Terms of Service
Last updated: August 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using Alighieri's website and services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.
2. Auction Rules
By participating in our auctions, you agree that:
- All bids are binding and irrevocable
- You are responsible for all bids placed from your account
- If the reserve is met, the highest bidder at auction close is obligated to complete the purchase
- Lots that do not meet their reserve are not sold — see Section 3
- A buyer's premium may be added to the hammer price
- Payment is due within 48 hours of auction close
3. The Decision Window, Reserves, and Unsold Lots
The consignor decision window. When bidding closes on a lot with at least one bid, the lot enters a decision window and its page shows “Deciding Winner.” The window's deadline is displayed on the lot page. During the window the consignor may accept the high bid — forming the sale immediately — or decline it. If the consignor takes no action, the lot sells automatically to the high bidder at the end of the window, unless the lot carried a reserve that was not met (see below). If no sale is formed by the end of the window, the lot closes unsold.
Your bid is binding through the window. By placing a bid, you make an irrevocable offer to purchase at your bid price that remains open through the decision window. If you are the high bidder when bidding closes, the sale is formed — and you become obligated to pay — when the consignor accepts your bid or the window ends with the lot selling automatically, whichever occurs first. Bids cannot be withdrawn during the window. Your saved payment method is charged automatically approximately one hour after the sale is formed; nothing is charged if no sale is formed.
Reserves. All lots are offered with reserve unless expressly stated otherwise. Reserve amounts are confidential and will not be disclosed. If a lot closes below its reserve, it does not sell automatically: the consignor may accept the high bid during the decision window (forming the sale immediately, exactly as above), and if the consignor does not accept, the lot closes unsold and nothing is charged.
How reserves interact with proxy bidding. When you place a maximum bid, our proxy system bids on your behalf in the standard increments. If your maximum is at or above the lot's reserve, the displayed bid will advance to the reserve, and you may become the leading bidder at that price in a single step rather than by increment. If your maximum is below the reserve, your bid is accepted and displayed normally, but the reserve is not met and the lot will not sell automatically. You will never be charged more than your maximum bid.
No house or seller bidding. Neither Alighieri's, the consignor, nor anyone acting on their behalf bids on lots consigned to us. We do not place bids to raise the price, to reach the reserve, or for any other purpose. Every bid displayed on a lot is a bid from an independent registered bidder. We do not advertise any lot as absolute, no-reserve, or as selling regardless of price when a reserve applies to that lot.
Whether a lot carried a reserve is not disclosed during the decision window, and the reserve amount itself is never published — before, during, or after the auction. Lots that closed before the decision window took effect remain governed by the prior terms, under which a below-reserve acceptance required the bidder's affirmative confirmation.
4. Registration
To bid in auctions, you must create an account and provide accurate information. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.
5. Payment
We accept payment via PayPal. By registering a payment method, you authorize us to charge your account for successful bids. Winning bids are charged automatically approximately one hour after the auction closes. Failure to pay may result in account suspension and legal action.
Processing Fee. A 3% payment processing fee applies to all orders and is disclosed at checkout before you pay. Orders paid by bank receive a bank payment discount off that fee, reflecting the lower cost of bank payments: ACH payments are discounted to 0.8% of the order total (capped at $5), wire transfers are discounted to a flat $15, and Zelle is discounted in full to no fee. The discounted fee never exceeds the standard 3%. The fee — and any bank payment discount — is itemized on your receipt.
Zelle Payments. Zelle transfers are sent by you, from your own banking app, directly to our account. Zelle provides no confirmation to us, so your order is marked paid only once we have matched the payment in our account — usually the same business day. Your bank may limit how much you can send by Zelle per day; you may send the balance in several transfers, and your order remains open, showing what has been received, until it is paid in full. Zelle transfers cannot be reversed by either party. Refunds on Zelle orders are issued by separate transfer back to you.
6. Shipping
Shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer unless otherwise stated. Items will be shipped after payment is confirmed. We are not responsible for items lost or damaged during shipping unless insurance was purchased.
7. Returns
All sales are final. Items are sold "as is" and "where is." We make every effort to accurately describe items, but we do not guarantee the accuracy of descriptions. Buyers should inspect items carefully before bidding.
8. Consignment
Consignors agree to our commission structure and payment terms as outlined in the consignment agreement. Items must be authentic and legally owned by the consignor.
9. Prohibited Conduct
You agree not to:
- Bid on items you do not intend to purchase
- Create multiple accounts to manipulate bidding
- Use automated systems to place bids
- Interfere with the proper functioning of our services
- Violate any applicable laws or regulations
10. Limitation of Liability
Alighieri's shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of our services.
11. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.
12. Contact
For questions about these Terms, please contact us at: