Auction Rules

GPS Auction Rules and Procedures

The main intent of the GPS periodic on-line auctions is to provide a method for members to dispose of and acquire philatelic material, while enhancing membership services and attracting new members.  This document, which applies to each auction, describes the approach the GPS is taking to accomplish our goal.  The GPS is pleased to find a good home for any philatelic material its members wish to dispose of, however, we would additionally be honored to accept donations as this additionally helps to promote the GPS and its services.

  1. Each numbered auction, and closing date, will be posted on the GPS website homepage, advertised in The Specialist and will close on the specified date at midnight, Eastern US time zone.
  2. Each GPS member is eligible to enter up to 10 lots into the GPS auction. To enter lots, contact the GPS auctioneer first indicating what you want to submit.  Because the GPS desires each auction to contain a variety of philatelic material spanning the scope of German philately, each auction can only contain several lots of a particular type.  At the discretion of the GPS auctioneer, lots submitted by members will be included in the next auction but some lots may be held for the following auction.  When submitting lots, please include any relevant information about the lot, such as Michel catalog numbers, condition, values or market values.
  3. Start bids will be set to entice bidding, usually at 15-20% of catalog value or 15-20% of market value, whichever is largest. For values in Euros, 15-20% of the current conversion rate to $US will be used to determine the start bid.  The minimum start bid is $1.00.
  4. Only GPS members can bid and bids can be submitted to the GPS auctioneer by email or mail on an Auction Bid Sheet, available on the GPS website. See The Specialist for contact information.
  5. For members without an email address, all communication will be completed by USPS mail or phone. In this case, please feel free to contact the GPS auctioneer to request a hard copy of the lot descriptions, start bids and Auction Bid Sheet.  If necessary, please leave a detailed message of your request and postal address.  See The Specialist for contact information.
  6. All lots will be described as accurately as possible. Donation lot will be identified as such.  If a bidder notices an error in the description of any lot, please notify the GPS auctioneer and the lot will be withdrawn and entered into the next GPS auction with the correct description.
  7. For all lots, the buyer will complete the transaction with the GPS auctioneer. The buyer will receive an invoice, including shipping options, from the GPS auctioneer. Once the buyer selects a preferred shipping option, the expense will be added to the invoice at cost.  The buyer must send payment to the GPS auctioneer before lots can be shipped.  Do not send cash.  Generic payment options are described below.  More detailed instructions will be included on each buyer’s invoice:
     – PayPal as a gift, also known as the Family and Friends option or add 4% to the invoice amount.
     – $US check drawn on a US bank.
     – $US postal money order.
     – Payment by credit card cannot be accepted.
  8. Unsold lots may be purchased at a small discount from the start bid at the GPS auctioneer’s discretion.
  9. For buyer and seller protection, lots with invoices over $50 should only be sent by a method requiring the buyer’s signature. If the buyer requests otherwise, lots can be sent only at the buyer’s risk.
  10. There is no buyer or seller fee, however a $1 handling fee, regardless of the number of lots won, will be added to each invoice.
  11. On the Auction Bid Sheet, you must include the auction number, your name, your GPS membership number and postal address. Only the email address is optional but preferred for ease of communication.  Member email addresses will not be used for any other purpose.
  12. All bids are per lot and the highest bid wins the lot at 1 advance over the second high bid. Tie bids are won by the first bid received.  No “buy” bids will be accepted.  Advances are $0.50 up to $50, $1 over $50 up to $100, $2 over $100.  After closing, winning bid amounts and the number of bids each lot received will be published in The Specialist. 
  13. The GPS auctioneer is not permitted to divulge the top bid or other bidder information. Periodically, before an auction closes, the current winning bid for each lot will be posted on the GPS website or will be sent on request to GPS members.  After closing, winning bid amounts will posted on the GPS website, published in the next edition of The Specialist and considered final. 
  14. Any lot is returnable within 7 days of receipt if the buyer believes the lot is not as described. Please contact the GPS Auctioneer first to verify the description.
  15. If the buyer chooses to submit a lot for examination by an acceptable expert, they must notify the auctioneer within 7 days of receipt of the lot. Only the opinion of a BPP or other German expert is considered acceptable.  Postage expenses and the cost of examination are incurred by the buyer.  In the event the lot is declared not as described, the GPS will refunded the purchase price once the lot is received by the auctioneer.  The GPS cannot absorb postage and examination fees regardless of the outcome.  The GPS takes great care in determining the authenticity of every lot and any lot that is considered suspicious will be described as “AS IS” and is only returnable at the discretion of the GPS auctioneer.  The inability of an acceptable expert to render an opinion is not grounds for return of a lot.
  16. Submission of lots and bids implies acceptance of the GPS Auction Rules and Procedures.