Cavalier Auction Houses vs. eBay

[Raphael]

Recently I have been scanning auctions around the country and have a few observations:

1. Live Auctioneers has a relatively new "shipping service". When bidding, they will quote you a price for "fully insured" shipping. Good luck with that. I recently bought a music box and it arrived broken and irreparable. All I get from LA is the runaround. I've resorted to a credit card chargeback and will see how that plays out.

2. Some auction houses are not allowing local pickup, and will not quote shipping cost in advance of bidding. So, if you win any items, you are at their mercy. It seems their 25-30% Buyer's Premium is not enough profit margin for them.

3. Some auction houses practically make it impossible to preview any of their lots.

4. eBay is looking like a better option, from both the buyer and seller's point of view. I've recently sold items in excess of $15,000 each and the overall commission rate was less than 6% to me, and of course, zero to the buyer. And there are a lot of protections for the participants, as opposed to most auction houses that have multitudes of Terms & Conditions disclaiming any and all responsibility.

5. Stanton's seem to be the one and only exception to my disdain for the other internet and live auctioneers. Plus, we get a free turkey dinner in November!

Just my thoughts and opinions.

Raphael

[JerryVan]

I've also come across auctions, (for antique cars & parts), that only allow on-line bidding, and at the same time, demand removal of all items on the day of sale. How on earth do you arrange that??? You can't be there to bid in person, but you better show up to haul off your winnings.

[Granby]

I have definitely noticed an "uptick" in online style auctions in my part of the country. Many "local" auction houses are now doing this.... the bidding is open for the entire week prior to the "end" date. However, in these cases, there are advertised "preview" dates and the "pickup" process is done through an advertised date and time, usually 1 to 2 days after the auction ends.

I don't have any major issue with this. However, as a buyer, I do feel like I am getting "run up" sometimes. Items that had "no" bids, magically start to get a ton of activity as soon as I decide to bid.... As a seller, I also cringe letting stuff go at "no reserve" and then getting charged 30 - 35% [which seems to be the normal seller's commission in my area]. Honestly, if you're not selling something for a substantial amount of money, you may as well donate it.

But, it is "give and take." I have bought victrolas for $10 and complete sets of china for $2.50. The antiques business can be very unique.... as many of us know!

[Raphael]

My main complaint is that for their fees, they do as little as possible and take no responsibility for mistakes. Last year I went in person to a local auction house and left an absentee bid of a couple of thousand dollars on an oil painting. They required all sorts of identification, credit card guarantee, etc., even though I was with a major customer of theirs who vouched for me.
When viewing the results on line, my lot closed out at about one third of my top bid. Elated, I went with my wife a few days later to pick up my prize. Guess what, they apologized and said my bid wasn’t entered because the clerk went to the bathroom just prior to the bidding on that lot. Really? That’s like the “dog ate my homework” excuse.
OK, giving them the benefit of the doubt, mistakes can be made. But they would make no attempt to make it right, call the “winning bidder” and offer to buy it back, etc. Nope, sorry, better luck next time was their attitude. Needless to say I have never bid with them again.
Raphael

[epigramophone]

A fellow forum member of my acquaintance correctly describes such people as "barrow boys in suits".

[Hailey]

My main complaint is that for their fees, they do as little as possible and take no responsibility for mistakes. Last year I went in person to a local auction house and left an absentee bid of a couple of thousand dollars on an oil painting. They required all sorts of identification, credit card guarantee, etc., even though I was with a major customer of theirs who vouched for me.
When viewing the results on line, my lot closed out at about one third of my top bid. Elated, I went with my wife a few days later to pick up my prize. Guess what, they apologized and said my bid wasn’t entered because the clerk went to the bathroom just prior to the bidding on that lot. Really? That’s like the “dog ate my homework” excuse.
OK, giving them the benefit of the doubt, mistakes can be made. But they would make no attempt to make it right, call the “winning bidder” and offer to buy it back, etc. Nope, sorry, better luck next time was their attitude. Needless to say I have never bid with them again.
Raphael

I totally agree with this. As misfortune has it, I have ran into several situations where the dog has an insatiable appetite...

[Raphael]

Pursuant to Item #1 in my original post, it has now been several weeks since I filed a claim with Live Auctioneers for the damages to a music box that they shipped to me "fully insured". Even after several follow-up emails by me, their "claims department" has never followed through even though their AI-generated responses have acknowledged receipt of my claim.

Let this be a word of caution, Live Auctioneers venture into the world of shipping seems to be a dubious diversion from their auction platform, with which I have no complaint.

Raphael

[jboger]

I'm responding to JerryVan's post, which is No. 2 in the chain, immediately following the original post. Hopefully I'm not too off topic.

Generally, I do not bid in on-line auctions. They certainly dominate the market now, ever since covid. Still, I have dabbled a few times. And I see some people have gotten what appear to be good buys.

Those on-line auctions that require pick-up only and only on one day can work to one's advantage as it eliminates some competition. I spotted a Pennsylvania long rifle--what many people call a Kentucky rifle--at one such auction in rural W. Va. There were enough photos that I was willing to bid up to a certain point sight unseen. When I drove over to pick it up I was pleasantly shocked. Judging by the appearance of the gun, I thought it was from Western Pa, either Bedford or Somerset County. Nope. The barrel was signed James Marker, a well-known maker from Sharpsburg, Md, in the 1830s to 40s.

Now why on earth the auctioneer did NOT take a picture of that signature, the single most important feature of the gun, is beyond me. I think this is a case where an on-line-pick-up-only auction worked to my benefit.

John