Buyers auction guidelines
Welfare of Livestock
The welfare of all livestock offered for sale is of paramount importance. This includes fish, shrimps and snails.
Livestock not accepted at our events
- Fish with inbred deformities, such as “Balloon” types or those with exceptionally “long fins”.
These and other similar debilitating deformities are detrimental to the health of the fish. - Livestock that have been injected with dyes.
- Genetically modified livestock such as “Glo Fish”.
- Any fish deemed inappropriate for sale at a BLA event:
for example ‘tank-busting’ species, and aggressive hybrid fish (such as Flower horn cichlids).
Cash only Payments
Please note all BLA events are cash only, there is currently no facility for cashless payments. Cheques will only be accepted by prior arrangement.
Due to the influx of counterfeit currency, £50.00 notes will not be accepted at any BLA event
Suitable polystyrene box or thermal container
Buyers will be sold livestock unless they have a suitable polystyrene box or thermal container to store their purchases in whilst the auction is in progress.
Wherever possible the Auction Team will endeavour to have surplus polystyrene boxes for sale before the start of the auction.
Bidding Cards
Bidding can only take place using a BLA numbered Bidding Card. Bidding cards can be hired prior to the auction, all that is required is a £1.00 refundable deposit and your name for our records. Sharing Bidding cards is not permitted, with the exception of family members / partners. Bidding Cards must be returned before the buyer leaves the auction, the deposit from any unreturned bidding card will go towards new cards being made.
NOTE: missing Bidding Cards are an ongoing problem.
Auction method
The BLA use display stands for the buyers to view the fish prior to being auctioned. In certain circumstances the committee reserve the right to change the auction method to selling from boxes should the need arise.
Viewing the Auction Lots and auctioning the lots
The Auctioneer will inform the Buyers when, and how long they have, to view the racking. The Buyers may then approach the viewing area.
When it is time to start the auction the Auctioneer will then announce that the auction will begin in 5 minutes and all Buyers must then return to their seats.
NOTE: Buyers are not allowed in the area of the Viewing Racks outside of the allotted viewing time.
Auction Bidding
Unless a reserve price is stipulated, the Auctioneer will start the bidding at a value deemed as appropriate for that particular lot, usually £5.00. In the situation where a lot does not sell at the reserve value when offered for auction, the Seller will be asked to either revise the reserve price or withdraw the lot.
The bidding will increase in increments of £1.00 (unless the Auctioneer decides a higher increment is more appropriate) until a winning bid is reached.
Agreement
Agreement to these guidelines, and terms & conditions, is accepted by entering Lots into the Auction or registering to bid.
Display stand auction
Auction lots will be removed from the seller’s poly-boxes is a sequence to ensure every seller has the same amount of lots selected for the display stand.
NOTE: Nobody other than the Auction Team will be allowed around the Viewing Racks at this time.
The auction team reserve the right to check the auction lots in the seller’s boxes prior to the auction. They will check to ensure the fish health, the bag condition and suitability, and accuracy of the labelling.
Note: if any lot fails the inspection process, the lot will be returned to the Seller for remedial action or will be withdrawn from the auction. Should it be deemed necessary by the Auction Team.
- The auctioneer will inform the buyers when are clear to view the fish on display. The buyers may then approach the viewing area.
- The auctioneer will announce that the auction will begin in 5 minutes and all buyers must then return to their seats.
- The auctioneer will offer the lots from the racking randomly.
- As each lot is sold a “runner” will convey it to the winning bidder and receive the required payment.
- This process will continue until the display stand is empty.
- The auction team will then repopulate the racking.
- When the Auction Team are ready the Auctioneer will again call the Buyers to the viewing area to repeat the cycle as previously described.
- This process will continue until all the Auction Lots have been offered for sale.
- If there is sufficient time left following the auction, any livestock and plants not sold on the sales table can be auctioned off should the sellers wish.
Any unsold lots will be placed in a designated poly-box for the Seller to collect or they can be offered for re-sale at the end of the auction.
Selling from boxes auction
The auction will be initially carried out in two stages, Page 1 from each seller’s auction list will be auctioned in the first stage of the auction and the second page of their auction list will be auctioned in a second stage.
The boxes will be selected for auction in the following order
- Volunteers helping with the auction
- BLA members
- Non-members in alphabetical order according to the seller’s letter.
The auction team reserve the right to check the auction lots in the seller’s boxes prior to the auction. They will check to ensure the fish health, the bag condition and suitability, and accuracy of the labelling.
Note: if any lot fails the inspection process, the lot will be returned to the Seller for remedial action or will be withdrawn from the auction. Should it be deemed necessary by the Auction Team.
- The Auctioneer will offer the first page of lots from the seller’s box.
- As each lot is sold a “runner” will convey it to the winning bidder and receive the required payment.
- This process will continue until the seller’s assigned lots have been offered for sale.
- The next sellers assigned lots will be brought forward and auctioned.
- When all sellers have had their first page of lots offered for auction, a second round of auctioning will take place with the remaining sellers lots offered in the same order as the first round.
- This process will continue until all the auction lots have been offered for sale.
- If there is sufficient time left following the auction, any livestock and plants not sold on the sales table can be auctioned off should the sellers wish.
Any unsold lots will remain in the seller’s poly-box.
identical lots will be removed from sale should the first lot not sell; the buyers will be given the chance to say if these lots are of interest before they are withdrawn from sale.
Complaints about the lots
The Auction Team will try to ensure all lots are accurate to their description and are in good condition when sold. If the Buyer has a complaint or query about a lot, the complaint must be registered with a Committee Member immediately.
Once a lot has left the auction room, it is unlikely any problems can be rectified.
Boxing your fish ready for transport
As each won lot is received by the buyer, care must be taken by the buyer to pack their purchases carefully and securely in the thermal containers to prevent their purchases rolling around during transport, this could cause unnecessary stress and fatalities.
All the thermal containers should be securely placed within the vehicle ready for transport, some care at this stage will prevent any boxes and bags being dislodged during transport.
Glossary of terms
Auction lot –
Bidding Card –
Runner – a volunteer who will take the auction lot to the person who won the lot and collect payment.
Thermal container – An insulated container used to keep your purchases warm during the auction process and the journey home.