GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

When you participate in the auction, you signify your agreement to these terms and conditions of sale. Your agreement will create an agreement between you and Sylvie's. Purchases you make at Sylvie's are irrevocable and legally binding. Your bid cannot be retracted. Your bid is a contract. Therefore, please read these conditions carefully.

Terms and conditions may change over time. Sylvie's is free to amend the terms and conditions as soon as it deems necessary. Changes to the general terms and conditions will take effect at the next auction and not during an ongoing auction.

Before every auction you will be asked to sign the terms and conditions valid at that time. It remains your responsibility to carefully examine what you sign. 

These terms and conditions of sale contain links to some web pages. These form an integral part of the general terms and conditions of sale. Once these pages are revised, the date of revision of the general terms and conditions of sale also changes. 

The date of the most recent amendment to the general terms and conditions of sale is 12 April 2024

1.1 Sylvie’s Wine Auctions

Sylvie's was founded on 24 August 1987 as HIKA. Since 10 January 2022, the official name has been Sylvie's Wine Auctions.  

For better readability, we use the term 'Sylvie's' instead of 'Sylvie's Wine Auctions' in these terms and conditions. When the terms 'we', 'our' and 'us' are used, they refer to Sylvie's. In contrast, the terms 'you' and 'your' refer to you as the buyer in these terms of sale. The same terms refer to you in the consignment terms and conditions when you sell wine

1.2 Transparent and personal service

 We aim to provide a personal and transparent service. We do this in the following ways:  
 

• You can follow our auctioneers live in the auction room and live online. 'Live online' means you can see and hear the auction in real time via a video link. Video contact is possible via an app created by Auction Mobility. The use of this app is free of charge. The app can be downloaded via your smartphone or tablet from the Apple App Store or from Google Play.
• You can judge the wines in person at our contact address: Italiëlei 21, 2000 Antwerp. A visit to examine the wines to be auctioned is possible by appointment after the publication of a catalogue. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, every day from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. 
• We aim to provide full photography of the wine in our catalogues. If you wish, we can send additional photos. A fee may be charged for requesting more than 15 photos. All photos may include Sylvie's logo. You cannot derive any rights from this photo service:
   
  • you are not entitled to photos without a logo;
  • the photo service is not unlimited. Thereby, it is up to Sylvie's to determine the capacity limits of the team.
• Sylvie's has a simple fee structure. In the footer of the website, under the 'collection and shipping' menu, you will find the indicative shipping charges for a number of countries. If your destined country is not yet included in this list, please contact us at info@sylvies.be. 
• You can find the sale results of each auction in the auction archive on our website. The archive shows a picture of the lot and the hammer prices achieved. These prices are the amounts you will hear the auctioneer call out during the auction. 
• You can plan your participation in the auction using an auction calendar on both the app and this website.

For all your questions, please contact us by e-mail or telephone. We will be happy to help you.

1.3 Multimedia use

Bidding is possible as soon as the catalogue is published.

We auction via several platforms at the same time. You can bid live, in our auction room or over the telephone, as well as live online. It is also possible to place a maximum bid. You can do the latter:
 

• by mail;
• via the website;
• via the Sylvie's app.

Bidders on the app receive an automatic message when they bid against bidders on the app, but no automatic message when they are outbid by bids coming from other platforms (so-called 'Floor Bids'). The paddle numbers of the 'Floor bidders' and their bids will be visible on the app during the live auction. If there are more bidders with the same highest bid, the auctioneers pronounce it during the live auction. This gives you a chance to raise your bid if you wish. 

On the introduction page of the Sylvie's app, you will find the following text to alert you about the use of various platforms for bidding:

"We would like to point out that bids at Sylvie's are received through multiple channels and there may be bidders who have submitted the same bid before you.

So pay close attention to the auctioneer and your paddle number.

If there are 2 or more equal bids, priority will be given to the bid received first."

^ To introduction

2.0 TERMINOLOGY

Wine

Hereby, the term 'wine' is the collective name for all alcoholic beverages traded at the auction.

Sylvie’s

This is the abbreviated name for 'Sylvie’s Wine Auctions', a private company located at Italiëlei 21, 2000, Antwerp.

Bidder

Anyone who registers to participate in the auction and is allowed to indicate to the auctioneer an amount at which one wishes to purchase the wine.

Every bidder receives a unique number for placing bids, called a paddle number. The paddle number is connected to the bidding platform used. Therefore, in one auction, you can have more than one paddle number. 

Buyer

The buyer at an auction is the person or organisation that places a winning bid on a lot.

Seller

The seller at an auction is the person or organisation who offers his wine during the auction to transfer his ownership to a bidder in return for payment of a pre-arranged minimum return.

In addition to the term 'seller', the term 'consignor' or 'mandator' is also used in these conditions. 

Commissioner

A commissioner is an intermediary who concludes agreements in his own name, but acts on behalf of the consignor and keeps his identity confidential. Unless Sylvie’s itself is the owner of a lot, it acts as a commissioner for the seller and not as the owner of the wine offered or as an intermediary (agent). As a buyer, Sylvie’s enables you to deal with one point of contact and not with all the sellers of the lots you buy. 

Public wine auction

A public wine auction is a marketplace, which is in principle accessible to everyone, where wine is allocated to bidders on the basis of legally established rules for buyers and sellers. A public wine auction always operates from an auction room that is open to bidders, led by an auctioneer and supervised by a bailiff. At an auction you buy goods in the condition they are in, i.e. 'as is', and you are responsible for examining them.

Lot

At the auction you can buy wine in lots. A lot at Sylvie’s is the smallest sales unit at auction containing 1 to 12 bottles of wine. This sales unit is the smallest unit for shipping.

Each lot is given a unique number. These lot numbers are listed in the catalogue from low to high. In principle, it is in this order that the auctioneer adheres to when auctioning.

We describe lots using fixed criteria to give you an idea of what you are buying, but no description can ever give a complete picture of reality. You are and remain responsible for examining the wine before placing a bid.

Live auction

A live auction - also called a 'room auction' - is an auction in which participants can bid on lots in a specially designated room. An auctioneer calls the lots and the lots can be viewed in their current condition.

Live online auction

An auction in which participants are connected to the auction room in real time via sound and image and can place a bid via a computer, smartphone or tablet. With us you can bid live online using the Sylvie’s app. Registration to use the Sylvie’s app is only possible via a smartphone or tablet, but once registered you can also follow the auction and place live bids from a PC via the following link.

Timed auction

An auction in which participants can place bids via a computer, smartphone or tablet and without the intervention of an auctioneer.

At Sylvie’s you can participate in a timed auction via the Sylvie’s app that turns into a live online auction on the last three auction days.

Currency at Sylvie's auctions

All amounts at the auction are stated in euros. All payments must be made in euros.

Hammer price

The price of a lot without additional costs. It is the price that the auctioneer calls during the auction.

Additional costs

Additional costs are all amounts payable for the receipt of your lot on top of the hammer price. When Sylvie's ships your wine, you will find all costs on our invoice except taxes, levies and duties imposed by the government in the destined country outside the European Union.

You will have to do your own research into the expected amount of these charges. 

Buyer's premium

The buyer's premium is the payment for our services. It is a surcharge on the hammer price for Sylvie's services. This surcharge amounts to 19% excluding tax (VAT) in 2024.

Lot price

The price of a lot consists of the hammer price and the buyer's premium.

Invoice value

Your invoice includes the lot price plus costs of transport, transport documentation, insurance, taxes and storage.

Sylvie's uses a simple cost model, based on the principle that we charge you the cost of shipping as charged to us by the carriers. Sylvie's offers 6 months of free storage.

Low estimate

The lowest estimated hammer price. You will find this price in the catalogue.

High estimate

The highest estimated hammer price. You will find this price in the catalogue.

Reserve price

That is the price below which the seller does not wish to sell and which is lower or equal to the lowest estimate given in the catalogue. Sylvie's does not disclose the reserve price.

VAT

VAT is an abbreviation for the concept of Value Added Tax. VAT is a tax levied within the territory of the EU. Because of this tax, a percentage of your purchase amount is paid to a government in the EU. The amount of tax depends on the destination country.

e-AD

e-AD is an abbreviation of the word 'Electronic Administrative Document'. It is a tool for customs to track the wine's journey and monitor the payment of excise duty, or its exemption.

The e-AD acts as a kind of visa that allows wine to travel through countries of the European Union as soon as the wine leaves Belgium. Companies in the European Union and buyers with a destination outside the European Union, may have to deal with it.

Catalogue

An overview of the wines you can buy at auction. The wines are grouped into lots and are listed in numerical order from low to high, usually starting with lot number 1. The catalogue appears in digital form by default and can be printed additionally.

Bid

The hammer price you want to pay for the wine and communicated to the auctioneer.

Maximum bid or absentee bid

It is the maximum hammer price you are willing to pay for a lot when you cannot place the bid live yourself.

The auctioneer will take your maximum bid and act on your behalf during the auction. In principle, you win a lot for the price of the low estimate or with 1 bidding step above the highest bid from others, as long as the hammer price is lower than or equal to the maximum amount you want to pay. This is under the additional condition that you are the first to bid the highest amount.

Auction results

The auction results consist of an overview of achieved hammer prices. Sylvie's publishes this overview usually no later than the 3rd working day after an auction.

Ownership and disposition

You are the new owner of a lot if you are the first to bid the highest price at the auction. After receiving your payment you will have access to your property.

Bailiff

The bailiff is the Belgian judiciary on the spot. The bailiff monitors the correct conduct of the auction and reports in writing on the allocation of the auctionned lots.

At Sylvie's, the bailiff is Antwerp Legal Officers (AJO).

3.0 THE PRINCIPLES OF BUYING AT AUCTION

3.1 Meaning of a public auction

Sylvie's is a public auction with all the associated features and conditions:
 

• there is an auction room from which you can participate in the auction;
• you buy the wine in the situation ‘as is’, i.e. the current state of the wine;
• the obligation to investigate prior to the purchase lies with you;
• the catalogue is published at least 10 days prior to an auction;
• you can examine the wine on site;
• the auction takes place under the supervision of a bailiff;
• all auction results are public.

3.2 Buying wine in ’as is’ condition

We describe the wines as carefully as possible and provide photographs, but you are and remain responsible for examining the wine before placing a bid. Sylvie's provides you the opportunity for a physical inspection and publishes extensive catalogues.

The following catalogues are available by default:
 

• a catalogue with a lot description and photographs on the website;
• a catalogue with a lot description and photographs on the app;
• a catalogue with a lot description in PDF;
• a catalogue with a lot description in Excel, to be requested by e-mail;

At auctions of wine from one owner, it may be decided to print a catalogue.

You can also request additional photographs. If you discover after the auction that you have made your decision based on only part of the available information, this does not constitute grounds for canceling the purchase or for compensation.

Sylvie's is not responsible for defects we were unable to observe. This also applies if a hidden defect makes the wine unsuitable for the use for which you had intended. It applies even if this defect reduces the use of your purchase for you to such an extent that:
 

• you would not have purchased the wines at all;
• you would have only purchased the wines at a lower price if you had known of these defects.

This exclusion ground for complaints does not apply when it concerns doubts substantiated by facts about the authenticity of a bottle.

3.2.1 ‘As is’ and right of return

There is no return policy for public auctions – i.e. live and live online auctions. Therefore, you do not have a cooling-off period.

3.2.2 ‘As is’ and authenticity

Before wine is admitted to the auction, Sylvie’s tests it against a number of criteria. Sylvie's uses its acquired knowledge about observable characteristics of a wine and the origin of the bottle. Despite all efforts, the authenticity of a bottle may be questioned by you or third parties.

For a successful claim for compensation, you must inspect your purchase immediately upon receipt. The period within which buyers can request a refund is during a period of 4 weeks after receipt of the purchase. An exception applies to buyers from outside the EU. A period of 3 months applies to them from the date of departure from the EU (so from the 'harbour of exit' as customs formulate it).

As additional conditions for refunds, Sylvie's requests:
 

• that you specify the basis of your claim in writing;
• that you can prove that you purchased the bottle directly from Sylvie's;
• that you return the wine, free from claims from third parties.

Sylvie's will then start an investigation. If your doubts are found to be justified, Sylvie's will reimburse you for the amount of the purchase.

Sylvie's will recover the damage from the seller, or withhold a proposed payment, and possibly take legal action.

Explicitly excluded from a successful appeal on doubts about the authenticity of a bottle is that a wine tastes differently than you expected in advance.

The following cases are explicitly excluded from a successful appeal on doubts about the authenticity of a bottle:
 

• the experience that a wine tastes different than you expected in advance;
• the appearance of the bottle is known from previous research and Sylvie's has found no reason to doubt the authenticity of the bottle.

Sylvie's possesses an extensive wine database and work experience. There are winemakers who use or used different ways of presenting bottles for the same vintage. No wines are eligible for a refund for which the winemaker has variations in labels, capsules and tags, packaging, gluing methods, inscriptions - and any form of presentation - where it has already been established from Sylvie's tasting and working notes that these differences do not constitute grounds to doubt the authenticity of the wine.

3.2.3 ‘As is’ and shipping wine in original packaging

After an auction, Sylvie's will send you the options for shipping your wine. The 'as is' condition may restrict shipping options. Wine in a closed wooden case (Owc), in an original cardboard (Oc) or in a gift box is rarely suitable for shipping as a parcel unless the box is opened and the bottles are shipped separately from the box. The same applies to bottles in sizes larger than 6 liters or with different bottle shapes. Deviating bottle shapes are bottle shapes that do not fit into standard courier packaging. If it is necessary to deviate from the standard shipping options, this may have consequences for the delivery time.

Before bidding, please consider available shipping options in your decision to place a bid. All wine can be shipped, but if shipping is only possible at higher costs than you expected and/or not within the transit times you expected, Sylvie's will not accept any claim for compensation for damage.

3.2.4 ‘As is’ and active organisms in wooden cases (woodworm, etc.)

When you purchase goods in the ‘as is’ condition, this does not mean that the wooden cases are free from (traces of) active organisms, such as woodworm. This concerns cases without ISPM15 quality mark with a wall thickness of 6mm or less. Sylvie's offers as few wooden cases as possible without the ISPM15 quality mark.

Cases with an ISPM15 quality mark and boxes made of pressed wood never pose a problem. Before you bid, you should consider the possible consequences of this in your decision to place a bid on wine in an original wooden case.

If Sylvie's unexpectedly discovers traces of organisms in your cases after the auction, in cases without an ISPM15 quality mark, we will offer you the choice of whether you want to receive the cases or not. If you accept the cases 'as is', the consequences are yours. If you do not accept the cases, you are not entitled to compensation.

You must check your cases upon receipt for traces of active organisms. If (traces of) active organisms are found after shipment of your purchase, and your cases are refused storage or need to be treated against organisms, Sylvie's will not accept any claim for compensation for damage.

4.0 REGISTRATION

4.1 Registration for participation

You can register before and during the auction. There are no costs associated with registration.

If you want to be assured of participation, you must register at least 24 hours before the start of a live auction.

4.2 Conditions for participation

To participate in the auction you must meet the following basic conditions:

• you are 18 years or older;
• the recipient of your winehas the minimum drinking age required in the country of destination;
• you may legally receive the wine at the destined address;
• you are in possession of a valid credit card for verification of your age;
• you share with us all address information required for correct shipping;
• you provide us with a telephone number where you can be reached during the day;
• you provide us with a telephone number where the recipient of your wine can be reached during the day;
• you can pay within 7 days after the auction;
• financial institutions (banks, insurance and credit card companies) in the European Union accept your payments;
• you bid at your own expense and risk or you are entitled to bid on behalf of another legal entity;
• you do not buy more wine in a lot than you are allowed to import into your country per shipment (for example, an 18 liter bottle while you are only allowed to receive 5 liters);
• you indemnify Sylvie's against any possible legal claim as a result of your participation.

Sylvie's does not supply wine to countries subject to sanctions by the European Union and its trading partners. Sylvie's can contact you at any time with the request to provide additional information at the request of governments and financial institutions.

Sylvie's will not pay out money on your behalf to third parties for cross-border payment transactions due to an incorrect payment or an overpayment. In those cases, Sylvie's will return the money to you after deducting all bank or credit card costs. A cash refund is possible, provided that it is limited to a maximum of €3,000.00 per auction (legal maximum) and only to you personally at the counter in Antwerp. In the latter case, we will ask for your identification on site.

If you purchase volumes that you are not allowed to import, for example large formats that by definition exceed your permitted import, Sylvie's will ask you for an alternative delivery address or resell the wine. All costs for reselling will be at your expense.

Sylvie's has the complete freedom to refuse bidders and bids, at any time in the auction process, if the conditions for participation are being violated.

All damages to Sylvie's resulting from violation of the terms of this agreement will be at your expense.

4.3 Address and shipping registration

We need from you:

• a name and address;
• an email address;
• phone numbers;
• your preferred language for communication (Dutch, English or French);
• the indication whether your bids are business or private;
• your registration on the app using a credit card or other proof of a minimum age of 18 years;
• if needed, a carrier of your preference;
• if needed, the data of your storage;
• your preferences for shipping or collection within the options we offer.

We ask business buyers, if applicable, to:

• VAT number;
• excise number;
• EORI number;
• address and excise details of your storage or carrier;
• a copy of your company's registration with a European Chamber of Commerce.

Business buyers from the European Union who do not have an excise number and who want to receive their auction purchases in the European Union cannot use delivery under intra-Community conditions. The same tax rules apply to them as those that apply to purchases of private buyers, unless a tax agent and/or the excise number of a carrier can be used.

4.4 Address changes

You must send address changes to info@sylvies.be, preferably before the auction, stating the effective date.

4.5. Age and identification at registration and the role of a credit card

Sylvie's requires new participants to first register on the live online platform - the Sylvie's app - using a valid credit card. With the help of this registration we can prove that you are 18 years or older. We accept credit cards from AMEX, VISA, MasterCard, Dinners Club and Discover. Additional questions may be asked following your registration to verify your identity. After processing your registration, it is possible to bid via all platforms that Sylvie's offers, in the room and by telephone. However, when you report to the counter to participate in the auction room, you will be asked for a copy of an ID card or passport on the spot. A driving license is not a legally valid means of identification in Belgium.

You can download the Sylvie's app for free from the App Store or Google Play on your smartphone or tablet. If you experience problems with your registration or if you do not have a credit card, you can contact us by telephone during office hours at (+32) 37769077 or email info@sylvies.be. We are happy to serve you.

4.6 Identification upon delivery

You must ensure that you can receive the wine. Some countries require the presentation of a valid ID upon receipt of the wine to verify the recipient's age. If this is missing upon delivery, the carrier may - or must - refuse delivery. If the wine is returned and/or has to be offered again, Sylvie's will charge you the additional costs.

4.7 Your telephone accessibility in the destined country

Sylvie's requires you to provide a telephone number from a contact person for on-site delivery. Without this number, simple problems may not be resolved by delivery personnel. If this causes additional costs, such as returns, these will be at your expense.

4.8 You bid on your own behalf

This means that you:
 

• are liable for the timely payment of purchases;
• guarantee that the payments received have been legally made in your name;
• indemnify Sylvie's against financial claims by legal entities that have a claim against you.

 All consequences of deviating from these rules are at your expense and risk.

​4.9 First participation with a maximum of €5,000.00

For a first participation, a spending limit of €5,000.00 applies. You can contact us if you want to participate for a higher amount via info@sylvies.be. A deposit may be required to place higher bids. Sylvie's will refund any excess amounts received as soon as possible after the auction or, if you wish, keep an amount aside to spend at a subsequent auction.

Sylvie's is free to also apply a spending limit when participating in later auctions.

4.10 Sellers bidding on their own contribution

When you bid on lots that you yourself offer for sale at auction, the auctioneer can withdraw the lot from the auction, refuse your bid or assign the bid to you and stop the bidding. The bids can also be declared invalid.

4.11 Refusal to participate

Sylvie's is entitled to refuse your participation in the current auction and in future auctions if you do not comply with the conditions for sale or consigment.

5.0 BIDDING

Once the catalogue is published you can bid on:
 

• the Sylvie's app (in 'real time');
• the website;
• live in the room; 
• on the phone;
• by email;

5.1 Process summary

During the live auction, all bids via the various bidding channels come together.

The auctioneer calls the lots in the order stated in the catalogue. There are possible exceptions to that rule, but they rarely occur in practice. The auctioneer will give you the amount to bid to become the highest bidder.

The starting bid is at the level of the low estimate, if at least a bid at the level of the low estimate has been received. If this is not the case, the auctioneer may decide to make a lower starting bid. A reserve price must then have been agreed with the seller that is lower than the low estimate. Due to the agreed reserve price, an opening bid can be a realistic bid submitted by a buyer, but can also be the minimum required bidding step to sell the lot.

You can find the low estimate in the catalogue. The auctioneer determines the amounts to be bid based on the bidding steps stated in these conditions. Bidders on the app see this pre-programmed. The first person to place the highest bid wins the lot.

​5.2 Bidding increments

The auctioneer uses the bidding steps below, unless explicitly stated otherwise during the auction. Bidders who bid live online will automatically see the auctioneer's changes on their screen.

   

From	Up to	Step
€0	€80	€5
€80	€300	€10
€300	€800	€20
€800	€2.000	€50
€2.000	€4.000	€100
€4.000	€8.000	€200
€8.000	hoger	At the auctioneer's discretion

 

5.3 Language used during the auction

English is spoken during the auction. Other languages ​​can also be used to answer questions from bidders in the room or on the telephone. The on-site bailiff ensures that the interests of none of the other participants in the auction are harmed by the use of the other language.

5.4. Tracking progress

The progress of the auction can be followed live online via a video connection on the app. Anyone can follow the auction live online via their PC, even if you have not registered with the app.

On the homepage of the website, you can also see which lot the auction is for.

There is a varying number of lots per auction. The length of the auction days depends, among other things, on the number of lots per auction day and the duration of bidding per lot. The starting time is always at 10.00 A.M. CET unless clearly stated otherwise on the website and/or in the newsletter.

5.5 Different bidding options

We explain the various bidding options below:

5.5.1 Participating in the auction room

To participate in the auction room, you must register at the counter on presentation of a valid passport or ID card. You will receive a buyer number (or paddle number) from us, which you will place visibly on your table in the auction room and hold up as soon as you bid. The auctioneer uses this number to register your successful bids.

If you participate in the room, but do not have the time to bid on all your desired lots personally, you can request a form at the counter on which you authorise the auctioneer to place maximum bids on your behalf. You write down on the form the maximum hammer price you wish to pay for the lots that you are interested in.

5.5.2 Bidding by telephone

To participate by telephone, you can register by email. We advise you to do this at least 24 hours in advance to ensure that we can assist you in your preferred language. We can guide you in Dutch, French, English, German and Spanish. For telephone participation, you must be prepared to offer at least the low estimate.

We ask that you be reachable on the telephone number provided. Sylvie's will contact you a few minutes before your lot is due. Our telephone team is located in the auction room and only has outgoing telephone lines. If we cannot reach you immediately, we will try again. If we call you on the telephone number provided but you do not answer, we are not liable for any missed purchases.

We advise you, in case we are unable to reach you in time, to also submit your maximum bids by email.

5.5.3 Email

You can send us maximum bids by email at info@sylvies.be. We ask you to send this no later than 24 hours before the start of the auction to guarantee the timely processing of your bids.

5.5.4 Online bidding via the website www.sylvies.be

You can also place maximum bids via the website. Only when you participate for the first time will Sylvie's ask you for a double registration. You must register on both the Sylvie's app and the website. Your registration via the app requires the use of a credit card. By using your credit card we know that you are not a robot and that you are 18 years or older. That is the minimum age required to participate in the auction. Y

ou can register by pressing the 'login/register' button at the top right of the home page. A digital form will appear on which you can enter your email address and a password. You arrive in the area of ​​'My Sylvies'. In that environment you have the following options:

• My Profile
• My Bids
• My Favorite Lots
• Modify my Details
• Modify Password

You can compile a list of favourite lots via 'My Favourite Lots' and place your bids via 'My Bids'. You can freely change these bids up to half an hour before the start of each auction via 'Modify my Details'. Sylvie's then loads your bids into the auctioneers' auction system and your bids become irrevocable. Although you can bid on the website for any amount you wish, the auctioneers will follow the bidding steps as stated in these terms and conditions for awarding the lots. A bid of €101.00 therefore becomes a bid of €100.00.

The reason you can freely change your bids on the website until the auction goes live is because your bids have no influence on pricing. After all, other bidders will not see your bid and Sylvie's will not reveal these bids until the live auction. Sylvie's cannot guarantee that all bids placed on the website during the last half hour will be included in the auction.

The website records on which day you placed your bid and at what time. The auctioneer sees on his screen which bidding number first submitted the highest bid.

As with bidding by email, there is no feedback of the auction results during the auction and you will not receive an overview of your lost or won bids. After the auction you will see which lots you have won based on the invoice we send you.

5.5.5 Online bidding via the Sylvies App (Auction Mobility)

Via the Auction Mobility platform, which provides the livestreamed online auction, it is possible to:
 

• place bids visible to others once the catalogue is published;
• leave maximum bids;
• enter your bids remotely during the live auction days.

'Live online' means that you can follow the auction with images and sound when the live auction takes place. You can no longer withdraw a bid you place on the app. You remain free to increase your bid. The platform has the ability to track all bids on a specific lot.

The processing time for your bid on the app is minimal and the auctioneers take the time to consider your bid. When they are about to award the offer, they do so by stating a 'last call' or 'fair warning' or similar wording. In the timeframe of uttering these words, the final bids may still arrive. If your bid reaches the auctioneer while the auction hammer is already lowering, your bid is valid as long as it is 'in the hammer'. To prevent your bid from not arriving on time, we advise you to prepare well for the auction and place your bid quickly.

When you bid via your smartphone, it may vibrate when the auctioneer is about to allocate the lot. This way you can follow the auction while the sound is muted. However, not all mobile phones have this option and not everyone has this option activated.

You register by downloading the Sylvie's App from the App Store or Google Play via your smartphone or tablet. Using the app is free. You choose the 'register' option. We receive your registration and process your data. Once Sylvie's has accepted you as a bidder, you will receive confirmation and it is possible to place bids.

You can indicate whether your credit card details may be used to pay for your purchases. However, Sylvie's will not use this. We ask you to pay for your purchases in cash, by bank or via (Transfer) Wise.

The bidding steps are pre-programmed, making bidding quick and easy. The app shows who has placed the winning bid at that moment. On the app you can clearly see that the auction is already in progress prior to the live auction days. As soon as your bid turns out to be the highest, it will become visible to others. You will automatically receive a message (an alert) about this on your smartphone or tablet. From the auction room, the bids from the web or email ('Written offer'), the room ('Floor Bid') and the telephone ('Phone bid') are all passed on to the app as 'Floor bid'. When you get an alert, it is a message that you are the possible winner, but you should pay close attention to whether your paddle number was also the first to place the highest bid. As long as the auctioneer has not hammered the lot, it is possible for others to still bid and become the highest bidder.

If the auctioneer changes a bidding step during the live auction, you will see this on your screen.

You will immediately see which of your bids were successful and which were not, and you will see the realized hammer prices. You can view your bids in your account.

With each new auction you will be notified as soon as the new catalogue has been published. If you want to participate in a new auction, you do not have to register again as a user, but only as a participant.

5.5.6 Rescue service

If you would like to participate in the auction, but none of the other options are available to you yet, you can contact us by telephone and we will do our best to place your bids. The success of this service depends on the available capacity and therefore cannot be guaranteed in advance.

When we place bids on your behalf, we record them in an email and ask you for written confirmation.

5.6 Parallel use of bidding options

You are free to use all bidding methods in one auction. However, Sylvie's advises you to choose one bidding platform per lot to avoid bidding against yourself.

5.7 More than one bidder with the highest bid

One of the principles at Sylvie's is that the first person to make the highest bid wins the lot.

Sylvie's asks your special attention to the fact that you must always take into account that the highest bid can be placed from different platforms. Bidders participating in the live online auction should be aware of this. Another bidder may have previously placed an equal bid. When you see a winning bid that matches your maximum bid, it does not mean that the winning bid also corresponds to your paddle number.

The auctioneer reports situations with equal bids during the auction. If your bid was the same as that of the winner, but you were not the first to place this bid, you will see this on the app. It hardly ever happens, but in an exceptional case the app registers your bid as neither won nor lost. Sylvie's rejects any claim to be allocated a lot if you were not the first to submit the highest bid.

5.8 Difference between the two online platforms (web and app)

Below you will find the differences between the two online platforms. The most significant differences are that on the Sylvie's App you already participate with your absentee bid in an auction that can be followed immediately after publication of the catalogue as a timed auction. On the web, your bid does not yet have an impact on others, so you can still change it. Furthermore, you can participate live online via the app and not via the website. Both platforms are not linked to each other and therefore require their own registration. For new auctions you do not need to register again, but you must register as a participant for an auction on the platform of your preference. This is necessary to obtain a paddle number and to accept the current conditions for participation.
 

Feature	On the website	On Sylvie's App
Submit bids live online		√
Leave absentee bids	√	√
View bids from others in real time		√
Follow bids on specified lots		√
Receive an alert as soon as you are outbid		√
Withdraw or lower a bid before the live auction starts	√
Place bids below the low estimate	√
Receive an overview of lots won and lost		√
Link	https://www.sylvies.be	https://auctions.sylvies.be

5.9 Special powers of auctioneer

The auctioneer has the following powers:

• determining the opening bid or starting bid;
• determining the time period for bidding;
• adding a bidding step;
• skipping bidding steps;
• determining the order in which the lots are called;
• provide additional or changed information about the lots;
• withdraw a lot from the auction;
• declare a bid invalid;
• restart the bidding process;

These powers are necessary for the correct and smooth running of the auction and are never a ground for compensation or revocation of a purchase or sale. They are deployed under the supervision of the bailiff on site. In disputes, this person acts as judge.

5.10 Unsuccessful bidders

If you have not won any lots, we will inform you within 2 days after the end of the auction.

5.11 Invoicing and publication of auction results

Sylvie's aims to publish the auction results on the 3rd working day after an auction. These are published on the website and app together with the photos of the raffle tickets.

After the auction you will receive your invoice with an overview of your won lots, unless there are logistical questions. In that case, your invoice will follow after finding answers to these questions.
 

6.0 AUCTION FEES, STORAGE, COLLECTION AND SHIPPING

After receipt of your payment, your purchases can be collected, shipped or stored.

The costs depend on your choices for collection, shipping or storing wine and the VAT status of the lots themselves. It also depends if you are buying as a business or as a private person. The price is affected by whether or not your company -or the licensee you are working with- has an excise number.

6.0.1 Shipping costs and the duration of validity for your quote

In the footer of our website www.sylvies.be, the costs for shipping to a large variety of countries can be found. This mainly concerns prices for sending parcels. For the shipment of pallets, a daily rate applies. In principle, the shipping costs you can find here are valid for a year. They can however change as a result of socio-economic developments.

The shipping costs on your invoice are valid for one month. If you decide to have us ship your wines after this month, this could result in Sylvie's sending you a new invoice if our carriers have increased their prices.

Quotes provided to you by carriers that you have chosen yourself, have their own duration of validity.

6.0.2 Premise of Sylvie's shipping costs

If we organise transport for you, we will only invoice you for the amount that our carriers charge us.

6.0.3 Costs of packaging

The costs of packaging, physical labour and organising transport are included in the buyer's premium.

6.0.4 Premise of quotes

All quotes we give in these terms and conditions are excluding VAT.

6.0.5 Releasing wines in storage and not splitting lots

You are required to ship any wines you have in storage at Sylvie's as a whole. If you have more than one auction's worth of wine in storage, it is possible to ship the wines per invoice. Splitting lots is not possible: one lot is the smallest unit we can ship.

6.0.6 Storage and unfavourable weather conditions

Sylvie's offers 6 months of free storage on the condition that you have paid your invoice. Free storage is also granted when weather conditions are unfavourable for shipping. This is whenever temperatures drop below 0 degrees Celsius, or rise above 25 degrees Celsius while the wine would be in transit.

If you would like to receive your wines during unfavourable weather conditions anyway, we ask you to confirm this in writing. You carry the responsibility for any damage resulting from these weather conditions yourself.

If wines cannot immediately be shipped because of unfavourable weather conditions, or for whatever other reason, we ask you to provide us with a date on which we can ship your wines.

6.0.7 We have explained the following options in depth for you:

6.1 Personal collection at our venue
6.2 The shipment of wines to destinations inside of the European Union
6.3 The shipment of wines to destinations outside of the European Union
       The shipment of wines to the United States of America
       The shipment of wines to the United Kingdom
6.4 The delivery of wines by Sylvie's own drivers

6.1 PERSONAL COLLECTION AT OUR VENUE

6.1.1 General directive for collection at our venue

Collection at our venue is appropriate for:

- Purchases that have Belgium as their final destination;
- Purchases of margin lots by private persons from the European Union. The final destination should be inside of the European Union;
- Purchases to final destinations outside of Belgium for which you (or the third party you employ) have the proper customs documentation. An excise number is also required for this kind of collection (more information  can be found in chapter 6.2 and 6.3).

In all other situations, please keep in mind that we might not release your wines or that we will give you an invoice with VAT. To subtract and declare VAT, a proof of export is necessary.

6.1.1.a Wine with Belgium as the final destination

If you live on a 30 minute drive or less from Antwerp, we will assume that you will come to collect your wines yourself. You will receive an invoice without shipping costs in this case. You can come and collect your wine after making an appointment, starting the first Thursday after an auction. The wine can also be shipped on your request.

Buyers who live further away from Antwerp, receive an invoice that includes shipping costs. We ask you to inform us straight away after the auction if you wish not to have your wines shipped to you.

6.1.1.b Purchases by private persons with a final destination inside of the European Union (excluding Belgium)

Private persons from a country inside of the European Union can come to collect margin lots at our venue. They can not collect VAT-lots themselves. For the purchase of wines that haven't had their VAT paid for yet in the past, you need to pay VAT in the country of destination. A proof of export is needed for this.

6.1.1.c You have an excise registration

If you come and collect your wines, the transport of the wines has to be done under the proper excise documentation. If this is all in order, please find more information on costs in chapter 6.2 and 6.3. In some cases a transport declaration should be signed when the wines are collected.

6.1.1.d You do not have an excise registration

If you come and pick up your wines and the wines are not under the proper excise and customs documentation, we will invoice you as a private person. This means you will have to pay Belgian VAT and limits the amount of wine you can collect.

6.12 Location for collection and opening hours of Sylvie's

The address for collections and deliveries is Italiëlei 21, 2000 in Antwerp.

We are open from Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 17:00. It is not possible to collect or deliver wines on the first three days after an auction. On the first Saturday after an auction, Sylvie's is also open from 09:00 to 16:00.

Sylvie's is closed on national holidays and between December 20th and January 1st.

6.1.3 Payment prior to collection

Please be advised that Sylvie's does not have a payment terminal at the venue. This means it is not possible to pay by card, so please pay your invoice before coming to collect your wines. It is also possible to pay in cash, but this amount is limited to €3.000,00 per auction, per buyer.

6.1.4 Auction costs

You pay:

- The hammer price
- only when buying VAT-lots: 21% Belgian VAT
- Buyer's premium. In 2024: 19% on the hammer price, excl. Belgian VAT
- 21% Belgian VAT over the buyer's premium
- Storage costs (after the 6 month period of free storage has ended)

Sylvie's offers 6 months of free storage on the condition that you have paid your invoice. Free storage is also offered in the event of weather conditions unfavourable for shipping. This is when temperatures drop below 0 degrees Celsius or rise above 25 degrees Celsius.

The storage costs are €30 a month for half a pallet space. The dimensions of half a pallet space are 80*60*160 centimeters.

6.1.5 Ex Works

If you come and collect your wines yourself or send someone else to collect your wines, your transport condition is 'Ex Works'. This means that any risks that come with transporting wines are carried by you from the moment your wines leave the Sylvie's venue.

6.1.6 Check before departure

Before your wines leave the Sylvie's venue, we will check the purchases together.

For some examples on the calculation of VAT, please click the button below.

ABOUT VAT

6.2 SHIPMENT OF WINES TO COUNTRIES WITHIN THE EU

If you do not collect your wine, you will incur shipping charges.

If you want to ship wines to countries within the European Union, Sylvie's will organise this for you. The carriers Sylvie's works with are DHL, Fedex and Bpost. For B2B deliveries, other companies may be employed. In this event, we will discuss the choice of carrier with you.

6.2.2 Parcels

Quotes and transit times for parcel shipments can be found in the footer of this website for a large variety of countries.

6.2.3 Pallets

The shipping costs for pallets are based on a daily rate.

6.2.4 Transit times

Sylvie's works with the transit times provided by its carriers. Transit times are indicative. If you want to receive your wines in the European Union and on a specific date and time, DHL offers a more expensive priority service. It is however never possible to guarantee a timely delivery as there is always a chance of unforeseen circumstances occurring.

Carriers will not call before delivery. You are required to make sure there is someone present to receive your shipment, even in the case of a delay. You are required to communicate all information necessary for shipment before pickup of your purchases. Should you fail to do this and extra costs arise as a result, you are responsible for these costs.

6.2.5 Delivery at Place (DAP)

Our standard delivery condition is DAP. This means that we deliver door-to-door and under all risk insurance.

6.2.6 All risk insurance is not mandatory

The all risk insurance is not mandatory. You can request a quote without insurance from us in writing. In this case, the risks of transport are carried by you from the moment the wines leave the Sylvie's venue. The delivery condition will be Ex Works.

6.2.7 Door-to-door delivery

A door-to-door delivery by a carrier means that the shipment is delivered to your front door. The following considerations apply:

- When delivering to apartment buildings, the wines will be delivered to the main entrance hall. You yourself are responsible for moving the wines inside the building itself.
- If a building has stairs leading up to the front door, the carrier is only required to deliver to the bottom of the stairs. You yourself are responsible for moving your purchases to your residence or company venue.
- If your wine is delivered on a pallet, the road to your front door should be suitable for driving a pallet truck. Gravel roads and unevenly tiled roads are not suitable for this and in this case, the carrier will only be able to deliver up to the end of a road that is suitable for driving a pallet truck on. In this case, you yourself are responsible for moving the wines to the destination building.

We ask you to provide an address that is suitable for the delivery of your purchases. If a carrier is not able or allowed to deliver to your provided address, the costs of a new delivery are carried by you.

6.2.8 No delivery to unmanned places

Sylvie's does not deliver to places where there is no one present to receive your shipment. For example, we do not deliver to terraces, garden sheds, carports, garages and post offices. Should you provide instructions to the carrier that go against this principle, you lose your insurance for loss and theft.

6.2.9 Company buyers wihtout an excise registration number

If you have a company without an excise registration number and you want to receive your purchases in a country inside the European Union, but outside of Belgium, you will not be able to reverse-charge VAT (for a company based inside the European Union) or deduct VAT (for a company based outside of the European Union). This is unless you decide to work with a third party that does have an excise registration number (a carrier, shipper or fiscal agent, for exampe). The same VAT rules and limits on shipment sizes that apply to private persons inside the European Union, also apply to companies without an excise registration number.

6.2.10 Company buyers with an excise registration number

If your company does have an excise number, or you are working with a third party that has one, the appropriate excise documentation is neccessary for every seperate shipment. If you have an excise registration number, it is possible to choose your own carrier to arrange your transport. Your carrier of choice can come and collect your wines on appointment. Should you decide to collect your purchases yourself, the delivery condition changes from DAP to Ex Works. This means that the risks connected to transport are carried by you from the moment your shipment leaves the Sylvie's venue. If you want to insure your wines, the arrangement of an insurance is your responsibility.

6.2.11 Transport documentation for shipments to destinations outside of Belgium

When your wines are set to exit Belgium, your transporter should be able to provide an international freight document (CMR). The CMR needs to be filled out when the carrier picks up the wines at our venue in Antwerp. A CMR needs to include:

- The invoice number(s) of all wines in the shipment;
- The name of the buyer whose wines are being picked up;
- A destination address inside the European Union;
- Name and address of the carrier (and/or the carrier's client)

6.2.12 The right to refuse carriers

Sylvie's has the right to refuse pickup by a carrier if:

- The required transport documents are absent or not filled out (correctly);
- The carrier wants to transport wines at a temperature below 0 degrees Celsius or above 25 degrees Celsius;
- The carrier does not arrive on the agreed date. This is to protect agreements made with other buyers;
- The underlying logistical chain is not authorised to create exit documents

Costs that arise from refusal of a carrier by Sylvie's are carried by you

6.2.13 Free delivery of purchases of more than €5000 by Sylvie's' own drivers in Belgium

If you spend more than €5.000,00 at our auction, Sylvie's offers a free delivery by our own drivers. The free delivery is under the condition that we are close to your delivery address and that we can optimally load our truck by combining pickups and deliveries of wines. In the event that we are not able to deliver within 6 months of the auction you purchased your wines in, we could choose to have your wines delivered by a third party.

This arrangement does not apply to purchases that have a final destination outside of the European Union.
 

You pay:

Hammer price
VAT on the hammer price	only for VAT-registered lots
The buyer's commission	19% on the hammer price
VAT on the buyer's commission	for lots subject to VAT: the VAT of the destination country
	for margin lots: 21% Belgian VAT
Transport cost for pallets	daily prices according to carrier's statement
Transport cost for parcels	see country information on our website
All risk insurance	see button below the paragraph
Excise accompanying document (e-AD or e-VAD)	€25.00 per document per shipment for purchases <€15.000,00
Storage costs after 6 months per half pallet space 80*60*160 centimeters	€30.00 per month
Surcharge for pallet shipment with an invoice value of <€2.000,00	€30.00 per shipment
Environmental taxes for destinations within the EU*	€0,00
Shipping cost within Belgium for purchases >€5.000,00 per auction	€0,00

* Environmental taxes will eventually apply to all destination countries in the European Union. Sylvie's currently does not charge these costs separately.
 

Want examples for VAT calculation? Want to know more about insurance? Please click the buttons below:

ABOUT VAT

ABOUT ALL RISK INSURANCE

6.3 SHIPMENT OF WINES TO COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE EU

6.3.1 General

The rules for shipping to destination inside and outside the European Union are generally similar.

If you want to ship wines to a destination outside of the European Union, we will organise your transport for you. We work with DHL, Fedex and Bpost, unless we have agreed otherwise with you.

6.3.2 Delivery at Place and limitations

We deliver worldwide under the condition Delivery at Place (DAP). This means the delivery is door-to-door and under all risk insurance. For pallet shipments, you can arrange transport yourself if you and your carrier of choice conform to our conditions. This does not apply to parcel shipments, unless there is no other option.

6.3.2.1 Door-to-door delivery

A door-to-door delivery by a carrier means the wines are delivered to your front door. The following considerations apply:

- When delivering to apartment buildings, the wines will be delivered to the main entrance hall. You yourself are responsible for moving the wines inside the building itself.
- If a building has stairs leading up to the front door, the carrier is only required to deliver to the bottom of the stairs. You yourself are responsible for moving your purchases to your residence or company venue.
- If your wine is delivered on a pallet, the road to your front door should be suitable for driving a pallet truck. Gravel roads and unevenly tiled roads are not suitable for this and in this case, the carrier will only be able to deliver up to the end of a road that is suitable for driving a pallet truck on. In this case, you yourself are responsible for moving the wines to the destination building.

We ask you to provide an address that is suitable for the delivery of your purchases. If a carrier is not able or allowed to deliver to your provided address, the costs of a new delivery are carried by you.

6.3.2.2 No delivery to unmanned locations

Sylvie's does not deliver to unmanned locations. If you provide a carrier with instructions that go against this principle, you will lose your insurance against loss and theft.

6.3.2.3 All risk insurance is not mandatory

All risk insurance is not mandatory. You can ask us for a quote without insurance in writing. In this case, all risks of transport are carried by you from the moment the wines leave the Sylvie's venue.

6.3.4 Parcels

In the footer of this websites you can find quotes and transit times for a large variety of countries of destination. There are however restrictions for the direct delivery of parcels to bonded warehouses, to the United States of America (fully restricted) and the United Kingdom (partially restricted). These terms contain a seperate section concerning delivery to these countries.

6.3.5 Pallets

Daily rates apply for the shipment of pallets.

You are free to work with a carrier of your choice on the condition that the shipment happens under the proper excise documentation (an e-AD). The organising company should be able to provide a proof of export (EX-A, EU-A or the equivalent) on the basis of the e-AD. We need this document to, for  example, prove that your VAT was calculated correctly. Sylvie's is able to provide you with an eAD, but not with a proof of export.

A proof of export can only be created by certain companies with the appropriate license. If you buy wines in a number of different European countries, you should contact your carrier and check if they are authorised to export wines from a company with a Belgian VAT-number.

Should you decide to organise transport yourself, then the transport condition is Ex Works. It is your responsibility to arrange insurance against breakage, loss and theft in this case.

6.3.6 Transit times

Sylvie's is bound to the transit times our carriers provide. These transit times are only indicative. In some hotter countries, it is possible to arrange for delivery in the morning, but no guarantees concerning the exact delivery date or time can be given.

Carriers like Fedex and DHL don't call before delivery. You are responsible for making sure that someone is present to receive your wines, even when your shipment has been delayed. You are responsible for providing all information necessary for shipment prior to pickup. If you do not do this and additional costs arise as a result, these costs are carried by you.

6.3.7 Meaning of the delivery condition Ex Works

When you are shipping under the conditions of Ex Works, you pay the shipping costs directly to the company that arranges the export of your purchases to outside of the European Union. You are free to decide if you want to insure your transport or not. If you ship under the Ex Works condition, Sylvie's is not liable for loss, breakage or theft of your wine during transport. All problems that occur during transport, are the responsibility of your chosen carrier. Sylvie's is not liable for these damages. This is why we recommend getting all risk insurance for your shipments.

We are the point of contact for communication concerning transport directly after the auction. We will inform you of the process until the wines leave our venue. All communication that follows, can be directed to your carrier of choice.

6.3.8 Transport documentation for international shipments

If the wines are leaving Belgium, your carrier should be able to provide international freight documentation (CMR). The document should be complete and filled out when your carrier arrives at our venue in Antwerp. The CMR should at least contain:

- The invoice number(s) of all wines in the shipment;
- The name of the buyer whose wines are being picked up;
- The destination address;
- The name and address of the carrier (and the carrier's client)

6.3.9 Sylvie's' right to refuse carriers

Sylvie's has the right the refuse pickup by a carrier if:

- The required transport documents are absent or not filled out (correctly);
- The carrier wants to transport wines at a temperature below 0 degrees Celsius or above 25 degrees Celsius;
- The carrier does not arrive on the agreed date. This is to protect agreements made with other buyers;
- The underlying logistical chain is not authorised to create exit documents

Costs that arise from refusal of a carrier by Sylvie's are carried by you

6.3.10 Bulk break (for the United Kingdom and Japan)

Bulk break is a type of shipment where wine gets shipped on a pallet first and subsequently divided into individual parcels in the country of destination. These parcels get delivered to the receiver individually. This means the wine gets sent on the pallet in shipping boxes.

We offer wine professionals from Japan and the United Kingdom the possibility to utilise bulk break in exchange for a payment of €1,00 per bottle and any costs the shipper charges on top of this amount. Bulk break has as a condition that your Sylvie's invoice is connected to the booking of your shipper and that we receive a proof of export.

Bulk break is only possible in a limited number of countries. Bulk break is not possible for destinations inside of the European Union.

You pay:

Hammer price
Buyer's commission**	19% on the hammer price
Transport cost for pallets	daily prices of the carrier
Transport cost for parcels	see country information in the footer of the website
All risk insurance	see the button below the paragraph
VAT	0% provided proof of export
Excise accompanying document (e-AD)*	€25,00 per shipment
Champagne certificate*	€12,50 per shipment
Armagnac certificate*	€12,50 per shipment
Storage cost after 6 months per half pallet  space 80*60*160 centimeters	€30,00 per month
Bulk break surcharge (only for UK and Japan)	€1,00 per bottle, explanation follows below
Surcharge for pallet shipment with an invoice value of >€2.000,00	€30,00 per shipment

* Companies that purchased for more than €15,000.00 per auction receive these certificates and the e-AD for free.

** If your wine does not leave Sylvie's accompanied by an e-AD, you will receive the same VAT on your invoice as the buyers who collect their wine at the counter pay.

Want examples for VAT calculation? Want to know more about insurance? Please click the buttons below:

ABOUT VAT

ABOUT ALL RISK INSURANCE

SHIPPING WINES TO THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK) OR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

We deliver wines to a large variety of countries around the world. In the footer of our website www.sylvies.be, you can find information about costs of shipment to a large number of countries.

Sylvie's usually delivers door-to-door and with all-risk insurance. This method is not always allowed when shipping to the United Kingdom and is not possible at all when shipping to the United States. For this reason, we have provided extra information for buyers from these countries below. Information about when to arrange all-risk insurance for this kind of shipment can also be found below.

All terms and conditions that apply to delivery inside the European Union that do not conflict with our terms for delivery to the United Kingdom and United States, also apply here.

SHIPPING WINES TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

Direct shipment of wines to the USA is not possible. All imports must be done through a licensee. This licensee should arrange door-to-door delivery for you. On the invoice from Sylvie's, the delivery condition is stated as 'Ex Works'.

6.3.11 Importing pallets

You are free to arrange the import process for pallets yourself on the condition that we receive a proof of export (EX-A) when the shipment leaves the European Union.

6.3.12 Importing parcels

You are bound to grouped shipments by Sylvie's because of the disproportionate amount of time it takes to ship a parcel to the USA. It is possible for Sylvie's to diverge from this concept if a different method for importing parcels arises. If a different method is applied for your shipment, it does not offer any rights based on precedence.

6.3.13 Grouped shipments to the USA

We organise grouped shipments for everyone who is not able or willing to organise their own import process. Grouped shipments to the USA get shipped on pallets whenever payment has been received by all participants and the volume of the shipment is large enough to match the given transport quote. The delivery condition on your invoice is Ex Works.

We will propose a trusted licensee like Connoisseur International Distribution (CID), TGD or Adventures in Wine (AIW)/Hillebrand. Of course, you are free to pick your own licensee as well. You are responsible for your choice in licensee. If you decide to work with another licensee, Sylvie's does not carry any responsibility for the shipping costs or the time it takes for your shipment to be delivered.

If you decide to work with CID, your wine will usually be shipped through the United Kingdom. In some cases, it will be shipped through France.

6.3.14 Climatised storage and transport

Every licensee Sylvie's recommends offers climatised storage and transport. A climatised transport is ensured:

- through use of climatised reefer containers if the wines are shipped by boat, through agreements you have made with the licensee or transporter;

- through agreements you have made with the licensee or transporter if the wines are shipped by air;

- only when it is necessary if the wines are shipped by road or stored onshore. If the temperature outside is between 0 and 25 degrees Celsius, a climatised transport is usually not provided. This also applies to licensees or carriers that advertise climatised transport door-to-door. It is advisable to discuss your expectations on this subject with your chosen licensee or carrier.

SHIPPING WINES TO THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK)

Since the implementation of Brexit, direct shipments of wine on pallets is not possible anymore. Shipments of wine in parcels are subject to restrictions.

6.3.15 Direct shipment of parcels to your residential address or company

We work with DHL to ship wines to our British buyers. The delivery is door-to-door and under all-risk insurance.

The insurance is not mandatory. You can ask us for a transport quote excluding insurance in writing. If you refuse from insurance, all risks of transport (breakage, missing wines, theft) are carried by you from the moment the wines leave the Sylvie's warehouse. The delivery condition changes to Ex Works in this case.

6.3.16 Direct delivery of parcels to a bonded warehouse

When your parcel has to be shipped to a bonded warehouse, we deliver door-to-door and under all-risk insurance with DHL. A bonded warehouse is a company that has a license to stock your wines free from VAT, excise and other tariffs. A bonded warehouse is also able to import and export your wines to and from other countries and continents. We make sure your wines are sent under the correct codes to make sure that you do not have to pay tariffs in the UK.

If the bonded warehouse arranges the shipment to them itself, Sylvie's will arrange an invoice under the condition Ex Works.

6.3.17 Shipping on pallets

Pallet shipments can only be imported by licensees. A licensee can also arrange the transport process. The licensee will make arrangements with a carrier, which will pick up your pallet from Sylvie's for a door-to-door delivery. The shipping condition on your Sylvie's invoice will be Ex Works.

We recommend working with Connoisseur International Distribution (CID) or DHL, but you are of course free to pick a different licensee. This is on the condition that we will receive a proof of export (EX-A) upon departure from the European Union. You carry full responsibility for your choice of licensee.

6.3.18 Grouped shipment to the UK

Some purchases are not suited for direct shipment as a parcel or can't be shipped directly because their value exceeds €6.000,00. We can ship these purchases through a licensee as a grouped shipment. Grouped shipments leave for the UK on pallets only after we have received payment from every participant and the volume is large enough to cover the transport quote.

The licensee arranges a carrier who will pick up the grouped shipment for door-to-door delivery. The delivery condition on your Sylvie's invoice will be Ex Works.

Sylvie's recommends working with Connoisseur International Distribution as the licensee. You are ofcourse free to pick a different licensee on condition that we will receive a proof of export (EX-A) upon departure from the European Union. You carry full responsibility for your choice of licensee.

If you choose to work with a different licensee, Sylvie's does not carry any responsibility for transport costs or delivery times.

6.3.19 Climatised storage and transport

Every licensee Sylvie's recommends offers climatised storage and transport. A climatised transport is ensured:

- through use of climatised reefer containers if the wines are shipped by boat, through agreements you have made with the licensee or transporter;

- through agreements you have made with the licensee or transporter if the wines are shipped by air;

- only when it is necessary if the wines are shipped by road or stored onshore. If the temperature outside is between 0 and 25 degrees Celsius, a climatised transport is usually not provided. This also applies to licensees or carriers that advertise climatised transport door-to-door. It is advisable to discuss your expectations on this subject with your chosen licensee or carrier.

6.4 THE DELIVERY OF WINES BY SYLVIE'S OWN DRIVERS

6.4.1 Free delivery by our own drivers inside Belgium for purchases that exceed €5.000,00

The free delivery by our own drivers is under the condition that we are close to your address and can optimally load our truck by combining pickups and deliveries of wines.

If our drivers are not able to deliver to your address personally within 6 weeks of the auction's end, we can choose to ship your wines using one of our regular third-party carriers.

This arrangement does not apply to purchases with a final destination outside of the European Union.

6.4.2 Contact with our planner

If our own drivers deliver the wines to your address, our planner will contact you to make an appointment. The delivery is door-to-door (delivery condition DAP) and under all-risk insurance.

We do not deliver wines within the first week after the auction. We deliver under condition that our drivers can optimally load their truck through deliveries and pickups of wines.

6.4.3 Deliveries to unmanned locations

Delivery addresses where there is no person to receive the wines, like terraces, carports, garden sheds and mail lockers, are not delivered to by Sylvie's. If a second delivery attempt is necessary as a result, the costs of the second delivery attempt are carried by you. This also applies if you were entitled to a free delivery at first.

7.0 PAYMENT

7.1 Payment options

You can pay by bank, via Wise.com and in cash. Payment in cash is only possible at the counter. The legal maximum for cash payments is €3,000.00 per buyer per auction. If you wish to pay in cash, we accept banknotes up to a value of €200.00.

As of March 15, 2024 we will no longer accept payments by credit card.

7.2 Terms of payment

The payment term is 7 days for private individuals and companies. For companies, the payment term that they have included in their terms and conditions does not apply to purchases at the auction.

7.3 Currency

All purchases must be paid in euros.

7.4 Processing fees financial institutions

All processing fees from financial institutions are yours to bear.

7.5 Spending limits

Sylvie's can set a spending limit or request a deposit from the bank before the auction commences. If you pay a deposit and your purchases turn out to be for a lower amount than your deposit, Sylvie's will return the surplus to you as soon as possible, unless you do not wish this to happen.

7.6 Overdue payment

Purchases at auction are irrevocable and legally binding. If you do not pay in time, we will first send you a payment reminder. If your payment has not been received within the period within which Sylvie's must pay its sellers, we will take appropriate measures. Appropriate measures include all remedies legally available to Sylvie's.

HOW TO PAY

8.0 SPECIAL CASES

8.1 Compensation for imperfections in the catalogue

Despite our best efforts to create a perfect catalog for each auction, inconsistencies may occur. Inconsistences do not constitute grounds for compensation. You are responsible to identify any imperfections before placing your bid.

8.2 Resale of wine without possession

If you resell goods to third parties without already having the wine in your possession, and you suffer damages as a result in any way or form, then this is your own responsibility and Sylvie's will not accept any claim for this.

8.3 Resale of wine in original cardboard packaging (Oc)

At Sylvie's, the appraised value of the wines is not affected by the presence or absence of original cardboard packaging. Although the presence of the original cardboard is mentioned in the catalogue, the condition of the cardboard is not described in the catalog and the photos do not always show this packaging.

When shipping wine on a pallet, we usually include the original packaging. When sending parcels, we check whether it is possible to fold the cardboard and send it along. However, if the cardboard is not included, we reject any claim for consequential damages. This also applies if you, as a buyer, believe that the presence of the original packaging would make a difference in price for your buyers.

8.4 Resale of wine in original wooden boxes (Owc) or gift boxes

At Sylvie's, the appraised value of the wines is not affected by the presence or absence of an original wooden box.

If you buy wines in an original wooden box, we will ship the box separately from the wines as standard. This way, the chance of a breakage is minimalised. However, if the crate is not sent, for whatever reason, we decline any liability, even if you as a buyer believe that the presence of the original packaging would make a difference in price for your buyers. You can always request additional delivery of your box. Sylvie's stores the wooden boxes during the first three weeks after an auction.

For wines in closed cases and in gift packaging that are expected to lie in a cellar for a long time before being ready to drink or have a recognized collector's value (with an indicative price of more than €100.00 per bottle and more than €450.00 per unopened crate), there is an exception to the rule. For these wines, Sylvie's offers the option to send the wines in the original case or gift wrapping. We then use shipping in a pallet box. However, if the weight of your purchased wines is less than 30 kilos, the carriers will not accept a shipment on a pallet and Sylvie's offers you the option to store your wine in order to build a larger / heavier shipment using purchases at future auctions . In case of emergency, we can weigh down your pallet.

8.5 Validity of the terms and conditions of sale in the event of deviation in your favor (precedent effect)

If a deviation from the terms and conditions of sale occurs in your favor during the settlement of the auction, this does not constitute grounds for a right of repetition (precedent effect) or the nullification of all other conditions.

8.6 Force Majeure

Sylvie's cannot be held liable for damage and/or consequential damage due to force majeure (such as natural disasters, pandemics and government measures). This also applies when bids do not reach the auction room due to power and/or technical failures.

9. COMPLAINTS & APPEALS

9.1 Complaints

We strive for continuous improvement of our service. If you have a wish or complaint, please contact us directly. Although you are purchasing the wine 'as is', that does not mean that we are not interested in maintaining good relationships with our buyers and sellers. We are at your service. You can call us and preferably email us via the general details on this website.

We will ask you to substantiate your complaint. If substantiation is based on reasonableness and fairness, we can decide from a commercial point of view to meet your wishes.

9.2 Complaint settlement period

Complaints about transport damage will be processed with priority. If, despite our great efforts, complaints do arise, there is a good chance that they will occur after the end of an auction, namely on the days when payments for deliveries to a large group of buyers must be settled in one go. Please note that the settlement of complaints can take 3 to 5 weeks and that the time you have to wait for an answer does not mean that we do not take your complaint seriously.

9.3 Appeal

If a situation arises at Sylvie's that we cannot resolve to your satisfaction, you can go to the courts of Antwerp, where the spoken and written language is Dutch.

The following web pages are part of our terms and conditions of sale:

PRIVACY

COOKIES

LEGAL FRAMEWORK