Auctions
Bidding
Depending on the closing of the ongoing auctions, new auctions will start every Monday evening around 9:30 PM.
At the end of an auction, bidding is definitively closed, and from that moment on the pigeons become the incontestable property of Pitts, who will then sell them to the highest bidder.
Pitts sells pigeons offered to them by third parties (hereinafter referred to as sellers or consignors). Sales within an auction always take place through bidding. Any bid placed by a potential buyer is binding. Pitts reserves the right to refuse any bid without providing further explanation.
Provided Information
All information provided during auctions, whether concerning the loft, the pigeon fancier, or the pigeons sold and their sex, is supplied by third parties (namely pigeon fanciers offering pigeons to Pitts). Pitts cannot be held liable for the accuracy of this information.
Viewing Days
During the auction season, Pitts organizes several viewing days for the pigeons offered for sale, either in Lede or on location. These normally take place on the Friday preceding the end of the auction.
If, for any reason, a viewing day cannot take place, Pitts commits to offering potential buyers the opportunity to view the pigeons in Lede during the auction period, by appointment. Under no circumstances will Pitts provide compensation if a viewing day cannot take place due to external reasons of any kind.
Unless stated otherwise, viewing days take place on Fridays from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Langeweestraat 51, 9340 Lede.
General Health
The seller delivers the pigeons in good condition and with basic health standards. Pitts cannot be held responsible toward buyers for any violations in this regard. Pitts also reserves the right to select the offered pigeons at any time based on quality and condition.
All pigeons must have received the legally required Paramyxo vaccination. A vaccination certificate, no older than 12 months and at least 3 weeks old, must be provided when delivering the pigeons to Pitts. From the moment of delivery, Pitts undertakes to provide optimal care for the pigeons.
Upon arrival at Pitts, all pigeons will receive an additional Paramyxo vaccination (except pigeons younger than 6 weeks) and a preventive treatment against trichomoniasis, coccidiosis, and worms. However, Pitts can never be held responsible if a pigeon later turns out to be infected.
If a pigeon is sick upon delivery or dies, the buyer has 48 hours to report this to the administrative office of Pitts by email at info@pitts.be. Pitts reserves the right to appoint a veterinarian to examine or perform a post-mortem on the pigeon. The costs will be borne by the buyer unless the complaint is justified, in which case Pitts will cover the costs.
In case of death or illness, the seller may provide compensation in consultation with Pitts and the buyer. Pitts will always act as an intermediary, without guaranteeing an outcome.
Fertility and Age
It is never the intention to offer pigeons at auction that are no longer fertile. However, in the case of very specific pigeons (foundation sire, foundation dam, etc.), this may be allowed, provided they are offered as a couple sale.
Specifically, any pigeon aged 8 years or older must be accompanied at auction by a direct descendant as young as possible, preferably of the same sex.
If pigeons younger than 8 years turn out to be infertile or less fertile, Pitts cannot be held liable. The buyer must inform Pitts as soon as possible by email. Pitts may then test the pigeon’s fertility and will act as an intermediary between seller and buyer, without guaranteeing an outcome.
Total Dispersal Sales
In the case of a TOTAL dispersal sale, a sick or deceased pigeon cannot be compensated by another pigeon. Only a refund of the bid amount is possible, provided the illness or death is reported to the administrative office of Pitts by email to info@pitts.be within 48 hours after receipt of the purchased pigeon.
Already paid service or transport costs will not be refunded. Pitts reserves the right to appoint a veterinarian to examine or perform a post-mortem. Costs are borne by the buyer unless the complaint is justified.
If a pigeon purchased from a total dispersal sale later proves to be infertile or less fertile, no compensation whatsoever is possible.
Auctions of Weaned Young Pigeons
No photos will be taken since these are young pigeons. The owner may take photos and include them in the sale.
An auction of weaned young pigeons always lasts 7 days on Pitts, from Monday until the following Monday. At that point, bidding is definitively closed, and the pigeons become the incontestable property of Pitts, who will then sell them to the highest bidder.
The buyer may choose to collect the pigeons in Heusden-Zolder or Lede, or at the seller’s premises if permitted by the seller. Pigeons must always be paid for in advance to Pitts, regardless of the collection location. Pitts will inform the seller of payment, after which collection is possible.
Young pigeons can also be delivered to the buyer’s home for an additional fee of €45.00 per address within Belgium, or €25.00 per fancier when multiple fanciers are located at the same address, as soon as possible after the auction ends.
Due to their young age, weaned young pigeons do NOT need to be vaccinated against Paramyxo by the seller and will therefore not be vaccinated by Pitts either. HOWEVER, if the pigeons are not immediately collected or cannot be delivered for any reason, they will receive a Paramyxo vaccination and preventive treatment against trichomoniasis, coccidiosis, and worms. Pitts can never be held responsible if a pigeon later turns out to be infected.
DNA Certificates
Any DNA certificates are always the responsibility of the seller. Pitts cannot be held liable if DNA analysis reveals that the pedigree is incorrect. Sampling may be requested by the buyer, and the associated costs will be borne by the buyer. The seller commits to allowing the requested sampling within 30 days of the request, by appointment and in mutual agreement with the buyer.
Settlement and Payments
After the end of an auction, buyers will be notified of their “won” auctions via an automatic email. This confirmation email contains all details of the purchased pigeon, the payment conditions, and the bank account number for payment.
The buyer must always pay the amount to Pitts prior to delivery, in euros. The amount shown on the website will be increased by 6% VAT in accordance with Belgian tax law. In addition, a fee of €5.00 per pigeon (incl. VAT) will be charged to the buyer to cover treatments, vaccinations, and administration.
Pigeons will not be delivered until full payment has been received by Pitts. Buyers who fail to pay will be placed on a blacklist and automatically excluded from future auctions. They also risk judicial debt collection. Pigeons not delivered due to non-payment become the incontestable property of Pitts and may later be auctioned again in a “non-delivered collection.”
Collection and Delivery
Buyers must inform Pitts of their choice of collection or delivery no later than Wednesday at 12:00 noon.
There are three options:
Collection in Heusden-Zolder on Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Collection in Lede on Friday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Home delivery
Buyers are strongly requested to bring proof of payment when collecting pigeons, and to have it available in case of home delivery.
Payments can be made via the payment module on the website under “my purchases.” A detailed manual is available on the website. Payment by bank transfer is also possible to Belfius account: BE83 0689 4879 4615, clearly stating name + auction + lot numbers.
Home delivery costs €45.00 per address within Belgium or €25.00 per fancier when multiple fanciers are located at the same address. All costs for international shipping, taxes, and import duties are borne by the buyer. Pitts can assist in arranging these transactions, but all costs will always be charged to the buyer.
Pitts is not responsible for transport to the buyer, domestically or internationally, nor for issues such as quarantine or import problems.
Pitts is not responsible in cases of force majeure of any kind and therefore owes no compensation to the buyer.
For pigeons not collected within 60 days after the auction ends, Pitts will automatically terminate the sales agreement. Any amounts already paid will be refunded to the original buyer, minus service fees, accommodation costs, and a compensation of 25% of the bid amount with a minimum of €50.00. The buyer will be notified by email. These pigeons become the incontestable property of Pitts and may be re-auctioned in a “non-delivered collection.”
Accommodation costs are charged at €1,00 per pigeon per day, starting from the 15th day after the auction ends.
Privacy
In accordance with privacy legislation, Pitts may not disclose any information about which buyers purchased which pigeons. The seller therefore does NOT receive a list of buyers, as was often the case in the past.
If a buyer wishes to contact the seller, they may do so using the details listed on the pedigree. Conversely, the seller may only receive buyer details with the buyer’s explicit consent. Pitts will only provide such information after written or verbal approval from the buyer.