30 Jul 2013

Scotch Whisky Auction: Getting a clear idea of the costs


Since it's now impossible to sell Whisky on eBay in the UK there have been a rise in the number and popularity of specialist whisky auction sites, but which one should you use?

Much like the whisky industry as a whole, the second hand market is big business and booming. Whether it's due to the much maligned whisky investors or just people being more likely to go online in search of a bargain or unusual bottling I don't know.

As businesses vie to fill the hole left behind by eBay there are quite a few specialist whisky auction houses out there..The most popular appears to be the 'Scotch Whisky Auctions' based in Glasgow, with a clear website and a massive selection up for grabs every month. Hopefully I'll go through a few of the most popular whisky auction websites that ship to the UK/EU and we can compare them properly at the end of it all.

Got a bottle you want to sell? Just drop it off at their Glasgow shop or post it away and within a month or two you should have your money.. but how much do they charge you for the privilege of selling, or even buying?

Selling? 

Adapted from image by Martyn Jenkins

If I sell a £100 bottle?

£10 commission
£3 listing fee
20% VAT on fees 

Your total: £84.40

Buying


If I buy a £100 bottle?

£10 commission
£9 shipping
20% VAT on fees (commission + P&P)

Total cost:  £122.80

It's worth noting each extra bottle is £4 for UK/EU and you can avoid this by collecting from their Glasgow location. If you live elsewhere in the EU remember that the first bottle costs £20 to ship Credit card fees can be more easily avoided by paying by cheque, cash or debit card.

The whisky auction business looks like a fruitful one.. next up will be Whisky Online Auctions, although it looks like their fees are very similar.

1 comment:

  1. keep going...... mind include www.whiskyauctionsedinburgh.co.uk who offer FREE collection for the seller....

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