Frequently Asked Questions · Icons
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Frequently asked questions

The questions we get most

Authenticity, premiums, payment, shipping. If yours is not here, ask us before you bid rather than after.

Buyer's premium28%
Payment due7 days
Payment plan4 months
ReturnsAll sales final

Authenticity

Where our pieces come from, and what the paperwork actually says.

How do you know if an item is authentic?

Most of the pieces we sell are acquired directly from studios, costume houses, property masters, weapons coordinators, and other crew members involved in film and television productions. A few of the items are acquired from other trusted sources.

We are very particular about what we sell, as our reputation depends on it.

Do you provide a Certificate of Authenticity?

Yes. Icons of Pop Culture issues a certificate of authenticity for each auction lot or single item purchased from the website. Each certificate features the item's production name and description, along with a tamper-evident, anti-counterfeit security hologram sticker and a unique serial number for future reference.

If multiple items are sold together as a lot, one COA covers all items as listed in the description. COAs are not supplied with promotional items or other items not used in the production.

Can I have a certificate verified years later?

Yes. The serial number stays on our records permanently. If you own a piece with an Icons certificate — whether you bought it from us or from someone else later — send us the serial and we will check it against our records and reply.

Bidding

How our sales are structured, and what you are agreeing to.

How do I register for the current auction?

Create an account, then complete bidder registration. Registration is free and usually approved the same day. You can browse the full catalog and every photograph without an account.

Do you use estimates?

No. Our auctions do not use estimate pricing — only a starting minimum bid price. Opening bids do not include the buyer's premium, shipping, or sales tax.

How much does each bid go up by?

Bids rise in fixed increments that grow with the price. The “from” figure is inclusive — the next increment applies once the current bid reaches it.

Current bidIncrement
$0 – $99$2
$100 – $249$5
$250 – $499$10
$500 – $999$50
$1,000 – $4,999$150
$5,000 – $9,999$500
$10,000 – $49,999$1,000
$50,000 and above$5,000

So a bid of $99 is followed by $101, and a bid of $100 is followed by $105.

Do you use reserves?

No. Our auctions do not use reserves. The opening price is where bidding starts, and the highest bidder wins the item.

What is a buyer's premium?

The buyer's premium is a fee added to the hammer price (the winning bid amount) or purchase price of all items. Successful bidders are required to pay this premium in addition to the final hammer price.

The Icons of Pop Culture buyer's premium is 28% of the hammer price. It does not include applicable taxes or shipping costs.

Can I ask questions about a lot before bidding?

Please do. You can send inquiries about the auction as a whole or an individual lot, and request condition reports. We strongly urge bidders to resolve any questions before bidding — all sales are final.

When will I know if I won?

Winning bidders are notified with an invoice within 48 hours after the conclusion of the auction.

Payment

What we accept, when it is due, and what happens if you need to spread it out.

What payment options do you offer?

We accept PayPal online payments, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, bank wire transfers, cashier's checks, money orders, or personal checks. PayPal allows you to pay via a bank account or credit card.

All payments made by personal check, cashier's check, or money order require bank funds clearance before items are released for shipping.

When is payment due?

Payment is expected in full within 7 calendar days of the sale.

Do you have payment plans?

Yes — a four-month payment plan.

Payment plan terms

  1. 25% non-refundable deposit due at the time of sale.
  2. The balance is divided across four monthly payments.
  3. Items ship once the payment plan is complete.
Do you charge sales tax?

Florida sales tax is automatically added to the purchase price for Florida residents unless exempted. Any taxes, duties, customs, or other import fees charged by a country outside the US are the customer's responsibility.

Shipping

Who ships, what it costs, and the pieces we cannot send ourselves.

What are your shipping details and options?

The buyer pays all shipping costs. Icons of Pop Culture ships items in-house, depending on size or type, using either FedEx or USPS for all shipping except "special shipping required" items.

For all international shipments, the buyer is responsible for all customs, duties, taxes, and fees.

What does "special shipping required" mean?

Icons of Pop Culture will not ship lots that specify "special shipping required" in their description. This requires the buyer to contact a third-party shipping company to arrange a pickup. If you need third-party recommendations, we can provide a list.

You will see this on oversized pieces — furniture, standing sets, large signage.

Do you offer shipping insurance?

Icons of Pop Culture does not offer insurance coverage for loss or damage to items during shipping. Customers wishing to have items insured must contact an insurance company that handles shipping insurance.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. For all international shipments the buyer is responsible for all customs, duties, taxes and fees charged by the destination country.

After the sale

The part worth reading before you bid, not after.

Do you allow returns?

Icons of Pop Culture does not accept returns. All sales are final. All property and lots are sold "as is" and "where is."

Any cancellation of a purchase based on a payment plan must be approved by Icons of Pop Culture and will result in store credit only, excluding the value of the 25% non-refundable deposit — no cash refunds.

This is why we encourage questions and condition reports before bidding rather than after.

What law governs a sale?

All agreements are entered into in Citrus County, Florida, governed exclusively by Florida law, with claims brought only in Citrus County. The full wording is in the terms and conditions.

Still unsure?

Ask before you bid.

Condition reports, extra photographs, shipping estimates for something awkward — all normal requests.

TEST SITE · This page is still a clickable prototype — nothing on it is saved. Real so far: sign in, accounts, register to bid, current auctions, auction and lot pages.