Updated COVID-19 Protocol for Pook & Pook – 5/17/21

COVID-19 Protocol for Pook & Pook, Inc. Auctioneers and Appraisers (updated 5/17/20)

We have had a number of questions from bidders and consignors about upcoming auctions, pick-up/drop-off procedures, consignment transport, and shipping during the pandemic. Please reach out to us by email (info@pookandpook.com) or telephone (610-269-4040) if you have questions not answered below and also check back from time-to-time as changing situations may alter our response(s).

Visiting the Gallery:

Out of respect for the health and safety of our staff and customers who have not yet been fully vaccinated, we ask that all visitors to the gallery who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask covering both their nose and mouth and practice social distancing. Outdoor curbside pick-ups and drop-offs are available for individuals with health concerns. We request that anyone feeling unwell to please refrain from scheduling an appointment. Please check in when you arrive at the gallery.

Cleaning and Disinfecting the Gallery:

Pook & Pook provides ample soap, paper towels, tissues, hand sanitizers, latex gloves, sanitizing wipes, etc. for staff and, when necessary, in-house customers. Staff have been provided with disposable masks or they may bring their own clean reusable mask from home. The office is being professionally cleaned regularly and wiped down with sanitizing wipes and sprays frequently by in-house staff. We are also limiting the number of people in the building at any one time and conducting as much business outdoors as possible. We’re wiping down frequently touched surfaces in public areas with cleaners and disinfectants, paying special attention to elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, faucets, etc. We ask that all customers to please bring their own masks, gloves, and sanitizer, but if a customer forgets, we will provide these. When customers arrive, we ask that they please call (610) 269-4040 from their car and we will bring their purchases out onto the covered porch.

Payment and Pick-Up Policy:

We encourage customers to mail payments, pay over the phone, or pay online. Payment made prior to pick-up/shipping ensures we can assist customers before the next appointment arrives. We are offering curbside pick-up for any customer that requests it. We ask that anyone feeling unwell please refrain from scheduling a curbside pick-up until fourteen days after they are symptom free. If clients wish to avoid coming to our gallery for a curbside pick-up, in-house shipping and outside shippers are available to assist bidders in retrieving their items. A list of outside shippers is available by request at shipping@pookandpook.com.

Consignments:

Pook & Pook is seeking consignments for upcoming auctions. Consignors should start by sending photographs to info@pookandpook.com or calling (610) 269-4040 to speak with an appraiser. There are three ways clients can get consignments to us. Consignments can be mailed. We can do curbside drop-offs of consignments by appointment (call (610) 269-4040). Or, we can arrange for a pick-up with mitigation measures in place (masks, gloves if necessary, etc.). All pick-up staff will wear a mask for the duration of their pick-up. Pook & Pook’s consignment transport staff and appraisers will also accommodate any requests for hand washing/sanitizing, temperature checks, and/or symptom screening on-site if requested. If you have questions about consigning or our mitigation measures, please call or email.

Protocol if an employee gets sick with COVID-19:
All unvaccinated staff are required to wear masks and socially distance while working at Pook & Pook. All staff are asked to symptom check every morning prior to coming to work. A temperature of over 100.4 is considered a fever. If an employee has any of the following symptoms: a lack of smell or taste, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever, direct contact with someone with COVID/direct exposure to COVID and awaiting test results in the past 10 days, they are instructed to not come to work. If they have two or fewer of the lesser possible symptoms of COVID-19, including muscle pain, fatigue, headache, diarrhea, runny nose, they may proceed to work but will be asked to sanitize any areas they are working in after they are done, wear a mask at all times even when working alone, and socially distance from coworkers. If an employee has run out of paid time off and are concerned about lost pay, Pook & Pook will create a work from home plan for that employee until they are able to return to the office. The company policy for all employees that are out of work sick for three consecutive days or more is that they must have a doctor’s note with them when they return to work.

If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, that employee will be asked to seek medical advice immediately and quarantine for at least 10 days. All staff will be notified that someone in the office has tested positive for COVID-19. Any staff that have been in close contact, 6 feet or less, for at least 15 minutes will be notified of their exposure and asked to work from home until they receive a negative test or 10 days have passed without the development of symptoms. The rest of the staff will be encouraged to get tested and notify the company of any changes in symptoms over a period of 10 days. All staff will be required to wear masks and conduct a deep cleaning of the office prior to returning to normal work flow. Pook & Pook will assist the PA Department of Health with any contact tracing.