The Story Trail Auction: Buyers Guide, Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement
Auction Date: Monday 30th November 2026
Introduction
The Story Trail Auction is managed by Amaze, registered charity number 1078094
The Auctioneer is Richard Payne, of Clive Emson Auctioneers.
The Story Trail online auction is managed by Wild in Art (WIA) with Amaze and with online auction partner Bidpath.
Data Protection – The Story Trail Auction Privacy Statement
Amaze are using Wild in Art to manage The Story Trail Online Auction. If you would like to bid at the auction we will ask you to create a Wild in Art auctions account to handle the process. If you register for the online auction, Bidpath is used as a sub processor to manage the bidding process. Wild in Art will share your registration with Amaze, but they act as an independent data controller to Amaze. If you are successful in winning a BookBench, Amaze will receive the relevant data to collect payment.
This statement should be read in conjunction with the Amaze Privacy Policy, https://amazesussex.org.uk/privacy-policy/.
When you register with Wild in Art they will ask you to agree to their privacy notice, https://wildinart.co.uk/privacy-notice/ and for online bidding, https://bidpath.com/privacy-policy/.
The following information will be collected from you and the legal basis for doing so is consent:
- Name
- Email address
- Postal address
- Phone number
- Lot number/Current Bid – if making a bid
You will be asked to for proof of identity and address to make a bid, but no parties will retain this information.
Buyer’s Guide
1. Introduction
This Buyer’s Guide contains a brief overview of The Story Trail Auction process and the terms under which Lots are made available for sale at Auction. Please read the Buyer’s Guide and the Terms and Conditions of Sale carefully. By registering to bid and participate in the Auction, you will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by them.
2. Definitions
2.1. When the following words are used in this Buyer’s Guide, they mean:
Auction - A live sale by auction managed by Amaze and Wild in Art.
Bidder - Any person, properly registered and approved by Amaze and/or WIA to participate in the Auction who makes or considers making a bid to buy a Lot at Auction
Buyer - The person or organisation making the highest bid or offer for a Lot accepted by the auctioneer, including a principal bidding as agent.
Guarantee of Authenticity – Amaze and WIA guarantee that the items sold at the auction are the BookBench sculptures created by artists, displayed at The Story Trail event and sold to raise money for Amaze.
Hammer Price - The highest bid for a Lot accepted by the auctioneer at the Auction or, in the case of a post-auction sale price.
Lot - Individual item listed in the Auction Catalogue.
Purchase Price - The Hammer Price
3. Before the Auction
3.1. Bidder Registration
3.1.1. Every person or organisation wishing to make a bid is required to register before participating at the Auction.
3.1.2. Those wishing to attend the Auction as a Bidder either in their own capacity or as an agent for another bidder, need to complete and return the Bidder Registration Form which is available online a https://amazesussex.org.uk/thestorytrail/auction. If a hard copy is required, please contact siobhanc@amazesussex.org.uk
3.1.3. To register as an in-person Bidder, the Bidder Registration Form must be completed in full and the bidder must provide at least one (1) form of ID which must include one (1) government-issued photo identification, (eg passport / driving license). If this does not state your current address, proof of address will also be required. ID must be presented at the event.
3.1.4. If registering as an organisation, you must provide a certified copy or original certificate of incorporation, or, in the case of unregistered entities, other evidence satisfactory to Amaze – contact siobhanc@amazesussex.org.uk for confirmation of what will be acceptable.
3.1.5. If you are registering as an agent to bid on behalf of another party, you must produce the relevant ID documents in 3.1.3. and 3.1.4 above for yourself and the person or organisation on whose behalf you are acting.
3.1.6 You must be aged 18 years or over to make a bid.
3.2. Pre-Auction Viewing
3.2.1. All the Lots can be previewed in person at the Farewell Weekend from 27th – 29th November 2026 at The Wing, The Brighton Centre, King’s Road, Brighton. Please book your tickets online at https://amazesussex.org.uk/thestorytrail/farewell-weekend/
3.3. Delivery or Collection of Artworks
3.3.1. The Story Trail Logistics Partner, Tomsetts, will be present at the Auction to arrange the collection and delivery of purchased sculptures. Successful bidders wishing to use this service can discuss their requirements directly with the transport provider on the evening. All delivery costs will be agreed and paid directly to the transport company.
3.3.2. Successful bidders are also welcome to make their own arrangements to collect their sculpture or appoint an alternative courier or transport provider.
3.3.3. All sculptures must be collected within 14 days of the auction from our secure storage facility in Brighton. Collection will be by prior appointment only.
3.3.4. Any sculptures not collected within 14 days of the auction will incur a storage charge of £100 per sculpture, per day, unless otherwise agreed in writing with Amaze.
3.3.5. Bidders purchasing sculptures for delivery outside the United Kingdom are responsible for ensuring that the sculpture can be legally exported from the UK and imported into the destination country. Amaze accepts no liability if the necessary licences, permits or consents cannot be obtained.
4. At the Auction
4.1. Bidding
4.1.2. All bids are by individual Lot unless the auctioneer states to the contrary during the live Auction. Lots will usually be sold in their numbered sequence, unless the auctioneer announces otherwise.
4.1.3. All bids must be made in English only.
4.1.4. The auctioneer may accept bids from Bidders present in the sale room, via online or written bids delivered to Amaze no less than 48 hours prior to the auction.
4.1.5. Online bids shall be made in accordance with and subject to the terms of the online auction platform. You can register to bid online at https://amazesussex.org.uk/thestorytrail/auction/
4.1.6. The Auctioneer may accept or decline bids at his entire discretion.
5. After the Auction
5.1. Successful bids
5.1.1. Amaze will raise invoices for each successful Bid at the end of the Auction and these will be presented to the successful In Person Bidders by hand. The invoice will show the Hammer Price to be paid, and identify the Lot purchased. Invoices will be emailed to successful online bidders.
5.2. Payment
5.2.1. Payment is due when the Lot is knocked down to you on the fall of the Auctioneer’s hammer in respect of the Lot.
5.2.2. Unless agreed in writing with you by Amaze, you must pay all the sums in Pounds Sterling either on the evening upon winning the Lot or within 5 working days of the invoice being issued. Before the auction, we advise that bidders check with their bank or building society whether there are limits for large transactions on their bank accounts, so there aren’t any delays in payment on the night.
5.2.3. Payments are only acceptable on the express understanding that the Lot is not returnable, refundable nor exchangeable and no charge card credit may be issued in the event of any such return. If payment is made, the Buyer will not undertake any action or effort to stop payment, seek a refund, or attempt a charge back of such amounts – or any Credit Card Fee assessed thereon – by the issuer of the credit card.
5.3. Shipping and storage
5.3.1. The Buyer is responsible for organising delivery or collection of their purchase and Lots must be collected within 10 days of the date of the auction, unless otherwise agreed in writing with Amaze.
5.3.2 The purchaser will be responsible for paying the daily storage cost of £100 per day from the 11th day after the event.
Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions of Sale (“Conditions”) set out the legal relationship between the Buyer and Amaze. By registering to bid and participate in The Story Trail Auction, you will be deemed to have read and agreed to be bound by these Conditions and the accompanying Buyer’s Guide.
1. Interpretation
In the event of any conflict between these Conditions and the Buyer’s Guide, these Conditions shall take precedence.
2. Definitions
2.1. See 2.1 of Buyer's Guide
3. Catalogue descriptions and condition of Lots
3.1. All Lots are sold subject to their condition at the date of the Auction. By making a bid, the Bidder accepts the actual condition of the Lot and acknowledges that if a bid is successful, the Buyer will buy the Lot ‘as is’.
3.2. Amaze cannot guarantee that colours are properly shown in the Auction catalogue. All Lots are sold ‘as is’. Bidders are encouraged to inspect Lots and satisfy themselves as to condition before bidding. BookBenches can be viewed prior to the Auction at the Farewell Event at The Brighton Centre on 27th - 29th November 2026.
4. Before the Auction
4.1. Every Bidder must register using the Bidder Registration Form. This will be sent to all auction guests prior to the event by email or post. The completed forms can be returned to Amaze by email – siobhanc@amazesussex.org.uk
5. During the Auction
5.1. Amaze reserves the right to refuse participation in the Auction and to reject any bid. Bids may not be accepted from unregistered bidders and all Bidders must be 18 or over and have sufficient funds to cover any bids made.
5.2. All bids must be made in Pounds Sterling and no VAT or buyers premium is to be paid.
5.3. The auctioneer has the right to exercise reasonable discretion in refusing any bid, advancing the bidding in such a manner as he may decide, and in the case of error or dispute, and whether during or after the sale, determining the successful Bidder, continuing the bidding, cancelling the sale or re-offering and reselling the Lot in dispute. If any dispute arises after the sale, then, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary the sale record maintained by the auctioneer will be conclusive.
5.4. When making a bid, every Bidder acknowledges that such bid is a binding offer to buy the Lot at that price (plus the, Buyer’s Expenses (if applicable), and any and all shipping charges, import duties/taxes, storage and other costs). A successful Bidder will be deemed to be the Buyer unless it has been explicitly agreed in writing with Amaze before the start of the Auction and set out in the Bidder Registration Form that the Bidder is acting as agent on behalf of an identified third party acceptable to Amaze and only then will Amaze regard that third party as the Buyer. In such circumstances, the Bidder acting as agent confirms that he is authorized to bind the third party and that the Buyer has been made aware of and accepts these Conditions.
5.5. The Auctioneer will use reasonable efforts to execute written bids delivered before the Auction for Bidders unable to attend the auction in person, by an agent or by telephone or online. All such written bids must be submitted no later than 48 hours before the auction.
5.5. If the Auctioneer receives written bids on a particular Lot for identical amounts, and at the auction these are the highest bids on the Lot, it will be sold to the person whose written bid was received and accepted first. In all other cases of equal bids, the winning Bidder shall be selected at random by drawing names from a hat or as otherwise determined by Amaze.
5.6. Online bidding at The Story Trail Auction is made available via Bidpath (a third-party software company) and online bidding is subject to their respective terms of use.
5.7. The Auction will be tracked on a video or digital screen, which may display, among other things, a photograph of the Lot offered for sale and the then-current bid. Bidders understand and agree that errors may occur in its operation and, except as expressly stated in the Buyer’s Guide or these Conditions, Amaze shall have no liability arising out of or related to any errors or omission in respect thereto.
5.8. Amaze or Wild in Art may take photographs or film the in-person aspect of the auction event, the legal basis for doing so is consent. If someone does not wish to have their image taken, they must let the event holders know that they do not consent. By consenting, each person consents to be filmed and/or photographed and agrees and authorises Wild in Art and Amaze to use and publish such film and/or photographs, name and likeness for use in (1) providing online access to the Auction, (2) recording the results of the Auction, (3) print, digital, online and all other media for marketing purposes (including without limitation, on Wild in Art and Amaze websites, Facebook Live, YouTube and other online platforms) and (4) in any other Wild in Art and Amaze publications of whatever nature. The participant releases Wild in Art and Amaze and holds them harmless from any reasonable expectation of confidentiality or privacy associated with such images and releases Wild in Art and Amaze and any third parties involved in the making, creation or publication of the images or any marketing or other materials from all and any liability for claims made in respect of such publication. Publication of the images in whatever format confers no right of ownership on the individual or right to royalties or payment.
5.9. The highest bid accepted by the auctioneer at the close of the auction will be the Buyer and the conclusion of a contract for sale between the Seller and the Buyer. Risk and responsibility for the Lot passes to the Buyer at the point of sale on the date of sale and the Buyer should arrange insurance cover for the Lot if required.
6. After the Auction
6.1. Amaze will provide each buyer a receipt of payment and these will be sent to the successful Bidders by email.
6.2. Payment can be taken immediately and must be made within 5 working days of date of invoice. Payment must be made by the Buyer. Payments from any other source will not be accepted and shall be returned by Amaze.
6.3. Title in the Lot will pass to Buyer and the Lot will be made available for collection by the Buyer only when Amaze is completely satisfied that all monies owing have been paid in full.
6.4. Payment must be in Pounds Sterling and may be made by electronic transfer, debit card, credit card (up to a maximum of £25,000), or bankers draft or cash (up to a maximum of £500). Please quote the invoice number when making payment to ensure it can be processed as efficiently as possible. Please note we cannot accept American Express and cheques will not be accepted.
6.5. Payments are only acceptable on the express understanding that the Lot is not returnable, refundable nor exchangeable and no charge card credit or refund may be issued in the event of any such return. If payment is made by credit card, Buyer will not undertake any action or effort to stop payment, seek a refund, or attempt a charge back of such amounts – or any Credit Card Fee assessed thereon – by the issuer of the credit card.
6.6. The Buyer will not acquire title to the Lot until all amounts due to Amaze from the Buyer have been received by Amaze in cleared funds even in circumstances where Amaze has released the Lot to the Buyer.
6.7. In the event of default by the Buyer, Amaze may take one or more of the following actions:
6.7.1. hold the Buyer liable for the total amount due and commence legal proceedings for its recovery together with interest, legal fees and costs to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law;
6.7.2. cancel the sale;
6.7.3. resell the Lot publicly or privately on such terms as Amaze shall think fit;
6.7.4 take such other action as Amaze deem necessary or appropriate. If Amaze resells the Lot under condition 6.7.3 above, the Buyer shall be liable for payment of any deficiency between the total amount originally due to Amaze and the amount received upon resale as well as all reasonable costs, expenses, damages, legal fees and commissions and premiums of whatever kind associated with both sales or otherwise arising from the default.
6.8. Amaze shall be entitled to retain Lots sold until all amounts due have been received in full in good cleared funds or until the Buyer has performed any other outstanding obligations as Amaze shall reasonably require.
6.9. It is the Buyer’s sole obligation and responsibility to be aware of, to comply with, and to pay for all relevant import duties, taxes, customs and other fees charged in the Buyer’s local jurisdiction. The Buyer understands and agrees that Amaze shall have no obligation or responsibility for any import duties, taxes, customs, shipping or other charges for the Lots shipped. Failure by the Buyer to pay all necessary amounts may result in the relevant authorities returning the Lot to Amaze and in those circumstances the Buyer will be charged and will pay storage costs and Amaze’s additional reasonable costs and expenses.
6.10. It is the Buyer’s responsibility to ensure that any Lot purchased from Amaze enters the shipping location lawfully, that all duties and taxes have been paid and that all required export procedures, regulations, and laws were properly complied with. Buyer understands and agrees that WIA shall have no obligation or responsibility for complying with any export procedures, regulations, or laws applicable to the Lot.
6.11. If the Buyer wishes to apply for an export licence this does not affect or postpone the Buyer’s obligation to make payment in accordance with Amaze’s payment terms nor Amaze’s right to charge interest or storage charges on late collections.
7. Use of information
7.1. By registering to bid at The Story Trail Auction you are consenting to allow Wild in Art and Amaze (registered charity number 1078094) to contact you about The Story Trail Auction and to process your personal data for the purposes of administering The Story Trail Auction.
7.2. If you indicate that you may want to make an Absentee Bid, we will share your details anonymously to the Auctioneer for the purposes of administering The Story Trail Auction.
7.3. If you register for the online auction, Bidpath will manage this process and your details shared with them by Wild in Art.
8. Terms of Guarantee of Authenticity
8.1. Amaze guarantee that the sculptures sold at the auction are the BookBench Sculptures created by artists for the purposes of raising money for Amaze
8.2. Except as expressly provided in these Conditions Amaze shall have no liability to the Buyer in respect of a Lot and all and any implied warranties and conditions are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
9. Intellectual property rights
9.1. The copyright in all images, illustrations and written material produced by or for Wild in Art and Amaze relating to a Lot (including the contents of the Auction catalogue), is and shall remain at all times the property of Wild in Art and Amaze and shall not be used by the Buyer, nor by anyone else, without Wild in Art and Amaze written consent. Wild in Art and Amaze make no representation or warranty that the Buyer of a Lot will acquire any copyright or other reproduction rights in it.
10. Events outside our control
Amaze will not be liable or responsible for any failure to perform, or delay in performance of, any of its obligations under these Conditions that is caused by an event outside its control, that being any act or event beyond Amaze’s reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, lock-outs or other industrial action by third parties, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack, war (whether declared or not) or threat or preparation for war, fire, explosion, storm, flood, earthquake, subsidence, pandemic, epidemic or other natural disaster, or failure of public or private telecommunications networks. Amaze’s obligations shall be suspended and time for performance extended until such time as the event outside its control is over, following which a new collection or shipping date can be agreed.
11. Other important terms
11.1. If any part of these Conditions is found by any court to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that part shall be discounted and the rest of the Conditions shall continue to be valid to the fullest extent permitted by law.
11.2. The contract is between the Buyer and Amaze and no other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms.
11.3. If Amaze fails to insist on performance of any of a Buyer’s obligations under these Conditions, or if it delays in doing so, that will not mean that Amaze has waived its rights against the Buyer and does not mean the Buyer no longer has to comply with those obligations.
11.4. This agreement and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with English law and the Parties agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts of England.