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We do it "The Old-Fashioned Way"
This auction is not automated like Ebay, which displays current bid amounts in real time. There are several reasons for this. First, this auction has been in steady operation for well over twenty years. We have used this system since the beginning, have pretty much worked all the bugs out of it, and have had few if any problems. Many railfan-bidders are not on-line or do not wish to use Ebay/PayPal, etc., and have been our loyal and valued customers for many years. We don't want to put them at a disadvantage. They receive this auction in a printed catalog through the regular mails, with the same deadline for bids. Bids can be submitted via regular US Postal Mail, by fax, and by e-mail. Secondly, this is a very personalized hobby business and we don't want to pass along the very high cost of special real-time web-page software to bidders. Thirdly, our way of operating the auction avoids last-minute "sniping," "shill bids" and other forms of manipulative bidding which may be found in some auctions, since there is no particular advantage in holding your bidding back until the last moment. Finally, with our format, it's a little easier to find your favorite railroads because for the most part they are arranged alpha-numerically.
Bids Must be Accompanied by Your Actual Name and Mailing Address:
No payment is required at the time bids are submitted, however we do require your full name and address for our records because you will receive a printed invoice via US Postal First Class Mail for slides you're successful in getting (if you aren't high-bidder on any slides you will still receive a statement to that effect, also by regular mail, so you will always know the results of your bidding). If you include your credit card info with your bids, your slides will ship as soon as auction results are processed.
How we determine final auction selling price:
Only one of each slide is available. Each slide is sold to highest bidder. There is no minimum or "starting bid" bid however all bids must be in whole-dollar amounts, bids submitted with ¢ (for example $5.77) will be reduced to the whole-dollar amount ($5). As in most auctions, "Final auction price" of slide is arrived at by adding a small increment to the second-highest bid on any particular slide:
If the high bid on a slide is from $1 up to $15... $1 will be added to the second-highest bid on that slide
For high bids of $16 to $35... $2 added to the second-highest bid on that slide
For high bids of $36 to $75... $3 added to the second-highest bid on that slide
For high bids of $76 to $125... $4 added to the second-highest bid on that slide
For high bids of $126+ ... $5 added to the second-highest bid on that slideFor example, let's say you bid $23 on a slide and you are the high bidder. Let's say the second-high bid on that slide was $17. The final price will be $19 ($17 plus $2). But if the second-high bid is $22, the final price will be $23 (the full amount your bid). So bid only what you are willing to pay for a slide. Your bid constitutes a binding agreement to pay "final auction price," up to the full amount of your bid. Tie bids are awarded to the bid received first. If yours is the only bid on a particular slide, you get it for $2.
Submitting Bids via eMail: Simply type one item per line, do not use word-processing forms or html, just simple e-mail text. Type each item on a separate line. Include Item # and your bid on same line. E-mail bids to Andy Romano using the e-mail link appearing at the top and bottom of the auction listings page. Be sure to submit your bids by the Bidding Deadline which appears at top of the auction listings.
Invoice for slides you're high bidder on will be mailed to you via US Postal First Class Mail about ten days after Deadline. If you are not the high bidder on any slides, you will still receive a statement showing you were not, so you will always know what happened.
This is a private auction. With the exception of the "Top Ten" sampling reported, all bid amounts and bidder names shall remain confidential. We reserve the option to nullify bids if for any reason we feel it is warranted.
Payment for Slides:
Payment is due in full when you receive your Invoice. Payment should be made to "Andy Romano" by money order or check. PayPal is also accepted, PayPal payments should be made to "aroman@trainutz.com" and we also directly accept Visa or MasterCard. Slides will be shipped upon receipt of payment except if by personal check, which will delay shipping until check clears banks. If you want your slides as soon as possible, include credit card info with your bids (or e-mail your card info after you receive your Invoice). This is authorization to charge your card as soon as results are tabulated, and ship your slides without the delay of mail notification. You onl;y need do this once as we keep your card in a secured file for you. Bids on future auctions will be disqualified if bidder's previous Invoices have not been paid in full.
No shipping charges in most cases!
There are no shipping charges to sales over $20. For sales of $20 or less, $1 shipping/handling fee is added to total. If buyer wishes special "Priority" shipping, we will add this to invoice at our cost. Additional modest shipping charge added to overseas sales. Registered Mail is required to Mexico and certain other countries. The fee for this will be added to total on your Invoice. Insurance is mandatory for all sales totaling over $300. This will be indicated on your Invlice.
Copyrights:
Many slides in this catalog are copyright-free; those without "copyright" or © stamped on the mount. If the item description does not show a photographer's name at the end of the description, that slide may be considered copyright-free. However, it is not within the purview of The Railslide Collector to grant specific copyrights.
Win Free Slides! At the end of the auction listings, you'll find "Lotto" slides. These can be won. To qualify, your bids must total $20 or more. To win, take a guess at the "PRO #" (the film frame #, the little number stamped on slide mount by the film processor, from 1 to 38) of the Lotto slides you want. Add your guesses at the end of your e-mail list of bids. Limit your guesses to six Lotto items. You may submit all six guesses for one slide if you prefer. Lotto slides go to whomever guesses the correct PRO # or closest to it. In case of tie, earliest bid gets it.
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