The essentials for using, bidding and buying: Those familiar with other online shell auctions will find bidding on GCVoluteAuction to be a similar experience. There are though some differences.

 

Each auction will feature a group of diverse lots from Greg Curry's collection.  Some will contain multiple specimens with themes (geographical variations of one species; color/pattern variations of one species; a variety of species from one geographical region; and single shells of interesting provenance, quality, or rarity).

 

REGISTERING:  All bidders must register to participate in the auctions, providing the required information.  Select a Username different than your given name or one not identifiable to you if you prefer to remain publicly anonymous during bidding. Only one registered account per person is allowed. ** After registering you will receive a "Validation email" to which you must respond or you will not be able to log-in to your account.  Check you email spam or junk folder if the GCVoluteAuction validation email does not appear in your "In" box.

 

EMAIL: All correspondence is sent to the email address to which you registered.  After registering please check to ensure GCVoluteAuction email is not being directed to a spam folder by your email client.

 

PROVENANCE: Relative to shell provenance (the place of origin or earliest known source of a shell); all lots/shells come with Greg's original handwritten data label, and if available, the data label from the source where Greg obtained the shell. Each lot listing will indicate the provenance information.  If historical shell lineage is important to you, please determine if the lot/shell you bid on meets with your expectations.  In a few instances only "basic data" is available, for instance "Australia", and will be indicated in the listing description.

 

IDENTIFICATION:  All shells are clearly photographed, and identifications are as they appear in Greg’s collection catalog and on his data label. Sometimes Greg's identification differs from the source whom he obtained the shell. When available WoRMS (World Register of Marine Species) determination is provided. Please research the shell to determine if you agree with the identification (or not) before bidding. Shells cannot be returned after the auction is over if you disagree with the species identification.

 

THE LISTINGS: Each lot contains all the essential data about the shell(s) up for bid… location, size, HMS-ISGS grading, and other details about the lot. A starting/current bid and bid history are clearly visible. As before, please take time to research the shell details and information provided before placing a bid.

 

THE IMAGES: In most cases the shells are photographed showing three sides; dorsum, aperture and labral views.  This shows almost all of the pertinent aspects of the shells. The photos can be enlarged to show a high resolution image by clicking on the upper image when the lot listing is open.  When multiple shells are included in a lot, each shell is photographed separately and as a group.

 

RESERVE AMOUNT: Not visible on the lot listing is a reasonable reserve amount. High bids not equal to or exceeding the reserve amount will not win the auction and the lot will reappear in a follow-on auction immediately after the close of the auction. You will be notified by email only if your high bid does not equal or surpass the reserve amount and will be given the opportunity to bid again in the follow-on auction.  Follow-on bidding usually repeats twice if the reserve is not met.  Follow-on bidding is open to all bidders, even if you did not bid in the initial auction. Lots with reserves not met after two follow-on bidding sessions will reappear in a future auction.

 

BIDDING: All bids must be placed manually. No auto bidding feature is available. It is strongly suggested that you monitor all auctions closely once you place an initial bid. When bidding you will receive an email to your registered email address letting you know when a higher bid has been tendered.  No notifications are sent if your bid is higher or lower than the reserve price while the auction is running.

 

BID INCREMENTS: As with most oral auctions, a minimum bid framework is used to streamline bidding. For GCVoluteAuction the following minimum bids are set for these price ranges.

• Lots with starting values between $1. and $99. must receive at least a $1.00 bid increment.
• Lots with starting values between $100. and $249. must receive at least a $3.00 bid increment.
• Lots with starting values between $250. and $499. must receive at least a $5.00 bid increment.
• Lots with starting values between $500. and $2499. must receive at least a $10.00 bid increment.
• Lots with starting values between $2500. and $4999. must receive at least a $20.00 bid increment.

 

LAST MINUTE BIDDING:  The practice of placing a high bid in the final seconds of an auction has created a fair amount of consternation in other online shell auctions. This essentially shuts out others from competing. A feature of GCVoluteAuction extends, for an additional 3 minutes, any lot that receives a bid in the last seconds of an auction, leveling the playing field for all interested in upping their bid. This is not an endless loop, but does allow for fair competition. The 3-minute extension will only be available for those who placed an initial bid on the lot.

 

WINNING BIDS: All winning bids will be acknowledged by email upon close of the auction.

 

POSTAGE: Lots can be combined into one mailing upon request. Let us know at some point before, during or immediately after an auction if your prefer combining winning bids with shells from the current and future auctions. This is the best way to make the cost of postage more equitable across a few shells. Though the listed lots indicate the postage cost as zero, all lots won in auction will incur a postage fee commensurate with the real costs of sending a package by the U.S. Postal Service for weight, size and the cost of additional services such a insurance or registration. All winning bids received from outside the U.S. will be sent the safest and most secure method available; typically First Class International service and if valuable, sent by registered mail. All winning bidders are responsible for paying any import (VAT) taxes or fees imposed by your country. Shells can only be mailed to the address provided when you registered. Shells cannot be sent to a third party.

 

INVOICING & PAYMENTS: Credit cards and PayPal are the only accepted forms of payment unless other arrangements are approved prior to the start of an auction.  If you are notified by email at the end of an auction that you are the high bidder, an email invoice will be sent in 24 to 48 hours that includes the cost of postage. A second email will follow with a secure link to pay by your preferred payment method.  All invoices must be paid within 48 hours of receipt of the invoice or the lot will automatically go to the next highest bidder; no questions asked and no follow up notifications. Failure to pay will prevent participation in future auctions.

 

** PLEASE COMPLETELY READ AND UNDERSTAND THE MORE DETAILED "TERMS AND CONDITIONS" PAGE BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN THESE AUCTIONS.