Costs explained
Two fees fund the marketplace: a buyer's premium added to the hammer price, and a seller's commission deducted from the proceeds. Both vary by department, because a classic car and a coin need very different amounts of specialist work. Exact rates are confirmed on each lot and on each consignment agreement before you commit.
The buyer's premium is a percentage of the hammer price paid by the winning bidder on top of that price. It is a long-standing auction-industry convention rather than anything specific to Sernelo, and it covers cataloguing, specialist vetting, dispute handling and payment processing. On Sernelo it is shown in the bid confirmation before you place a bid, alongside estimated shipping and any import duties. Nothing is added afterwards.
A worked example
Percentages are illustrative; the rate applied to a lot is always shown on the lot itself.
Deducted from the hammer price when a lot sells. Cataloguing, photography and specialist appraisal are included in the commission — there is no listing fee, and unsold lots cost you nothing beyond return carriage where it applies. If you are weighing up where to sell collectibles or other valuables, that page sets out the submission and approval process.
A buyer's premium is a percentage added to the hammer price and paid by the winning bidder to the auction platform. It is standard practice across the auction industry and is how most auction houses and online auction marketplaces are funded. On Sernelo the rate varies by department and is shown in the bid confirmation before you commit.
It is applied as a percentage of the hammer price, not of your maximum bid. If a lot hammers at 1,000 and the department's buyer's premium is 5%, the premium is 50 and the lot total before shipping and duties is 1,050.
Sellers pay a commission deducted from the hammer price when a lot sells. Cataloguing, photography and specialist appraisal are included, there is no listing fee, and unsold lots cost nothing beyond return carriage where it applies.
No. Shipping and insurance are quoted per lot and destination, and import duties or taxes depend on the destination country. Both are estimated before you confirm a bid so the all-in figure is visible up front.
For how bidding itself works, see how online auctions work or the guide to bidding online.
Sernelo is preparing for launch and specialists are reviewing property now. Submit an item to get an indicative estimate and the commission that would apply.