Welcome to SPHINX Philatelic Auctions
Please read thoroughly and carefully.

Terms & Conditions for bidding & buying with Sphinx:

The material offered for sale in our auctions is the property of various consignors and collectors. By placing a bid on any lot in one of our auctions, the bidder agrees to abide by all the terms and conditions listed here below:

1. Bids must be received by Midnight GMT of the close date of the auction.
2. Bids are accepted On-Line , by Mail , by Fax or by E-mail , we regret that we cannot accept bids by Phone , unless confirmed by a written or electronic note.
3. Bids must be per lots as numbered in the auction listing. We will not accept grouping, parting or conditional bidding.
4. Bidders are responsible of any errors done while writing their bids. We regret that we cannot accept any changes of bid amounts or lot numbers after the close date. All kinds of alterations are accepted before the close date.
5. All prices and all other expenses are quoted in US Dollar.
6. All lots are priced at a two-figure range. The higher figure refers to the price which lots are expected to realize in a fair reflection of the current market estimate at the time of sale, while the lower figure is the start price stated for each lot, under which no bid will be accepted.
7. Please, place your bids in accordance with the following Table of Increments :
   
   

   Bids Increase Up to $20 $1 $50 to $150 $5 $250 to $500 $25 $1250 to $2000 $100

   Bids Increase $20 to $50 $2 $150 to $250 $10 $500 to $1250 $50 $2000 and over $250

8. Bids not submitted in accordance with the above table of increment will be automatically rounded down to the nearest lower increment.
9. Lots shall be awarded to the highest bidder at only one increment over the second highest bidder, regardless how high the original bids were. In case of only one bid is received for a certain lot, it will be awarded to the sole bidder at just the start price , again regardless how high the original bids were. In case we receive two or more identical bids for a certain lot, the earliest received bid will prevail at the equaled price. So please submit your bids as early as possible , as this will automatically work for your benefit. Bid with confidence, whatever high your original bids are, your winning lots shall be awarded at the lowest possible prices auction condition will allow. This is our pledge to all.
10. You can check on your bids during the auction in order to know if you are still successful or not, simply by watching the two columns of No of bids and Current Bid . If the Current Bid is still lower OR exactly as OR higher than your original bid with only one increment [according to the above table] you are still the winner. If it is higher than your maximum bid with more than one increment, so you are not the winner of the lot any more. These features are designed to inform all bidders with the status of each lot in the auction in an open and fair way.
11. Successful bidders will be notified of lots allocated to them and receive an invoice stating their purchases immediately after the closing date. They are kindly requested to remit in full within 7 days of receipt of the invoice. Lots will be sent to winners as soon as cleared funds are received in full.
12. A buyer's premium of only 10% of the realized prices is payable on all lots sold in the auction. This premium is also payable on orders from the Unsold Lots lists of auctions. No buyer's premium on orders from the Net-Price-Sale section.
13. Forwarding, Handling & Insurance costs will be actually calculated and precisely added to each invoice.
14. VAT of 15% will be added to the total on all invoices of bidders ONLY from the 25 countries of the European Union. This money will be transferred immediately to the Government of Cyprus, according to the laws of the European Union. Bidders from outside the European Union are exempted from the VAT.
15. Payment is acceptable by major Credit Cards (American Express, Visa & MasterCard). Money Orders, Banker's Drafts and Personal Checks (only in US$) are also accepted. Personal checks must be drawn only on USA banks and are subject to clearance. Please make all checks payable to: Ahmed M. Sobhi. Cash payment is only accepted in US$, Euro or Sterling & Cypriot Pounds. Please send cash payment by registered mail, at your risk.
16. If you have provided us with your Credit Card data (within the secured links of the bid form , the buy form or the client registration form ) your awarded lots will be mailed to you immediately on the closing date or the time of purchase, after we successfully charge the provided credit card.
17. Please note that according to current law in Cyprus, Credit Cards must be only debited in Cypriot Pounds, even if in an International Transaction, at the current exchange rate at the time of sale, but normally it will be shown later in your accounts in your local currencies. So, an Internet Currency Conversion Certificate will be provided for each and every transaction at the time of debit. Please forgive few cents (up or down) due to normal daily exchange rate fluctuation and sometimes for CC processors charges. For the convenience of our bidders, we have provided our site with a powerful & user-friendly Currency Converter Engine , which vastly covers most of the World's Currencies exchange rates, automatically updated by the minute.
18. We apologize that we cannot send any material for postal viewing; colored scans and photos within the site listing will do the job. However, actual size photocopies of any lot are gladly provided upon request, at the cost of US$1 in black & white and US$3 in color per page (A4 size) plus postage, this photo service cost will be added to the invoice or automatically debited to your account with us. Alternatively, you can ask for coloured scans to be emailed directly to your computer, Free of Charge.
19. An honest effort is extended to accurately describe the material listed in our auction. However, any lot the description of which is found to be incorrect in any aspect, is returnable within 7 days of receipt, and must be returned intact as received. The following lots are not returnable for any reason whatsoever: - lots containing 10 stamps or more – lots described as having defects or faults – illustrated lots may not be returned because of centering, margins, perforation or any other factor shown in the scans. Please note that the condition of covers (especially classic covers) that have been sent through the post are often affected by minor creases, tears or stains; these are mentioned if only affecting the value or desirability of the item, otherwise they are considered endemic and are not accepted as grounds for return.
20. Extension for certification will be granted only if we receive such notice in writing (or by E-mail) at least 3 days prior to the closing date. Any purchase made with an extension is payable in full in compliance with conditions 11 to 17. However, such monies will not be payable to the consignors until clear certificate of authenticity is issued. The onus shall be on the purchaser to obtain such certificates and he bears all costs. If the stamps do not receive a clear certificate, we shall refund the pre-paid price in full and the certification fee (up to US$50). Lots will only be accepted back if they are returned in exactly the same condition as when sold. Please note that Extensions granted will be automatically expired after 60 days of the closing date, if we do not receive a result.
21. No lot shall be granted an extension if accompanied by a clean certificate dated within 10 years from the date of the auction, or being auctioned at a starting price below US$50.
22. No oral variations to any of these conditions are valid; all alterations or additions must be in writing.
23. All above terms and conditions also apply for buying online from our Net-Price-Sale listings. Except No. 1, 4, 6 to 12 as they apply only on auction bidding.