It has moved to a 3000 sq ft building in Thatcham, Berkshire, and will begin a series of auctions without room bidders. The first will be a general camera sale on January 23. Although commission bids and phone lines will be offered, the auction house hopes most bidders will bid through its own website or thesaleroom.com.
Flints’ Jonathan Brown said: “More than 80% of our bidders are already online with only around 15 people coming to our former saleroom venue for auctions. Online is so much easier and ef f icient for everyone.” He said the company will offer between six to eight phone lines but will encourage most participants to bid online.
All lots will be available to view for one or two weeks ahead of each auction at the new premises.
The sales will not adopt the ‘timed’ online model. Auctions will be taken by the auctioneer on the rostrum with no bidders in the room and broadcast live from the Thatcham premises.
Brown said successful bidders who have attended a viewing will be offered free postage for the lots they have won (subject to T&Cs).
He added: “Room bidders won’t lose out as it still means only one trip to the saleroom when you view the items.”
Only Flints’ biannual Fine Sales will be held as traditional public auctions with bidders in the room. Viewing will take place in Thatcham with these auctions held at the Hilton Hotel in Reading.
Set up in 2017 by dealers Matthew Nunn and Keith Petts and auctioneer Jonathan Brown, Flints first operated from north London before holding sales in Reading.
In July it will launch a new auction category – vintage and second-hand hi-fi equipment – titled the Audiophile sale.
