Terms & Conditions

1. About Vine & Hammer

1.1 Vine & Hammer (“we”, “us”, “our”) operates vineandhammer.com, an online peer-to-peer auction marketplace for fine wine and spirits (“the Platform”).

1.2 We are based in Suffolk, United Kingdom. Our principal contact email is enquiries@vineandhammer.com.

1.3 Vine & Hammer acts as a marketplace facilitator and is not a party to any contract of sale between buyers and sellers. We are not a wine merchant or auction house in the traditional sense.

1.4 All prices on the Platform are in pounds sterling (GBP) unless otherwise stated.

2. Accounts and Registration

2.1 To bid or list on Vine & Hammer you must create a registered account. Registration is free.

2.2 You must be 18 years of age or over to register an account.

2.3 You must provide accurate, current and complete information during registration and keep your account details up to date.

2.4 You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and for all activity that occurs under your account.

2.5 We reserve the right to suspend or terminate any account at our discretion, including where we suspect misuse, fraud or breach of these terms.

2.6 Sellers are subject to identity verification before their first lot is listed. We use this to maintain marketplace integrity and comply with applicable laws.

3. Buying — Bidding and Payment

Bidding

3.1 All bids placed on the Platform are legally binding offers to purchase. By placing a bid, you commit to paying the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium (currently 12.5%) if your bid is the highest when the auction closes.

3.2 Bids cannot be retracted once placed. Do not bid unless you are prepared to pay the total amount.

3.3 The auction closes at the time stated on the lot page. The highest bidder at close wins the lot, subject to any reserve price being met.

3.4 If a reserve price is set and not met, the lot does not sell and no obligation arises on either party.

3.5 In the event of a technical dispute over the winning bid, our decision is final.

Payment

3.6 Winning buyers will be notified by email and must complete payment within 48 hours of auction close.

3.7 Payment is processed via Stripe and held in escrow until the buyer confirms delivery.

3.8 Failure to pay within 48 hours may result in the lot being offered to the next highest bidder and the suspension of your account.

3.9 The total amount due is the hammer price plus 12.5% buyer’s premium. This is clearly displayed on every lot page before bidding.

4. Selling — Listing and Commission

4.1 Listing on Vine & Hammer is free. A commission of 12.5% of the hammer price is charged on successful sales only.

4.2 By submitting a lot, you confirm that you are the legal owner of the wine, that you have the right to sell it, and that the description and photographs provided are accurate.

4.3 All lot descriptions must be honest and accurate. Misrepresentation of condition, provenance, fill level or any other material characteristic is a breach of these terms and may result in account suspension and financial liability.

4.4 We review all submissions before publication and may decline lots that do not meet our quality or provenance standards. Our decision is final.

4.5 Lots may be withdrawn before the first bid is placed at no charge. Once a bid has been placed, lots may not be withdrawn.

4.6 If a lot does not sell (reserve not met, or no bids), no commission is charged. Sellers may relist at no additional cost.

4.7 Sellers receive payment within 7 working days of buyer confirmation, by bank transfer to their nominated account, minus the 12.5% commission.

5. Escrow and Payment Processing

5.1 All buyer payments are held in escrow by Stripe, Inc. until the buyer confirms delivery. Stripe’s own terms of service apply to payment processing.

5.2 Escrowed funds are released to the seller upon buyer confirmation of delivery, or automatically 5 days after the tracking information shows delivery, whichever is earlier.

5.3 In the event of a dispute, escrowed funds are held pending resolution.

5.4 Vine & Hammer does not hold buyer funds directly. We are not a payment institution.

6. Delivery and Risk

6.1 The seller is responsible for arranging delivery of the wine to the buyer using an appropriate specialist wine courier with adequate insurance cover.

6.2 Risk in the goods passes to the buyer upon delivery.

6.3 We recommend the following specialist wine shippers: Davies Turner, Connoisseur International, Seabrooks. Use of these shippers is not mandatory.

6.4 For wines in bonded storage, sellers may arrange a change of ownership record with the relevant warehouse in lieu of physical delivery. This must be agreed with the buyer in advance.

6.5 International deliveries are the responsibility of the seller and buyer to arrange. We can facilitate release from London City Bond for collection by a buyer’s nominated shipper.

7. Disputes and Resolution

7.1 If a buyer has a concern about the condition or description of a lot, they must contact us at enquiries@vineandhammer.com before confirming delivery.

7.2 Once a buyer confirms delivery, the transaction is complete and no claim may be raised.

7.3 We will review disputes within 2 working days and may request evidence from both parties (photographs, tracking records, correspondence).

7.4 Our dispute resolution decision is final and binding on both parties.

7.5 Disputes accepted on the following grounds: significant misdescription; non-delivery; receipt of incorrect items; damage in transit not disclosed at listing.

7.6 Disputes not accepted on the following grounds: change of mind; minor cosmetic issues visible in listing photographs; normal variation in aged wine; subjective quality disagreements.

7.7 Where a dispute is upheld in the buyer’s favour, the escrowed funds will be returned to the buyer in full. The seller will be liable for any documented return shipping costs.

8. Prohibited Conduct

The following are strictly prohibited on the Platform:

• Shill bidding — placing bids on your own lots or coordinating with others to artificially inflate prices
• Listing wine you do not own or do not have the right to sell
• Providing false or misleading descriptions, photographs or provenance information
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent bans or listing restrictions
• Attempting to conduct transactions outside the Platform to avoid fees
• Harassment or abusive behaviour toward other users or our team
• Any conduct that is fraudulent, deceptive or contrary to applicable law

Breach of these prohibitions may result in immediate account suspension, forfeiture of any escrowed funds, and referral to relevant authorities.

9. Limitation of Liability

9.1 Vine & Hammer is a marketplace facilitator and is not a party to sales contracts between buyers and sellers. We do not warrant the quality, title, fitness for purpose or accuracy of any lot listing.

9.2 To the fullest extent permitted by law, our liability to any user is limited to the fees paid by that user to us in the 12 months preceding any claim.

9.3 We are not liable for any loss of profit, loss of opportunity, indirect or consequential loss arising from use of the Platform.

9.4 Nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

9.5 The Platform is provided “as is”. We do not guarantee continuous, uninterrupted access to the Platform and are not liable for any loss resulting from downtime or technical issues.

10. General Terms

10.1 These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

10.2 We may update these terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after notification of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

10.3 If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force and effect.

10.4 These terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Vine & Hammer regarding use of the Platform and supersede any prior agreements.

10.5 Contact: enquiries@vineandhammer.com | 01502 676110