Step 1: Use the ‘Get in Contact’ form below to register your enquiry.

Step 2: We will contact you, discussing the Items that you are considering to place at auction; we may ask for a few images. We’ll inform you of our fees, share previous catalogues and Hammer prices and make an appointment for either (a) to bring Items to us in Horsham or (b) we collect from you.

Step 3: We give you a Receipt for your Items and will inform you of which auction(s) they will appear in. That’s the end of your involvement until near to the Auction.

Step 4: We will be busy collating the Items into Lots. Each Lot will be catalogued, which is the process of us describing the Items, assessing condition, guide prices estimate, photography, weighing each Lot in preparation for shipping and in relation to Locomotives testing them. Each Lot is given a stock reference and carefully stored awaiting Auction day.

Step 5: Approximately 10 days prior to the auction, you will receive a Vendors Pre-sale Advice note and will be able to review Lot descriptions, estimates and images. You will also find a link to follow the auction on the day, should you wish.

Step 6: Auction Day either ‘Live’ or ‘Timed’ Format

Live auctions are broadcast on two auction platforms easyliveAuction.com and the-Saleroom.com usually on a Friday starting at 09:00.

Timed auctions are held on a single platform and are Timed to complete from 18:00 on a Sunday evening, with bidding starting a week prior.

Step 7: Within two hours of the end of the Auction, you will receive a Vendors Post-sale Advice note which will detail the Hammer price for each of your Lots. If a ‘No Sale’ this will be listed too and we’ll move the Lot to another auction following review.

Step 8: We are then busy invoicing all successful bidders; collecting payments; quoting for shipping; arranging collections; packing and sending only once payment has been received. Usually a whole auction is cleared within seven days of Auction date.

Step 9: Three weeks from Auction date, we will transfer the proceeds of your Auction Lots to you, less our fees. You will also receive a statement and we ask you to submit a Google Review of your experience with Best Model Toys.

Step 10: You may have other Items scheduled for other Auctions with us. These will follow the same process from Step 4.

Frequently asked questions?

• Will I get more for my Items from a Dealer/Trader or at Auction?
  • Our experience is that the value of Items increase in a competitive bidding environment, i.e. Auction.
  • Certainly if you are selling a large collection the true value is only achieved at Auction, as the Auction House will catalogue everything and obtain value from every item.
  • If you want cash quickly, then selling to a Trader/Dealer could be a good option, but you will not receive the full value of the collection.
• What about eBay, surely I’ll get more for the collection on eBay?
  • Certain items you will. If you have the inclination and time to Test items, accurately List, deal with Enquiries, manage Payments, Post and deal with any post-sales Queries then eBay is definitely an option for you. Also consider the storage and logistics of managing your inventory.
  • If parting with a large collection, this can be quite daunting and may take several months if not years to dispose of and you are unlikely to sell everything.
• What are the Auction selling fees?
  • A Vendors commission of either 12.5% if items are passed to us or 19% if we collect from you (50 mile radius)
  • Lotting fee of £5 for Live auction format or £2.50 for Timed auction (this is per Lot not per item)
  • Fees quoted exclude vat
• What if my Lot does not sell?
  • We’ll review the Estimates and Starting Bid, we’ll look at the previous Interest and any bids received. It would then be moved into a subsequent auction and stored with us at no cost.
• Will I be charged a fee if it does not sell?
  • No.
• Are there any fees for me to send the Lots to the winning bidder?
  • All Shipping costs are for the winning bidder.
  • We pack and send.
• What happens if the shipment is lost? Would I still be paid?
  • Yes you would be paid-out; we would make a claim on behalf of the Bidder with the courier.
• Will you accept any Items in any condition?
  • No, we expect items to be clean, not broken or destroyed. They must be in a saleable condition. We do accept Locomotives that do not run, but we’ll inform Bidders and they will be bidding on them in the knowledge that they are ‘Non-Runners’.
• What items don’t you accept?
  • Our list changes from time to time, depending upon demand and values. Currently we don’t accept pre-used O/OO/HO gauge model railway track or pre-used DC controllers. LLedo die-cast models have low value, so we may decline those. If in doubt ask or show us.
• What if the winning Bidder is unhappy with their Lot when it arrives?
  • This happens rarely as we describe Lots accurately and highlight obvious defections; but if we’ve made an error then the Bidder must return the items within two weeks in the condition received, so we may consider their complaint. We’ll then make a judgement, this may entail us re-cataloguing the Lot and placing it in auction again – on such occasions payment would be delayed to you.