Strauss & co - 7 September 2009, Johannesburg

56 shall have no rights against Strauss & Co (whether under these general conditions of business, at law or otherwise) if: 2.3.1.1 the only method of establishing that the lot was a forgery was by means of a scientific process not generally accepted for use until after publication of the catalogue in which that lot was identified for purposes of the auction at which it was sold, or by means of a process which was impracticable and/or unreasonably expensive and/or could have caused damage to the lot; 2.3.1.2 the description of the lot in the catalogue in which that lot was identified for purposes of the auction at which it was sold was in accordance with the then generally accepted opinion of scholars and experts or fairly indicated that there was conflict of such opinion; 2.3.1.3 a buyer’s claim (whether in contract, delict or otherwise) shall always be limited to an amount equal to the hammer price of the lot; 2.3.1.4 the benefits of this condition shall not be transferable by the buyer of any lot to a third party and shall always rest exclusively with the buyer.   2.3.2 Neither Strauss & Co nor the seller: 2.3.2.1 shall be liable for any omissions, errors or misrepresentations in any information (whether written or otherwise and whether provided in a catalogue or otherwise) provided to bidders, or for any acts omissions in connection with the conduct of any auction or for any matter relating to the sale of any lot, including when caused by the negligence of the seller, Strauss & Co, their respective employees and/or agents; 2.3.2.2 gives any guarantee or warranty to bidders other than those expressly set out in these general conditions of business (if any) and any implied conditions, guarantees and warranties are excluded.   2.3.3 Without prejudice to any other provision of these general conditions of business, any claim against Strauss & Co and/or the seller of a lot by a bidder shall be limited to the hammer price of the relevant lot. Neither Strauss & Co nor the seller shall be liable for any indirect or consequential losses.   2.3.4 A purchased lot shall be at the buyer’s risk in all respects from the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer, whether or not payment has been made, and neither Strauss & Co nor the seller shall thereafter be liable for, and the buyer indemnifies Strauss & Co against, any loss or damage of any kind, including when caused by the negligence of Strauss & Co and/or its employees or agents.   2.3.5 All buyers are advised to arrange for their own insurance cover for purchased lots effective from the day after the date of sale for purposes of protecting their interests as Strauss & Co cannot warrant that the seller has insured its interests in the lot or that Strauss & Co’s insurance cover will extend to all risks.   2.3.6 Strauss & Co does not accept any responsibility for lots damaged by insect infestation, changes in atmospheric conditions or other conditions outside its control, and shall not be liable for damage to glass or picture frames. 2.4 Import, export and copyright restrictions Save as expressly set out in 3.3, Strauss & Co and the seller make no representation or warranties as to whether any lot is subject to export, import or copyright restrictions. It is the buyer’s sole responsibility to obtain all approvals, licences, consents, permits and clearances that may be or become required by law for the sale and delivery of any lot to the buyer. 2.5 Conduct of the auction   2.5.1 The auctioneer has the absolute discretion to withdraw or re-offer lots for sale, to accept and refuse bids and/or to re-open the bidding on any lots should he believe there may be a dispute of whatever nature (including without limitation a dispute about the validity of any bid, or whether a bid has been made, and whether between two or more bidders or between the auctioneer and any one or more bidders) or error of whatever nature, and may further take such other action as he in his absolute discretion deems necessary or appropriate. The auctioneer shall commence and advance the bidding or offers for any lot in such increments as he considers appropriate.   2.5.2 The auctioneer shall be entitled to place bids on any lot on the seller’s behalf up to the reserve, where applicable.   2.5.3 The contract between the buyer and the seller of any lot shall be deemed to be concluded on the striking of the auctioneer’s hammer at the hammer price finally accepted by the auctioneer (after determination of any dispute that may exist). Strauss & Co is not a party to the contract of sale and shall not be liable for any breach of that contract by either the seller or the buyer. 2.6 Payment and collection   2.6.1 A buyer’s premium, calculated at the applicable current rate of the hammer price, shall be payable by the buyer to Strauss & Co in respect of the sale of each lot. The buyer acknowledges that Strauss & Co, when acting as agent for the seller of any lot, may also receive a seller’s commission and/or other fees for or in respect of that lot.   2.6.2 The buyer shall pay Strauss & Co the purchase price immediately after a lot is sold and shall provide Strauss & Co with details of his name and address and, if so requested, proof of identity and any other information that Strauss & Co may require.  2.6.3 Unless otherwise agreed in advance, the buyer shall make full payment of all amounts due by the buyer to Strauss & Co (including the purchase price of each lot bought by that buyer) on the date of sale (or on such other date as Strauss & Co and the buyer may agree upon in writing) in cash, electronic funds transfer, or such other payment method as Strauss & Co may be willing to accept. Any cheque and/or credit card payments must be arranged with Strauss & Co prior to commencement of the auction. All credit card purchases are to be settled in full on the date of sale.