.jpg](/media/32901/img_14-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131810518930000000)
Round table debate: The price is right
10 September 2018In an increasingly complex marketplace, how should auctioneers and dealers charge for their services?
ATG letter: Furniture price squeeze has helped auction fees rise
18 June 2018MADAM – Like David Carter (ATG No 2345) I can remember the time when we auctioneers could make a living with only seller’s commission of 10%.
![img_57-2.jpg](/media/29931/img_57-2.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131731973550000000)
ATG letter: Premium rise would be unfair
11 June 2018MADAM – In response to letters on credit card fees and buyer’s premium at auction houses in ATG No 2345, I would argue the assumptions made are misplaced – certainly in the case of how our auction house works.
Sotheby’s online-only sales no longer all premium-free
16 April 2018Sotheby’s has made a u-turn on its pledge to scrap fees for purchasers at its online-only auctions.
![Sotheby's](/media/27184/sothebys-ny-hq-2303nedi.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131677671990000000)
Sotheby’s re-thinks buyer’s premium fee at online-only auctions
09 April 2018Sotheby’s is retreating on its pledge to scrap fees for purchasers at its online-only auctions.
![Bonhams in New Bond Street](/media/20127/bonhams-bond-street-2312nea-05-10-17.jpg?rxy=0.099071207430340563,0.68333333333333335&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131516066010000000)
Bonhams adjusts buyer’s premium thresholds
05 October 2017Bonhams has changed the price thresholds for its buyer’s premium. The new rates in the UK exactly mirror Christie’s charges but are slightly different to Sotheby’s adjusted fees structure which comes into force next month.
![Phillips New York](/media/19049/phillips-new-york-2309nedi-13-09-17.jpg?rxy=0.82666666666666666,0.63970588235294112&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131497798950000000)
Phillips raises buyer’s premium following changes at Sotheby’s and Christie’s
13 September 2017Auctioneers Phillips have raised its buyer’s premium with the changes effective immediately.
Christie’s reacts to premium change
04 September 2017Christie’s has reacted quickly to rival Sotheby’s announcement of a new premium structure (ATG No 2306) by increasing its own buyer’s premium.
![Christie’s buyer’s premium](/media/18438/christies-gavel-2307ne-29-08-17.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131484944380000000)
Christie’s increases buyer’s premium
29 August 2017Auction house Christie’s has raised its buyer’s premium. The latest changes to the thresholds follow Sotheby’s announcement of a new premium structure last week.
![Sotheby's New York](/media/18205/sothebys-ny-hq-2303nedi.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131478942770000000)
Sotheby’s scraps buyer’s premium fee for online-only auctions
22 August 2017Auction house Sotheby’s is to scrap buyer’s premium – the fee paid to the firm by those who buy at auction – for its online-only sales.
ATG letters: When and why auctioneers should give discounts on buyer's premium
14 August 2017MADAM – I write regarding the ban on passing on the cost of credit card transaction fees in our credit (debt)-obsessed society (ATG No 2302).
Letters to the Editor: it's time sellers, not just buyers, benefited from transparency
10 April 2017In the debate about transparency of auctioneer fees, sparked by the Advertising Standards Authority December 2016 ruling that buyer's premium needs clearer promotion, the point of view of vendors needs to be heard too, three letter writers argue.
![ASA DIRECTIVE image 27-02-17.jpg](/media/9654/asa-directive-image-27-02-17.jpg?rxy=0.50666666666666671,0.23464373464373464&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131462556050000000)
Auction Technology Group issues guidance to auctioneers on advertising standards for print publications
27 February 2017Auction Technology Group, parent company of Antiques Trade Gazette, has issued guidance to auctioneers on how to display fees and charges alongside estimates.
![The Advertising Standards Authority](/media/9069/asa_jpg.jpg?rxy=0.34,0.9213483146067416&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131462557880000000)
Advertising Standards Authority says auctioneers ‘should be clearer on fees’
03 January 2017The Advertising Standards Authority has said auctioneers need to be clearer when presenting their commission rates.
Sotheby’s increases buyer’s premium
17 October 2016Sotheby’s has increased its buyer’s premium with the changes effective from November 13.
Bonhams increase buyer’s premium thresholds
09 September 2016Bonhams have followed Christie’s in increasing their buyer’s fees by adjusting their premium thresholds.
Buyers’ fees rise at Christie’s as auction house increases premium thresholds
07 September 2016Christie’s have adjusted their buyer’s premium thresholds, bringing them closer into line but not identical to the rates at rivals Sotheby’s.
![Catalogue auction buyers premium](/media/7948/catalogue-auction-buyers-premium-2254ne04x-12-08-16.jpg?rxy=0.13765182186234817,0.46456692913385828&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=131462557370000000)
COMMENT – industry split over Advertising Standards Authority probe into auction pricing
12 August 2016The art and antiques trade has reacted with mixed views over the launch of an investigation into the way auction houses display their commission rates. A number of dealers have told ATG that an investigation into transparency of buyer’s premium is long overdue, while auctioneers have pointed out that the proposed changes would be unnecessary and impractical.
ASA to investigate transparency over auction premiums
27 July 2016The Advertising Standards Authority have launched an investigation into the way auction houses display their commission rates.
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