General Auction Questions
What is an Absolute Auction?
What is a Proxy Bid & how does it work? What is a Left Bid?
What is a Buyers Premium?
What is a Bank Letter of Guarantee, and when do I need it?
What is an approved check?
Vehicle Auction Questions
What does "TMU" stand for in your vehicle auction page?
How do I find auction results for vehicle auctions?
What are the payment terms for vehicle auctions?
What is the Thomas Hirchak Company definition of the Light System?
What happens to the vehicles that don't sell?
Fine Art Auction Questions
What do the abbreviations stand for in your painting catalog descriptions?
(examples: SLR, O/C, etc.)
What is an Absolute Auction?
In an absolute auction the highest bid wins the auction, regardless of price.
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What is a proxy bid & how does it work?
If you want to bid at an auction but can't attend, the Hirchak Company will bid on your behalf if you make a proxy bid. A proxy bid is also known as a "left bid." You decide on what item or items you want and how much you would be willing to pay for each item.
Fill out the proxy bid form (stating the item, description and highest bid you are willing to make, along with name, address, phone, credit card, etc. as indicated) and mail or fax it to us so that we receive it by noon on the day before the auction.
The clerk from the Hirchak Company will bid on your behalf at the auction. We will bid only up to the amount you've indicated on your proxy bid form.
Bidding at Hirchak Auctions happens in increments stated by the auctioneer (starting fairly low and working its way up) so you may win an item for less than the full price you stated on your proxy bid form!
Click here for a Proxy Bid Form to print out & fax to us.
The proxy bid form is in pdf file format and you'll need Acrobat Reader to get it. If you don't have Acrobat on your computer, click on the link below to download it for free.
Click here to download Acrobat Reader for free!
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What is a Buyers Premium?
A Buyers Premium is added to the selling price of each item; it is an agreed upon percentage to pay for the costs of the auction. It is different with each auction; however, in most antiques and collectibles auctions the Buyers Premium is 10% over the selling price.
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What is a Bank Letter of Guarantee, and when do I need it?
The need for a bank letter of guarantee will be stated in the auction terms. Although we don't require a letter of guarantee at all of our auctions, you will need a bank letter of guarantee at some of our auctions if you're paying by check, including the State of Vermont Surplus Auctions.
Bank letters need to be on bank letterhead and signed by a bank officer. The following format should be used:
* * * * * * * * * *
Bank Letter of Guarantee
______________________(bank name) guarantees payment to Thomas Hirchak Company from _____________________(customer name) on account number _____________(your account #), up to the amount of ____________($ amount). This guarantee is valid for purchases at the _____________________________(auction name/auction date).
___________________________(name of bank officer)
__________________________(title)
_________________________(date)
* * * * * * * * * *
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What is an approved check?
An approved check is an in-state company or personal check with name and address printed on the check. Additionally, the person creating the check must have a photo ID and, if it is a company check, proof of authority to sign the check.
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Vehicle Auction Questions
What does "TMU" stand for in your Vehicle Auction Page?
TMU = Total Mileage Unknown
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How do I find Auction Results for Vehicle Auctions?
Results of vehicle auctions are posted the Tuesday or Wednesday after the vehicle auction in the "Results" section of our site. Use the link on the left hand side of the page to access this information.
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What are the Payment Terms for Vehicle Auctions?
A
25% deposit is due at the time of
purchase. Personal check, cash, certified
funds and credit card (with 3% added on
acceptance.)
Each
Vehicle Sale will be Assessed A Buyers
Premium which will be added to your high
bid price & become part of the
Purchase Price. Here are the premiums:
On
Sale Price*: |
Your
Premium |
$0
- $499 |
$50.00 |
$500
- $999 |
$75.00 |
$1,000
- $1,999 |
$90.00 |
$2,000
- $4,999 |
$100.00 |
$5,000
- $6,999 |
$110.00 |
$7,000
- $9,999 |
$130.00 |
$10,000
- $11,999 |
$150.00 |
$12,000
- $19,999 |
$175.00 |
$20,000
- $29,999 |
$225.00 |
$30,000
- $39,999 |
$325.00 |
$40,000
- $49,999 |
$425.00 |
$50,000
& Over |
$600.00 |
Balance
due in cash, certified funds or credit
card (w/ 3%). Balance can be paid Saturday
after auction, or Monday or Tuesday
following auction from 9 to 5.
Vehicle
is not released until paid in full.
*
On non vehicle items, i.e., push mowers,
garden tractors, snow blowers, etc.,
selling under $499, the Buyers Premium is
10% of high bid price. On any purchase
there is a $100 minimum deposit. If the
sum of the purchase price and the Buyers
premium is less than $100, the item is
payable with cash in full at the time of
purchase.
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Here
are the detailed terms of sale, on the
cover of every Thomas Hirchak Company
Vehicle Catalog:
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE - This is
meant to be a guide. WHILE EVERY EFFORT
HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE ACCURACY IN THIS
CATALOG, WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR
ERRORS, OMISSIONS, DELETIONS OR ADDITIONS.
PURCHASERS ARE ADVISED TO INSPECT VEHICLES
- mechanical, body, windshield, and
interior - to make their own
determination of condition. Neither the
Auctioneer nor the Consignors shall be
responsible for the correct description,
authenticity, genuineness of, or defect in
any lot, and makes no warranty in
connection therewith. No allowance will be
made or sale set aside on account of
incorrectness, error in cataloging, or any
imperfection. It is the buyer's
responsibility to verify any missing
information in the catalog. Please refer
to an addendum or ask at the front desk.
No deductions will be allowed on damaged
articles as ALL GOODS ARE BEING SOLD "AS
IS" AND WITHOUT RECOURSE.
PAYMENT: VEHICLES - Minimum 25% Deposit
Required at time of high bid. On any
purchase there is a $100 minimum deposit.
If the total of the purchase price and the
buyers premium is less than $100, the
item must be paid in full with cash at the
time of bid acceptance. ALL PRICES BID
REFLECT A 3% CASH DISCOUNT THAT CAN NOT BE
EARNED FOR CREDIT CARD ORDERS. Payment in
full or balance due on vehicles must be
paid in CASH or CERTIFIED FUNDS (personal
checks accepted ONLY with bank letter of
guarantee) to the Thomas Hirchak Company
Office, 131 Dorset Lane, Williston,
Vermont, on or before the Tuesday following the auction at
5 PM. Failure to pay balance due or
stopping payment on a check will result in
the loss of any and all present and future
auction privileges at any Thomas Hirchak
Company Auction. All vehicles must be
removed from Thomas Hirchak Company
property by the first Thursday following
the Auction. Vehicles left beyond that
date will be subject to a $10.00/day
storage charge. Gates will be open the
Monday and Tuesday following the auction
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Purchasers are urged
to move their vehicles out of the storage
area during these hours. Vehicles left on
Thomas Hirchak Company property for more
than 5 days following the Auction will be
towed & impounded at owners expense,
no exceptions. Thomas Hirchak Company has
the right to secure any vehicle that has
accrued storage. Thomas Hirchak Company is
not responsible for any damage, vandalism,
theft, etc. to vehicles left on Thomas
Hirchak Company property at any time. All
sales subject to Buyers Premium, which
will be added to high bid to determine
purchase price. Please refer to schedule
on next page.
TRANSMISSIONS: All vehicles are sold
under the Thomas Hirchak Company Light
System. Please refer to next page for
definition of the light system.
Transmission does not apply to red light
vehicles.
DEPOSIT FORFEIT: Any purchaser will
forfeit their deposit under the following
circumstances: failure to pay balance by
the specified time; if purchaser decides
that he no longer wants the vehicle, for
whatever reason.
PURCHASERS ARE ADVISED TO INSPECT ALL
VEHICLES AS ALL GOODS ARE BEING SOLD "AS
IS" AND WITHOUT RECOURSE. NO VEHICLE OR
PAPERWORK WILL BE RELEASED UNTIL VEHICLE
IS PAID IN FULL.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Vehicles with
salvage or rebuilt titles may not be able
to be registered in Massachusetts or New
York State. Vehicles 1990 or older with
only a Bill of Sale may not be able to be
registered in New York or some other
states. It is the buyer's responsibility
to check with the auction office prior to
the auction to verify if there is a title
or last valid registration for these
vehicles, or the DMV of their state for
requirements. No sale will be set aside
due to buyer not doing his/her due
diligence.
- Vermont DMV does not require titles
on vehicles 1990 and older. It is the
buyer's responsibility to check with
the auction office to see if there is a
title for these vehicles. No sale will
be set aside due to buyer not doing his
or her due diligence.
- Damaged or Rotten Frames &
Strut Towers must be declared by
seller. If not, buyer can void sale
within 48 hours.
- Discharged or removed air bags must
be declared by seller.
KEY TERMS: Lot # - for identification
and order of sale; VIN - Serial Number;
Miles - Mileage or Kilometers (designated
as K) to best knowledge; TMU - indicates
true mileage unknown; T/A- Title Attached
- Title, Bill of Sale and/or last Valid
Registration not available day of Auction.
Auction will provide to buyer within 10
days: Branded title: Salvage or
rebuilt.
POSSESSION OF A BIDDER'S NUMBER
ACKNOWLEDGES AGREEMENT WITH THE TERMS OF
SALE AS POSTED, SIGNED, AND ON THE
CATALOG. The name on the bidder
registration will be the name on the title
and the bill of sale issued on auction
day. NO CHANGES. Please register
accordingly.
Some of the items in today's sale have
reserve bids. It is our intention to sell
the items IF the high bids are confirmed
by the seller(s). Buyer will be issued a
"Title" or "Title w/Affidavit of
Repossession" or certificate to obtain
Title (US Marshal Service) or appropriate
paperwork to register Motor Vehicle in
Vermont. Buyer must present
certificate(s), Bill of Sale, or title(s),
etc., to Motor Vehicle Department to
register vehicles. Announcements from
auction block take precedence over
previous information.
**YOU MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE
TO REGISTER TO BID**
Children must be accompanied by an
adult at all times.
No children allowed in Auction
vehicles.
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What
is the Thomas Hirchak Company Definition of
Light System?
Color
of "light" is indicated in the catalog at
the vehicle auctions.
Green
Light
Sold with right to test drive within
one hour of payment in full. Buyer must
notify Auction Office within that 1 hour
of any defect. Mechanically sound with no
defects in engine or drive train. Drive
Train includes: Clutch, Transfer Cases,
4x4 Systems (Incl. Lock out hubs, shift on
the fly systems), Drive shafts, CV Joints,
Gear Box, and Differential. Subject to all
visible defects. Subject to not over
$500.00 mechanical defects unless
announced. After one hour of payment in
full lapses, the transaction becomes "As
Is" again.

Yellow
Light
Sold with transmission test only.
Subject to all other defects. Sold with
transmission test drive within one hour of
payment in full. Buyer must notify Auction
Office within that 1 hour of payment of
any defects. After one hour of payment in
full lapses, the transaction becomes "As
Is" again.

Red
Light
- All vehicles over 100,000
miles.
- All TMU.
- All branded titles.
- All vehicles selling for less than
$1000, automatically become red
light.
- All RVs, motorcycles, boats,
trailers, buses, gray market vehicles,
former police and municipal vehicles,
former taxies.
- All off block sales are strictly
"As Is."
- Sold subject to all defects,
including possible transmission
defects, and may imply unsafe for the
road. Vehicles with branded title
and/or TMU. No test drive.

Blue
Light
Title, Bill of Sale or Last Valid
Registration attached. Seller must produce
title or appropriate paperwork within 10
business days. Any seller not having
proper paperwork must sell under blue
light. Buyer cautioned not to sell or
spend money on vehicle until all paperwork
is delivered.

White
Light
Branded title - Salvage and/or rebuilt,
theft recovery, abandoned or other. Check
with your state's DMV Rules and
Regulations regarding registering branded
title vehicles. Some states, i.e.: New York,
do not allow registration of salvage
vehicles.
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What
happens to the vehicles that don't
sell?
The
cars that do not sell go back to their
owners. Sometimes the owners decide to run
them through another auction, sometimes
not.
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Fine Art Auction Questions
What do the abbreviations stand for in your painting catalog descriptions (SLR, O/C, etc.)?
Glossary of painting terms
Est. |
Estimated
value |
Framed
Size |
Size
of entirety, including the
frame. |
| |
Mediums
and surfaces |
O/C/B |
Oil
on canvas-board |
A/B |
Acrylic
on board |
O/B |
Oil
on board |
W/C |
Watercolor |
O/P |
Oil
on paper |
A/P |
Acrylic
on paper |
A/C/B |
Acrylic
on canvas-board |
| |
Signatures |
SLC |
Signed
lower center |
SLR |
Signed
lower right |
SUR |
Signed
upper right |
SLC |
Signed
lower center |
SUL |
Signed
upper left |
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