Are some auctioneers illiterate?

[epigramophone]

All they had to do was read what it said inside the lid.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auct ... cb537c1f06

[Phono48]

There seems to be a tendency lately for sellers to describe any gramophone as "HMV" or "His Master's Voice", no matter what the actual make is. Just as all vacuum cleaners are erroneously referred to as "Hoovers". I've informed two or three sellers of their mistake, and one replied "Oh, I thought all wind-up gramophones were called "His Master's Voice".

Barry

[colmike1]

I am an auctioneer in the United States. I have noticed among my fellow auctioneers a tendency to give lazy descriptions. Since so much has gone to online, putting each item up is much like listing an item on Ebay. You do that 500 to 600 items per auction and that turns into a lot of work. After a while they start putting very generic descriptions. Add to that, most are not well versed in antique phonographs. I know it is frustrating to those of us who collect, but...
Mike Wohl

[neilmack]

At least he didn’t describe the records as “vinyl”.

[Steve]

At least he didn’t describe the records as “vinyl”.

And don't forget, those immortal words in seemingly every Ebay description now: "The record is not included".

Is it because everyone who isn't a collector assumes they have struck gold and have the single most valuable record ever made? They certainly won't be able to play it when they've sold grandpa's gramophone anyway!

[Steve]

I am an auctioneer in the United States. I have noticed among my fellow auctioneers a tendency to give lazy descriptions. Since so much has gone to online, putting each item up is much like listing an item on Ebay. You do that 500 to 600 items per auction and that turns into a lot of work. After a while they start putting very generic descriptions. Add to that, most are not well versed in antique phonographs. I know it is frustrating to those of us who collect, but...
Mike Wohl

I get that, I really do. It's a mundane task and all that BUT it's their job that they are getting paid a lot of money to do. If we all had that attitude towards our jobs........

[Steve]

All they had to do was read what it said inside the lid.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auct ... cb537c1f06

I'm not sure what's worse, calling a Columbia an HMV or referring to a portable gramophone as a table top? Why do so many sellers and auctioneers do that?

Surely they can see the carrying handle and understand the basics of a fold away, transportable machine as opposed to a table top fixture which is generally not moved around?

[epigramophone]

I can understand that some aspects of an auctioneer's job can be repetitive and mundane. This may explains why so many of them seem more concerned about pursuing television careers as "experts" rather than offering a professional service to their clients.
Their charges to buyers and sellers have risen sharply in recent years, particularly during the Covid pandemic. Did it really cost them more to sell on line than live in the saleroom? 20 to 25% is now commonplace, and 30% or more is not unknown.
At these prices, buyers and sellers are entitled to expect the highest standards of service, but they do not always receive it.

[Steve]

I can understand that some aspects of an auctioneer's job can be repetitive and mundane. This may explains why so many of them seem more concerned about pursuing television careers as "experts" rather than offering a professional service to their clients.
Their charges to buyers and sellers have risen sharply in recent years, particularly during the Covid pandemic. Did it really cost them more to sell on line than live in the saleroom? 20 to 25% is now commonplace, and 30% or more is not unknown.
At these prices, buyers and sellers are entitled to expect the highest standards of service, but they do not always receive it.

As I said in an earlier post, I understand that the job might be mundane from time to time but tell that to anyone who works in a factory beside a conveyor belt. The truth is we have all had (or still have) jobs which are not always very interesting but there is absolutely no excuse for lackadaisical shoddy work, patent laziness and erroneous descriptions, especially when the companies are charging extortionate rates to sell items.

I think you're being very kind to auctioneers in general. I don't believe they ever deliver on the service they charge for. How is one single photograph ever enough to do justice to an item advertised online?

[colmike1]

I can understand that some aspects of an auctioneer's job can be repetitive and mundane. This may explains why so many of them seem more concerned about pursuing television careers as "experts" rather than offering a professional service to their clients.
Their charges to buyers and sellers have risen sharply in recent years, particularly during the Covid pandemic. Did it really cost them more to sell on line than live in the saleroom? 20 to 25% is now commonplace, and 30% or more is not unknown.
At these prices, buyers and sellers are entitled to expect the highest standards of service, but they do not always receive it.

Actually, they have to pay a fee to the hosting system for the online auctions. They also have to pay extra if they do a live feed. So yes, it does cost more to do online auctions. Also the labor and time to list online auctions adds up in a hurry. There's a reason why I don't do the online end of the business. We still only change between 20%-35% depending on the overall value of the estate.
Mike Wohl