SITE INFO & TERMS
BECOMING A MEMBER & REGISTERING:
To register as a new user, click on Become a Member at the top of the window. You will be asked for your email address, to create a password, and your contact information. Once you have registered you are a lifetime member of TopShelf Auctions. Once you are a member you will have to register for each auction that you wish to bid on. We must accept your registration before you can bid on items. New customers must provide a valid Credit Card to be approved for bidding. TopShelf Auctions reserves the right to remove a bidder for violations of the terms and conditions. You must be at least 18 years of age to register!
Members are responsible for any bids placed under his/her bidding number, account and password. The security of a members account and password is the sole responsibility of the Bidder. If at any time a member’s account password is compromised for any reason, the Bidder shall notify TopShelf Auctions immediately to have the bidder’s number and/or account password changed.
AUCTION FORMATS:
Online Race Horse Format- With this option, lots open at a set time for an online bidding period, with all lots closing simultaneously during the extended bidding. A few benefits to this style of auction are the buyer has the CHOICE to switch to any lot(s) in the offering if he/she is outbid on his/her current choice; buyer does not have to deal with the sale order of the sale because all lots are offered and bid on simultaneously; and the buyer has a choice(s) and more time to make his/her decision.
Extended Bidding means that the auction is not declared closed until there have been 1-3 minutes of inactivity on the current sale. If there is any bidding during the inactivity period, the auction is extended until there is no bidding for 1-3 minutes during the inactivity period. You can always check the time remaining that appears next to each lot item. Bidding is extended by 3 minutes for the first hour of then extended bidding period, then it accelerates to just 1 minute after the first hour. When extended bidding begins, you must click to enter the bid board screen from the sale listing.
Online Live Closeout Format – With this option, lots open at a set time for an online pre-bidding period. Online pre-bidding closes one hour before the live closeout. The sale order of the lots for the live closeout will be set based on the values of the lots during the pre-bidding period. The highest valued lots will sell first during the live closeout. During the Live Closeout the auctioneer will sell off each lot starting with the highest pre-bid. Additional bids can be submitted by bidding online during the live closeout.
Live On-Site Broadcast – With this option, a TopShelf Auctions representative is on-site at the live auction. The auctions is broadcast with live video, live audio, and secure real-time bidding. Internet bidders bid live in real time against On-Location Bidders, with internet bids being received directly by the auctioneer through an “Auctioneer’s Screen”.
BIDDING & BIDDING FEATURES:
Track This Item - Item watch notifies you when someone bids on the items that you have added to your Item Watch.
Starting Bid – The starting bid is set by Topshelf Auctions and the seller. Starting bids will vary based on the type of the lot, pedigree, age, breeding status and other lot specific criteria.
Bidding – To place in an online only race horse auction or in the pre-bidding of an online with live closeout there will be a bidding option on the right side of the lot. Type in your bid amount and click “Confirm Max Bid”, this will open a bid confirmation window. Verify the amount you wish to bid and the lot number before click “Submit Bid”. Placing a bid represents a valid offer between the Bidder and Seller. Once a bid is submitted and confirmed by the Bidder, it cannot be retracted. If a Bidder places the winning bid, the offer then becomes a binding contract to purchase the lot(s) or merchandise, and the Bidder is obligated to buy the lot(s) or merchandise at the final bidding price. Fraudulent bids can and will be pursued in a court of law. The Seller and Sale Manager reserve the right to accept or reject any and all bids unless otherwise stated. Unless otherwise indicated, lots and merchandise offered on the TopShelf Auction site will sell subject to a reserve price established by the Seller. The Seller and sale management may bid on the Seller’s behalf in an amount not to exceed the reserve price. Seller is under no obligation to sell lots or merchandise if a bid does not meet the minimum acceptable price set by Seller.
Bid Increments - In an online only race horse auction or in the pre-bidding of an online with live closeout, the bid increments are preset. Unless otherwise noted the default increments are:
Price Range Increment
$1 - $1200 $50
$1200 - $10,000 $100
$10,000 -$20,000 $250
$20,000+ $500
Max Bidding - Maximum Bidding is a feature you may use during the duration of Online Race Horse auction or the pre-bidding period of the Online Live Closeout auction. This feature allows you to place a private maximum bid that only you will be aware of and allow the computer to bid on your behalf when another bidder places a bid on the same animal(s) as you. The computer gives precedence to Max bids vs. a single bid. (ie. If you have set a max bid of $3,000 and another bid of $3,000 is received, the computer takes your max bid first as it was received first.)
Server & Software Technical Issues - In the event there are technical difficulties related to the auction server, software or any other online auction-related technologies, TopShelf Auctions reserves the right to extend bidding, continue bidding, or close the bidding at any time. Neither TopShelf Auctions nor the sellers will be responsible for a missed bid.
Withdraw of Lots - Occasionally, lots may need to be removed from an online sale that already posted. The Seller reserves the right to withdraw lots at any time before or during the auction. In the event the Seller withdraws a lot during an auction, all bids on that lot shall be considered withdrawn.
INVOICING:
Within 24 hours following the close of the auction, an Invoice will be uploaded to the buyer’s account on TopShelf Auctions website. Once invoices are uploaded, an email with payment instructions will be sent to new buyer’s registered e-mail at the close of bidding and sale. If you do not receive invoice by e-mail within 24 hours following the close of the auction please contact 740-505-3843. Failure to complete the payment terms as stated below will result in forfeiture of animals purchased and immediately reported to the Credit Bureau. Be sure you are capable of paying immediately and realize your bids are not based on financing. TopShelf Auctions reserves the right to charge the entire purchase price and late fees to the credit card on file if payment is not made in the five days after the close of the auction.
PAYMENT:
All bidding and payments are in US Dollars. Accepted payment forms are: Corporate or personal check, cashier's check, money order, Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover. A 3.5% Credit Card convenience charge will be placed on all credit/debit card purchases (Accepted - Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover). From your account under the My Invoices tab you can pay your invoice with a credit/debit card. Unless otherwise noted on your invoice check and money order payments should be made payable to TopShelf Auctions and mailed to 12620 Westfall Rd., Frankfort, OH 45628. Late payments are subject to a 15% finance charge after the fifth day. A fee of $50 will be assessed on all late payments or returned checks and the bidder will be denied access to future auctions. There are NO BUYERS PREMIUMS in effect for any auction, unless otherwise noted in the auction description.
TRUCKING:
Each buyer is responsible for making their own trucking arrangements, unless otherwise noted in the special terms of a lot. Trucking arrangements need to be made prior to or immediately following the sale. NO animal(s) will be delivered until payment is made in full.
REGISTRATION & HEALTH PAPERS:
Registration papers shall be delivered from the Seller to the Buyer within 45 days of cleared payment. The Seller is responsible for the transfer of registration papers. TopShelf Auctions assumes no responsibility for the completion of this transfer.
Health Papers will be burnished upon request for each animal. Any exportable animal(s) will need special testing and will be at buyer's expense unless otherwise discussed with seller.
EMBRYOS/SEMEN:
These item(s) will be sold in terms of so much times the number of units selling. Buyer on all embryos and semen will be responsible for all shipping cost. Embryos and semen sold will be noted if they are exportable to other countries in the footnote section of each lot.
LIABILITY:
TopShelf Auctions is a service provider and is not responsible for the activity or inactivity of any internet connection and technology at the sale site or the internet connection and technology of the bidders. TopShelf Auctions acts only as an agent between buyer and seller and may not be held responsible for any livestock merchandise. It is clear TopShelf Auctions and its representatives act only as a means between buyer and seller, and may not be held liable, financially or otherwise, for any failure on the part of the same to fulfill any obligations set forth in the sale or for the truths of any warranties expressed or implied. TopShelf Auctions is not responsible and assumes no liability for accidents or injuries that occurs. Animal(s) become property of the new buyer when sold. Following the auction we strongly recommend that all new owners take out mortality insurance on their purchases. TopShelf Auctions nor seller cannot be held responsible for the health or condition of animals after the conclusion of animal(s) being sold. All breeding stock will sell under standard terms and conditions of their respective breed association. Each breed’s suggested terms and conditions are available upon request.
PRIVACY:
To bid, buy or sell on the TopShelf Auctions site, personal information must be submitted at the time of registration. By registering on the site, users consent to the collection of this information. TopShelf Auctions will never give or sell this information to an outside individual, group or company. All personal information provided will be used only by TopShelf Auctions, and the Seller(s) from whom the Bidder/Buyer makes purchases from or registers for Seller(s) sales. The Bidder’s information will be used to maintain records for TopShelf Auctions, as well as to communicate and provide services to the Bidder.
DISCLOSURES:
TopShelf Auctions is a registered Tradename (DBA) with the state of Ohio for Wells Livestock Services LLC. TopShelf Auctions operates by and under the limited liability protections afforded to Wells Livestock Services LLC.
TopShelf Auctions reserves the right to amend the site’s terms and conditions at any time by posting amendments on the TopShelf Auctions website. The amended terms and conditions shall automatically be effective 10 days after they are posted. These terms and conditions were last revised and updated on April 30, 2020.