Who needs the help of a Wine Sales Assistant?

Anyone who has a collection of any size who needs help selling it can benefit from working with someone who will represent your interest. This includes people who have received a large collection as part of a divorce or as a result of the death of a spouse who were fine wine collectors, or someone who has a large fine wine collection and wants to downsize. I have assisted in helping sell collections ranging from 48 bottles to 1200. I can assist you with any size collection.

Why should I use (and pay for) an independent wine seller’s broker?

I am like a buyer’s realtor. I act on your behalf at all times to insure that you receive a fair return for the sale of your fine wine collection. Notice that when you search for help in selling your fine wine collection that almost all of the listings are for companies who want you to sell your wine either to them, or in the case of an auction house, “through” them. Their interest is in their business, not you maximizing the value of your collection.

What do you charge?

My initial visit, either in person, if nearby, or by Skype, if not, is at no charge.

If you hire me to represent you I charge 10% of what, with my assistance, you earn on the sale of your wine collection. In addition I charge actual expenses for travel beyond 100 miles for both transportation and any overnight accommodations, if necessary.

What service do you actually provide?

• First, I will evaluate your collection for salability.  I will provide you with information that will help you decide the best approach to selling your wine collection. Quickly, but getting a little less, or taking a little longer with a larger return.
• I will inventory your fine wine collection. Evaluate each bottle for condition and to then prepare a list/document of your wines for use in presenting what you have to sell to those who will either buy it or sell it.
• I will also advise and assist you in negotiating terms for the sale of your wine, including commissions, shipping, and all other incidental expenses with the outlet you chose to use for the sale of your wines.
• Once you have decided how to sell your wines, I will actually box your collection for shipment and arrange for it to be properly handled from your home or storage facility to its end destination.

Essentially, I will handle all aspects of the preliminary evaluation of your fine wine collection, preparing a listing of your collection with thorough information of the description and condition of each wine and/or bottle, boxing it and having it shipped to its destination. I will also be available to help through the receipt of payment for your collection and be available to answer any questions along the way. The wine will stay in your possession at all times until you decide how you wish to handle selling it.

What other expenses should I expect to pay?

It varies based on the size and quality of your collection, and the path you choose for selling it. If you chose to use an auction house there may be a number of additional charges you might expect.

First, unless your collection exceeds a half million dollars or more, you can expect to pay a sellers commission. Depending on the auction house you chose it can range from 10% to 20%, large collections can generally negotiate a smaller fee (in the 5-7% range). The auction house charges the buyer a fee of 20% or more as well. These two commission fees together is how they make the majority of their income, but not the only way.

Depending on the size of your collection the auction houses may expect for you to pay for shipping, although generally if they “want” your collection they might either pay for shipping or, depending on location, pick it up at no charge. Since wine is fragile and needs special shipping boxes they may charge you for shipping materials as well.

The large auction houses will sometimes ask you to insure your collection for breakage both for shipping and while in their possession. However, they should have their own insurance to cover for loss in the event of a problem on their end.

In some instances, the auction houses may charge you for storage of your wine at their facility. This charge may occur either prior to the actual auction date or in the case that some of your wines did not sell and needed to be held until their next scheduled auction.

The larger auction houses often publish a very high quality catalog of wines that will be offered at their next auction, and will sometimes charge for photography and publication charges. These catalogs are sold to potential bidders to generate interest on the part of buyers. If your collection has a lot of very rare wines, paying for this service can be of value for you to invest in. Part of my job is to advise you regarding any or all of these charges and to be your advocate in these matters.

Ultimately what I will do is assist you in navigating all of these issues so as to insure that for whatever path you wish to follow that your interests are fully represented.

What if I decide not to sell my wines?

If after our first meeting you decide not to sell your wines or to not use my services then we will shake hands and part friends. A collections value will vary bases on the economy and sellers may from time to time decide to wait for a better market. If this should occur I would charge $75 per hour of work done and this would be credited back to you when you decide to move forward.

What geographic area do you cover?

I generally work in the New England, New York City and Northern New Jersey areas. I am located in the Springfield, MA and am conveniently located to Boston, the Cape and Islands, New York City and Northern New Jersey, all of Connecticut, Vermont, Southern New Hampshire and Southern Maine. For large collections I am willing to travel beyond the Northeast which would be discussed on an individual basis.