World-famous auctioneer Fellows has a treat in store for the winning bidders in three of the remaining sales scheduled for 2019. As a thank you to loyal customers, Fellows will absorb the postage fees for all sales made during its watch, jewelry, and designer auctions until the New Year. This latest initiative is one of several opportunities to save that Fellows has presented to its clientele throughout 2019. As auction houses around the globe race to adapt their sales practices in an ever-more remote era, Fellows is leading the way with creative online strategies designed to reward existing customers while simultaneously engaging with new ones.
The first half of 2019 saw the launch of “Fellows Live,” the esteemed auction house’s new online bidding platform. To celebrate its launch, Fellows offered customers the chance to bid online for free, which enabled participants to save up to 6% when compared to some bidding platforms.
The success of outsourced online activity can be hard to gauge, so Fellows has taken a very hands-on approach to these new endeavors, conducting them all in-house so results can be analyzed. Following the launch of Fellows Live, the British business reached across the Atlantic to connect with its American audience, offering customers from the United States free shipping across all auctions. This initiative saw a sharp spike in orders from America and encouraged the Birmingham-based house to roll out the same service to all international destinations.
Throughout November and December, Fellows will continue to embellish its customers’ experience by covering not only postage costs but also online bidding fees (should you wish to bid from the comfort of your own home). This means that the only cost incurred by customers, in addition to the hammer price of the item in question, will be the standard Buyer’s Premium, which, once again, could result in huge savings for the purchaser.
Stephen Whittaker, Managing Director of Fellows Auctioneers, says, “We have taken this option to give something back to our customers who have been faithful to us during another successful year at Fellows. I hope by offering both free postage for two months and a bidding platform with no online bidding fees our customers can see that we always aim to put them first. We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and, hopefully, this scheme will encourage more bidders in our sales in the lead up to 2020.”
Three auctions featuring fine watches will benefit from Fellows’ decision to remove postage costs (and online bidding fees). Each one occupies a slightly different category in the Fellows catalog, with the first, due to be held on November 26, known as “The Watch Sale.”
The Watch Sale is Fellows’ flagship luxury watch sale, which regularly features timepieces from the world’s most renowned watchmakers, such as Patek Philippe and Rolex. This auction covers all eras and has witnessed some competitive bidding wars resulting in sales records in the past.
Next up, on December 9, is an event called “Watches.” This auction is often populated by models a little off the beaten track from mid-level luxury brands such as Breitling, Longines, and TAG Heuer. These popular and highly collectible brands have all released interesting, often-forgotten references in their long histories. This auction is an excellent place to find the more characterful watch that rewards its owner with years of emotional enrichment, as well as kickstarting endless conversations.
Also held on December 9 will be the “Watches & Watch Accessories” sale. Operating under a slightly different format, this timed online auction offers an eclectic mix of tools, parts, and charming repair projects that are perfect for those more interested in the craft of horology than the business of luxury watch collecting. If you possess the skills to fix these mechanical marvels yourself, the Watches & Watch Accessories auction is an excellent place to pick up a bargain. To learn more about the sales, peruse the catalogs in advance, or discover more about this 143-year old family enterprise, please visit fellows.co.uk.
