About The Fellowship Auctions

What is The Fellowship Auctions?
The Fellowship Auctions is a new online auction platform by The Fellowship of Acoustics, dedicated to fine, vintage, and boutique guitars. Backed by over two decades of expertise in fine and vintage guitars, we combine expert curation with transparent bidding, connecting passionate collectors, players and dealers around the world.

How is The Fellowship Auctions different from other platforms?
Unlike open listing platforms, we value quality over quantity. This means that every instrument is personally inspected and documented by TFOA’s experienced team. We focus exclusively on high-quality guitars and related instruments, ensuring authenticity, accurate descriptions and a fair, trustworthy process.

What is the Buyer’s Protection Fee?
The Buyer’s Protection Fee is a 10% surcharge paid by the winning bidder. It ensures that every transaction on The Fellowship Auctions is handled safely and transparently, covering expert verification of each instrument, secure payment processing and full insurance during shipping.

Bidding on a lot

How do I bid on a lot?
Items that are open for bidding will have a clear section with information about the current and previous bids. This section is updated in real time with every bid. You will also see a button to place your bid. You can choose one of the quick bids or add your bid manually and confirm it. After confirming, you’ll receive an email with your bid. You’ll also be notified by email if someone outbids you. When the auction ends, you’ll receive a final email letting you know whether you’ve won or not.

Do I need to be registered to bid?
Yes, you need to be registered with a verified account. Click on the Login button and select Register now. During setup, you will receive a verification code by SMS (free of charge) to confirm your identity. This verification helps ensure a safe and trustworthy bidding environment.

Are there any registration or participation fees for the auction?
No, registering and participating in our auctions is completely free of charge. You only pay if you win a lot or if you sell a guitar through our platform.

Can I cancel or change my bid after placing it?
No, bids cannot be cancelled or changed once they’ve been placed. All bids on The Fellowship Auctions are binding, so please review your bid carefully before confirming.

What is a starting bid?
A starting bid is the minimum amount you can bid on a lot. The starting bid is clearly displayed on each lot page, and bids below this amount are not accepted.

What is a minimum reserve?
A minimum reserve is the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for a lot. Lots with a reserve are clearly marked, but the exact amount is not disclosed. If the reserve isn’t met, the lot won’t be sold, even if you hold the highest bid.

How do I know if I’ve won the auction?
When a lot closes the highest bidder automatically wins, unless there is a minimum reserve that has not been met. You’ll receive an email confirming whether you’ve won or not, along with instructions for payment and shipping. You can also view your results anytime in your personal account under Auctions.

Can I view the guitars in person, or is an inspection report available?
Yes. All guitars offered on The Fellowship Auctions are carefully inspected and documented by our in-house experts. Each lot page includes detailed photos and specifications. During each auction you have the chance to view the guitars in person during our viewing day. Details on the viewing day can be found on our website during each auction.

After winning a lot

What costs apply after I win a lot?
If you win a lot, a Buyer’s Protection Fee of 10% is added to the final hammer price. This fee covers the authentication, secure payment handling, insured shipping and customer support throughout the process.

How and when do I pay for my purchase?
After the auction ends, you’ll receive an email with your invoice and payment instructions. Payment must be completed within 3 business days after receiving the invoice. All payments are processed securely through our platform and your guitar will be shipped once payment has been confirmed. As part of our Buyer’s Protection, your payment will be held safely until you’ve received your purchase.

How are the guitars packaged and shipped?
All guitars are professionally packed by our team to ensure maximum protection during transport. Each instrument is carefully wrapped, placed in a sturdy box and fully insured for its value. We work with trusted international carriers that specialize in shipping musical instruments and every shipment includes tracking information.

Selling your guitar

Can I auction my own guitar on The Fellowship Auctions?
Yes, provided it meets our quality standards. On our website you can find more information about selling your guitar, or get in touch with us directly. We’re always happy to answer your questions and love seeing what you have to offer.

What are the costs for auctioning my guitar?
We charge a fixed commission of 12.5% on the final sale price. This covers the costs of inspection, authentication, secure storage, promotion, auction management and shipping. There are no additional listing fees or hidden costs.

When do I get paid if my guitar is sold?
As part of our Buyer Protection policy, payment is held until the guitar has been successfully delivered to the buyer. We ship the guitar as soon as possible after the auction ends. In most cases, this means you’ll receive your payment within two weeks after the auction closes.

Are there any costs if my guitar isn’t sold?
If your guitar isn’t sold (for example, if the reserve price isn’t met) you’ll only pay the return shipping costs if we need to send the guitar back to you. You’ll still receive a free valuation report and we can adjust or prepare your guitar for resale free of charge if you wish. If you collect the guitar from our store, there are no costs.

How can I be sure my guitar will fetch a fair price?
You can set a minimum reserve price for your guitar. If no bids meet or exceed this amount, the guitar will not be sold. After carefully inspecting and authenticating your guitar, our experts can advise you on a realistic reserve based on current market value and our decades of experience.

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