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General Guidelines

> LEFT BIDS: We receive advance bids on most of our lots from distant customers. In all cases, a left or absentee bid will be executed as cheaply as possible, and all bidding shall open from the auction floor. If your bid is matched by the audience, their bid shall prevail; we do not offer a system of "plus one bid". This service is free and confidential. Please note that although we will make every effort, we cannot be responsible for the clerk's failure to execute a bid. Bidding via "Agent" is available.

> LEFT BID FORM: The last page of the printed hard copy catalog contains a left bid form which you may copy. You may also use your own letterhead, as long as all pertinent information is present. If you are bidding on more than 10 items, please type or print all bids on a single sheet and attach that to a signed bid form. Any tie bids will be posted to the earliest received. Please bid in even dollars; NO CENTS please. You may also bid via eBay, either by leaving a bid or following the auction Live, during the actual sale.

> PAYMENT FOR LEFT BIDS: We will normally notify successful bidders within 7 days {eBay winners will be notified by email}. It has proven difficult to Fax all winners reliably, so we will MAIL invoices. Personal checks drawn on a U.S. bank are acceptable. Note that shipping charges are extra and will be billed at the time of shipment. Payment is due on receipt of invoice, and no later than 30 days from the date of the auction. Note PayPal users must add 3% to their remittance, whether eBay customer or not.

> OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS may remit via AirPost with money orders, or large amounts may be wired directly to Bank of America, 100 West 33 Street, New York, NY, 10001, Swift code BOFAUS3N, for credit to R. O. Schmitt Fine Arts, BofA, North Broadway Branch, Salem, New Hampshire, 03079. Contact us for account number prior to sending. If you choose PayPal, add 3%.

> SHIPPING: We use a local packaging company that provides service to all worldwide addresses: Parcel Place in Hampton, NH, phone number 1-603-964-8555, email hagstoz@aol.com See below if you plan to pick your item up.

> PICK UP IN LIEU OF SHIPPING: If you or your agent/friend would prefer to drive to Salem to pick up purchases, an appointment can be arranged. You should still plan to settle your account within 10 days of invoicing.

> SELLERS--VENDORS: A complete set of our terms of consignment is available for asking.

> SALES TAX: There is NO sales tax in New Hampshire.

> RESERVES: There are few items in this sale with a reserve, or confidential minimum selling price established with the seller/vendor. Items failing to sell will be noted in the results sheet as $00. All 3 major collections are selling without reserve.

> ESTIMATES: After each description, we've indicated a high and low dollar estimate. The estimates are guides for prospective bidders, but should not be relied on as a prediction of the final prices. These estimates are based on our own past sales, buffered by results from New York as well as the state of the economy.

> CONDITION SCALE, in order: Poor, fair, good, very good, excellent, & outstanding. If the lot description includes the words "as-found", the item came to us from storage and, although we may have noted external shortcomings, we have not looked inside. General maintenance items such as broken suspension springs, broken or missing weight cords, & missing keys are not mentioned. Although most clocks were running when we took possession of them, we cannot guarantee that they will run without adjustment when you get them home. Dimensions are approximate. In the rare case where there has been hidden and undisclosed damage or restoration that materially affects the value of the item, we must be notified within 7 days of your receipt of the merchandise. We are as fair as possible in straightening out oversights. Transit damage alone is not sufficient reason to return an item. We will assist in claims against transport companies.

> AGE & PROVENANCE: We do occasionally offer modern reproductions of earlier models, but they are clearly indicated {Howard reissues, for example}. Restoration to older models is clarified: "new paper dial" or "new tablet" should prove self-explanatory.

> KEYS: Some clocks may have keys, but we do NOT provide them for all clocks; they are available from suppliers such as Timesavers.

> NUMBER LABELS on each clock are quite sticky; apply mild heat to make removal easier; pull SLOWLY. Hand cleaner, "goop" or "goo-gone" will loosen any residue.

> DEFAULT: R. O. Schmitt Fine Arts will not be liable for default by either the buyer or the vendor. We will witness against any default should legal action be necessary. No purchase shall be claimed or removed until paid for in full. Schmitt's reserves the right to refuse to accept bids made by the defaulting buyer at any future auction.

> RIGHTS TO PHOTOGRAPHS: The vendor gives Schmitt's the absolute right to photograph and illustrate any lot placed in their hands for sale, and to use any photos placed in their hands by the vendor, at any time and at their discretion. Similarly the buyer gives Schmitt's the right to use photos of items purchased, at their absolute discretion.

> BUYER'S AGENTS: Some Absentee Buyers have in the past requested assistance and flexibility with their bidding. To some, this may be in the form of an independent set of eyes to validate the purchase they're considering. To others, it may be in the form of executing a fixed budget in pursuit of several clocks - necessitating bidding flexibility, which the mechanics of proxy bidding (Left Bids with Auctioneer) cannot handle. We notice that some absentee bids lose by only 1 bid, a frustration that can be reduced if a live person has authority to bid "one more time". Others are looking for additional services such as careful packing, and flexible delivery options. Should you need such assistance, consider contacting John Fletcher, via email at fletch109.geo@yahoo.com, or phone at 802-878-3874; he serves several customers.