Terms and Conditions

Please read the following information carefully before placing any bids. All bids are final. Please verify your information before bidding.

You must be at least 21 years of age to participate in our auctions.

The property described on this Internet World Wide Web site will be offered at public auction by WineBid.com Inc. as a marketing agent and auctioneer on behalf of the Seller under the following terms and conditions:

1. Every attempt has been made to describe all property as accurately as possible. However WineBid.com does not warrant or represent, and denies responsibility for the accuracy of the descriptions, encompassing but not limited to vintage, provenance, authenticity, quality and condition as may be stated on the site. Any and all statements made relating to the property offered on the site are merely statement of opinion and at no time can be construed as warranties and representations of fact or assumptions of any liability on the part of WineBid.com.

   When a lot description of a bottle includes a photo, the photo may not necessarily show the actual bottle offered in the lot. If the bottle is described as “in excellent general condition,” the photo may be a WineBid.com stock photo of a bottle of the specified wine and vintage, though not the exact bottle offered. Stock photos may be used for bottles that are in “excellent general condition” but have lightly depressed corks, lightly elevated corks, lightly scuffed capsules, lightly depressed capsules, lightly wrinkled capsules, lightly worn capsules, lightly scuffed labels, lightly nicked labels and lightly worn labels.

2. Buyer accepts all purchases "as is." Notwithstanding any other terms of these Conditions of Sale, should WineBid.com receive any written claims within 21 calendar days of the auction that any property is with a shortage, or otherwise out of condition, or that any statement in the web site is without basis, then WineBid.com will judge such claims through inspection of the property or by any other just means, and may require the Seller to cancel the sale and may refund the purchase price. At all times the decision of WineBid.com in its capacity of auctioneer will be final and binding on all parties.

   The wine industry estimates that between 3 and 7 percent of all wines sealed with natural corks are ruined because of a natural fungus in corkwood that produces the chemical compound trichloroanisole, or TCA within the cork. TCA has a distinctive odor resembling moldy newspaper or damp basement. In almost all cases of "corked" wine, the aroma of the wine is reduced significantly, and a heavily tainted wine is completely undrinkable. Since all of our wine is consigned, and much of it very rare, we cannot replace wines that have been ruined because of cork taint. We do not accept returns of corked wine nor do we refund for corked wine.

3. The term "final bid" as used herein shall refer to the price at which any lot is knocked down to the Buyer. The purchase price due from the Buyer shall be the aggregate of the final bid and a premium of 14% of the final bid, and any applicable sales or use tax. The complete purchase price, including delivery and a mandatory insurance charge of 1% will be automatically deducted from the provided credit card. Title to the property will not pass from Seller to Buyer until full payment is received by WineBid.com. No property will be released to the Buyer until WineBid.com receives any applicable state and local taxes or compensating use taxes of another state that WineBid.com may be required by law to collect. Any applicable storage or shipping charges must also be received prior to the release of the property.

   All WineBid.com auctions are conducted in US Dollars. The credit card of each winning bidder will be charged in US Dollars for the hammer price, Buyer's premium, insurance, and shipping cost. The actual amount to be paid in your home currency will be determined by the exchange rate used by your credit card company when you are actually charged.

   Buyers Outside of the U.S. Please Note: WineBid.com reserves the right to require payment by wire transfer for the full price of purchased wine, buyer’s premium, insurance, applicable taxes and duties and shipping charges prior to shipping.

4. The highest acceptable bid received prior to the end of the auction date and time shall be from the Buyer, who will assume full risk and responsibility of the lot.
5. Bids submitted to WineBid.com are processed and executed as a service and convenience to bidders. Neither WineBid.com nor its staff shall be responsible for any failure to execute such bids or any error relating to the same.
6. Should any Buyer fail to fully comply with these Conditions of Sale, WineBid.com may hold the Buyer liable for the purchase price or resell the property after reasonable notice is given to the Buyer. Any deficiencies attending the resale of property shall be the liability of the defaulting Buyer, along with any storage or legal fees and any other expenses or damages incurred by WineBid.com. In the event of non-payment by Buyer, or non-compliance by Buyer with these Conditions of Sale, WineBid.com reserves the right to take any and all appropriate or necessary actions including, without limitation, canceling or rescinding the transaction, reporting the defaulting Buyer to an appropriate credit reporting agency, charging the Buyer’s credit card for WineBid.com’s fees and expenses incurred in connection with the non-compliance (including the costs of the transaction itself), turning any amounts due and owing over to a commercial collection agency and/or taking any other action permitted by law. In no event shall WineBid.com be liable for any incidental or consequential damages to Buyer.

7. Shipping: All items will be shipped to the Buyer upon collection of the purchase price and pre-paid shipping charges. All lots are delivered by Buyer's preferred method of shipping or by WineBid.com's selection if no Buyer preference is indicated. Buyer shall assume full responsibility for shipping expenses. This includes shipping costs, packing and handling.

   The Buyer is responsible for all duties and customs charges incurred in shipping purchases from the US to the Buyer's desired shipping address. To the extent that WineBid.com provides estimates of shipping, customs and duty charges, these should be treated as ESTIMATES ONLY. The Buyer is responsible for the actual charges incurred.

   Since the sale of the wine between Seller and Buyer takes place at WineBid.com's Napa facility the Buyer becomes the owner of the wine prior to its shipment. If the Buyer has paid the insurance fee to WineBid.com prior to shipment and if WineBid.com has arranged the shipment on behalf of Buyer using WineBid.com’s regular shipping accounts, WineBid.com shall reimburse Buyer for any wine that is lost or broken during shipment. However, WineBid.com will not reimburse Buyers for lost or damaged shipments if Buyers arrange shipping using their own accounts. WineBid.com will take all precautions to package the wine according to industry standards to minimize the possibility of damage. WineBid.com will use only reputable carriers who will safeguard the shipment as much as possible given the nature of the commodity. Insurance does not cover any loss or damage due to exposure to temperature variations, shipping delays, or defect in or failure of any cork or other bottle closure.

   The primary means of distribution will be common carrier. All wines are to be sold in California by Seller and title passes to Buyer in California. WineBid.com makes no representation as to the rights of anyone to import wine into any state outside of California In the event that a winning bid is placed by a resident of a state that restricts the personal importation of wine, the wine will be held at WineBid.com in Napa on behalf of Buyer until Buyer makes arrangements to ship the lot to an address in a state that permits such shipments. After 90 days storage charges shall accrue at a rate of $4 per case or partial case per month, and must be paid prior to release of the wine.

   Sales of more than 20 gallons of wine at one time to one Buyer are presumed by federal regulation to be sales for resale which would require the Buyer to possess a license authorizing the resale of wine (27 CFR § 194.28); therefore, Winebid.com will not ship more than 20 gallons (75.7 liters, or approximately 8 cases) of wine on a single order unless the Buyer provides appropriate proof of status authorizing it to resell wine.

   The Buyer is solely responsible for shipment of wines. By participating in these auctions Buyers authorize WineBid.com to act on their behalf to engage a common carrier to deliver wine to the location the Buyer specifies. Wines may be sold and delivered only to persons who are at least 21 years old. By placing bids in these auctions, Buyers acknowledge that they are at least 21 years old, and that the person to whom Buyer's wine will be delivered is also at least 21 years old. The person receiving delivery will be required to show identification proving that he or she is at least 21 years old.

   If your shipment is delayed or arrives broken contact WineBid.com, not the carrier. WineBid.com insures all shipments. In the event of loss or breakage WineBid.com will handle all claims. Do not contact the carrier directly. Wines spoiled by changes in temperature cannot be recovered. Note: Choose your shipping address carefully. We cannot replace wine damaged by heat or cold exposure.

   Special Note: Though every effort is made to describe or measure the levels of older vintages, corks more than 20 years old begin to lose their elasticity and levels can change between cataloguing and sale. Old corks occasionally fail during or after shipment. Buyers must understand that there is always a risk of cork failure with old wines. Under no circumstances can an adjustment of price or credit be made after delivery.

8. The laws of the state where the auction is held shall govern the rights and obligations of all parties. WineBid.com is fully licensed in the States of Illinois and California to perform wine auctions.
9. In the United States WineBid.com is bonded. Our bond number is LPM 8048189.