Auction

BLA auctions

Contents
1. Auction methods
2. Cash Payments and counterfeit currency
3. Prebooking lots
4. Suction letters
5. Labelling of auction lots
6. Commission rates
7. Display stand auction
8. Selling from boxes

Auction methods
The BLA will use display stands to allow the buyers the opportunity to view the fish prior to being auctioned. Should circumstances arise that make the use of display stands unworkable at an auction, then the committee reserve the right to revert to auctioning lots directly from the seller’s boxes.
Descriptions of both methods are detailed below.

Cash only Payments
Please note all BLA events are cash only.
Due to the influx of counterfeit currency, £50.00 notes will not be accepted at any BLA event

Prebooking of auction lots.
To be able to sell any livestock at a BLA event, you must apply for an auction letter. This letter allows to us to identify your auction lots easily.
Please do not allow anyone else to sell their livestock under your letter.

Requesting your auction letter and booking forms
An auction letter can be requested alongside with the relevant booking forms you require by completing the on-line contact form found under ‘BLA Events’ on the menu bar above. The seller can also contact the auction manager directly if necessary.
If the seller has any questions or is unable to download the booking form for any reason, please contact the auction manager.

Auction lots
The auction is for fish only.
The seller can enter a maximum of 50 auction lots, with a minimum of 80% of those lots being livebearers.
Please check with the auction manager if you need some leeway on the above restrictions.

Livestock labelling
All auction lots must also be correctly labelled and match the Booking Form.

Commission rates
The standard commission rate of 15% is applied to a seller’s auction lots provided they are pre-booked correctly and booked in on the day of the auction at least one hour before the auction start time.
A rate of 20% commission will be applied to a seller’s auction lots if do not meet the above criteria.

Auction methods

Display stand auction
Auction lots will be generally removed from the seller’s poly-boxes in groups of 5 (auction teams discretion) and placed onto the viewing stand, Each seller’s group of 5 lots will be sold sequentially to make the task of recording the sales much easier. Seller’s with a large number of lots, may have a second group of lots on the display stand. These will be sold after all other seller’s lots have been offered for auction.
Please note: Nobody other than the Auction Team will be allowed around the Viewing Racks at this time.

The auction team reserve the right to inspect the auction lots within the seller’s poly-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.

• The Auctioneer will inform the Buyers when they are permitted to view the fish on display.
• The auctioneer will announce that the auction will begin in 5 minutes and all Buyers must then return to their seats.
• The Auctioneer will auction the lots.
• A “runner” will take the Auction Lot to the winning bidder and collect payment. This process will continue until the Viewing Rack is empty.
• The Auction Team will 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.

It is the Seller’s responsibility to ensure that all livestock are healthy when bagged, the optimum conditions are provided, and the correct type/size of bag is used. Please adopt the following guidelines when preparing fish for transport:

Lots not deemed fit for the auction will be returned to the Seller and the lot withdrawn. This will include bags with dead livestock.
The Committee’s ruling will be final on all decisions.

Any unsold lots will be placed back in the seller’s box with an unsold label attached. It is possible that any unsold lots may be re-auctioned after all other lots are sold.

Selling from boxes auction
Under certain circumstances it may become necessary to change the auction format from the display stand to selling direct from the boxes.
boxes will be selected for auction in the following order

• Volunteers helping with the auction
• BLA members
• Alphabetical order according to the seller’s letter.

The auction team will check the auction lots in the box that is to be auctioned next to ensure the condition of the fish, the condition of the bag and its 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.