Shipping & Transfer Terms and Conditions | Bird's Nest Auctions

Shipping & Transfer Terms and Conditions

We are happy to offer in-house shipping on most small and medium items. We also offer transfer services for small items, or in the event you have something come up and are unable to make the pickup. Please note that there are exceptions to what we can transfer, and a backup plan is always recommended.

Furniture and oversized items cannot be shipped or transferred — those are local pickup only.

Questions about costs or eligibility? Reach out before you bid and we’ll give you an estimate.

Effective Date: 2/24/26  |  Last Updated: 5/24/26

These Shipping & Transfer Terms and Conditions govern the optional shipping and transfer services offered by Bird’s Nest Auctions in connection with items won at our online estate auctions. By selecting shipping or transfer as your pickup method — or by requesting either service after an auction closes — you agree to the terms set out below.

Part One: Shipping

1. Overview of Shipping Services

Bird’s Nest Auctions offers shipping on most items as a convenience to bidders who are unable to attend in-person pickup. The majority of items in our auctions are eligible for shipping. Where we handle the shipment ourselves, we pack and ship items in-house. For items that are particularly complex, oversized, or very fragile, we may coordinate shipping through a third-party carrier store, such as UPS or FedEx, on your behalf.

By selecting shipping as your pickup method, you authorize Bird’s Nest Auctions to arrange shipment of your items and agree to be invoiced for all applicable handling and carrier fees as described in these terms.

2. Shipping Eligibility

Most Items Can Be Shipped

Shipping is available on most small and medium sized items in our auctions.

Items That Cannot Be Shipped

The following are not eligible for shipping:

• Furniture of any kind — sofas, dressers, tables, armchairs, and any item requiring two or more people to move. We are not equipped to transport furniture in any capacity.
• Items that are excessively oversized or present logistical challenges that make safe shipment impractical.
• Items of very low value where shipping costs would be disproportionate to the item’s worth.
• Closet, cabinet, and other picker-type lots.

If you purchase an item marked “Local Pickup Only” and cannot attend pickup, you are responsible for arranging your own freight or transport carrier. Bird’s Nest Auctions cannot process refunds for items that cannot be shipped, or for situations where your own transport arrangements fall through.

3. Selecting Shipping as Your Pickup Method

After the auction closes, you will receive an email with instructions to select your pickup method. Options are local pickup, shipping, or transfer to our office in Derry.

4. In-House Shipping

How It Works

For most eligible items, Bird’s Nest Auctions handles packing and shipping in-house. Our team picks up your items from the estate during the pickup window, packs them at our HQ, and ships them directly to you.

Shipping Fees & Invoicing

Shipping fees consist of two components: (1) a handling fee covering pickup from the estate, packing materials, and labor; and (2) the actual carrier cost. After your items are processed, we will charge the credit card on file for the shipping costs. If you would like to receive a shipping invoice prior to us charging your card, email us at help@birdsnestauctions.com with that request.

Handling Fee Schedule

Handling fees are charged per box, based on the size and complexity of your items:

We aim to pack your items as economically as possible and will combine items into as few boxes as practical. Handling fees are per box.

Additional Fees

The following additional charges may apply:

• Custom or reinforced packaging: additional cost as needed to ensure safe transport.
• Excess packing materials: items requiring a large amount of paper, bubble wrap, or other protective materials will incur additional handling fees based on supplies used.
• Expedited handling: $10 added for priority processing if you need your item shipped sooner than our standard 1–2 week window.
• Insurance: included at no charge for invoices under $100; an additional fee applies for invoices over $100.

Carrier

Our preferred carrier is USPS. We also use UPS and FedEx for larger packages or when an alternative carrier is more economical. Carrier charges are based on our discounted rates.

5. Third-Party Shipping

When Third-Party Shipping Is Used

For items that are particularly complex or very fragile — where standard in-house packing may not be sufficient to ensure safe transit — we may arrange shipment through a third-party pack-and-ship store, such as UPS or FedEx, on your behalf. If this applies to your item, we will contact you before any charges are incurred.

How Third-Party Shipping Works

When a third-party shipment is needed, here’s what happens:

1. We bring your item to a pack-and-ship store to obtain a quote for packing and shipping.
2. We contact you with the quote, which will include the carrier’s packing and shipping charges plus our arrangement fee, starting at $25 and varying based on travel time to the store and any light packing we perform to prepare the item for transport.
3. You review and approve or decline the quote.
4. If approved, we process your card on file on-site and leave the item with the third-party shipper, who will complete packing and dispatch.

Third-Party Arrangement Fee

Our arrangement fee covers staff travel time to the pack-and-ship store and any light packing performed to prepare the item for transport. This fee starts at $25 and increases for larger, heavier, or more complex items. You will be informed of the exact fee when we provide your quote.

If You Decline the Third-Party Quote

If you receive a third-party shipping quote and decide not to proceed, you have two options:

• Arrange alternative pickup: You may arrange for someone to collect your item from our location, or make other transport arrangements at your own cost.
• Request a partial refund: You may request a refund of your winning bid, less our arrangement fee. Because our staff has already traveled to obtain the quote and prepared your item for transport, the arrangement fee represents a sunk cost and is non-refundable regardless of your decision.

Damage Waiver for Declining a Third-Party Shipment

If you choose not to use a third-party shipper and approve us to ship the item(s), you will be asked to sign a damage waiver prior to the item being left with the carrier. By signing the waiver, you acknowledge that:

• Once the item is in the carrier’s possession, Bird’s Nest Auctions is not responsible for damage, loss, or delay.
• You are responsible for filing any damage claims directly with the third-party carrier.
• Bird’s Nest Auctions will assist with documentation where needed but cannot guarantee claim outcomes.

6. Processing Time & Tracking

We ask for 1–2 weeks from the auction pickup date to process, pack, and ship your items. Our team handles shipping alongside all other auction operations and we appreciate your patience.

You will receive a tracking number via email.

7. Combining Shipments

If you win items in multiple auctions occurring around the same time, we are happy to hold your items and ship them together to help you save on costs.

8. Using Your Own Shipping Account

You may use your own shipping account or label if you prefer. Handling fees as described in Section 4 still apply regardless of who provides the shipping label. Please contact us in advance to make these arrangements.

9. International Shipping

We are not currently accepting international shipments. This is due to unpredictable import fees and taxes that are sometimes billed directly to us as the shipper, making it impossible to accurately estimate total costs in advance. We hope to resume international shipping in the future and apologize for any inconvenience.

10. Shipping Liability

Bird’s Nest Auctions takes care in packing items for in-house shipment, but once a package is in the possession of a carrier, we are not responsible for delays, damage, or loss caused by that carrier. If you would like additional protection, we recommend adding insurance to your shipment. See Section 4.

If your package arrives damaged, please photograph the packaging and contents before discarding anything, and contact us to start the claim process. You may be required to give the package to the shipper for inspection as part of the claim process. If you throw away the item and packaging, we are not able to issue a refund because we are not able to recoup the costs of the item. For third-party shipments, please refer to the damage waiver terms in Section 5.

Part Two: Transfers

11. Overview of Transfer Services

Transfer service is a limited courtesy offered for small items only, or to bidders who experience a last-minute, unavoidable conflict and cannot make the scheduled in-person pickup. Pickup during the scheduled window remains the default expectation.

Transfer requests are not guaranteed and are subject to approval based on our operational capacity, the size, quantity, and fragility of the items. This service is primarily intended for small, manageable items.

12. Transfer Requests, Fees, and Collection

• Requests: You must contact us directly to request a transfer before the estate pickup window closes. Requests received afterward may be automatically denied.
• Fees: A transfer fee, covering labor, transport, and up to two weeks of storage, will be charged per lot. For large, complex, or heavy items, a custom quote is required and must be approved before the transfer is completed. Fees are non-refundable once the items have been transported.
• Collection: You will be notified of available pickup hours at our Derry office. Items must be collected within two weeks of arrival. Items not collected or for which no alternate arrangements are made will be considered forfeit without refund.

13. Items Not Eligible for Transfer

For logistical and safety reasons, transfers are not available for furniture of any kind, oversized or extremely fragile items, firearms, hazardous materials, or excessive quantities of lots.

General Provisions

19. Payment Authorization

By selecting shipping or transfer as your pickup method, you authorize Bird’s Nest Auctions to charge your card on file for any associated fees. This includes handling fees, carrier charges, transfer fees, storage fees, third-party arrangement fees, and any additional service fees described in these terms. Charges are made after services are rendered and are non-refundable unless otherwise stated.

20. Contact Us

For questions about shipping eligibility, transfer requests, fee estimates, or anything else, please reach out before bidding whenever possible. We are happy to help.

21. Changes to These Terms

Bird’s Nest Auctions reserves the right to update these Shipping & Transfer Terms at any time. Updated terms will be posted on our website with a revised effective date. Continued use of our shipping or transfer services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

Questions? We’re always happy to help — reach us at help@birdsnestauctions.com or 603-556-8295.

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