Auction Action
Yesterday we got a carton of stamps in from a wholesaler. We use these to make packages and often have to pay more than half the price of the finished package just for the stamps. Sometimes we are able to get a relative bargain. One of these was the purchase of 50 sets of 25 different Walt Disney stamps for only US$62.50 plus shipping. Obtaining quantities of Disney stamps for only 5 cents each is a low price. The stamps were in sheets of 25 so I decided to prepare these in 50 packets of 25 each for my packet-maker to display in our attractive packages. That took more than one and a half hours.
Today began with a determination to start reducing the wall of stamps we have in the vault. I tackled some of the more common or more time-consuming envelopes and packages. After more than an hour I was able to bring four cartons out to the front of the store. Two are nearly full of foreign stamps and priced to sell at $100 each. Another was of British Commonwealth at $250, and the fourth is Canada at $150. One of the sources was our old half-price "102" cards. I think we are finally sold out of these once we have these cartons sold.
Today brought a large carton of British Commonwealth from an auction house. I had bid on these without viewing and was quite disappointed because the auction description proved to be inaccurate. Now I have to either return the carton or see if the auction house is able to make a price adjustment. There are some auction houses which are intransigent with respect to returns or adjustments; while others do their best to make an accommodation if the complaint is justified.
In this case I believe that there will be an amiable settlement. But it teaches two lessons about auction houses -- if descriptions are inconsistent never bid without viewing (in the case of today's carton this auction house is usually very accurate) -- and make sure to deal with auction houses which want to keep your business.
I was on the other side in the auction business (1990-2001) and it is true there are a small minority of customers who are unreasonable -- fortunately most are understanding. Auction houses, on the whole, do their best to accurately describe the lots on offer. What I have learned from decades of viewing and attending auctions is that every auction house has individual idiosyncracies. This applies to descriptions as well as lotting techniques and everything else which goes into making an auction. What you can expect, given the same set of circumstances, is different treatment from one auction house to the other.
Today began with a determination to start reducing the wall of stamps we have in the vault. I tackled some of the more common or more time-consuming envelopes and packages. After more than an hour I was able to bring four cartons out to the front of the store. Two are nearly full of foreign stamps and priced to sell at $100 each. Another was of British Commonwealth at $250, and the fourth is Canada at $150. One of the sources was our old half-price "102" cards. I think we are finally sold out of these once we have these cartons sold.
Today brought a large carton of British Commonwealth from an auction house. I had bid on these without viewing and was quite disappointed because the auction description proved to be inaccurate. Now I have to either return the carton or see if the auction house is able to make a price adjustment. There are some auction houses which are intransigent with respect to returns or adjustments; while others do their best to make an accommodation if the complaint is justified.
In this case I believe that there will be an amiable settlement. But it teaches two lessons about auction houses -- if descriptions are inconsistent never bid without viewing (in the case of today's carton this auction house is usually very accurate) -- and make sure to deal with auction houses which want to keep your business.
I was on the other side in the auction business (1990-2001) and it is true there are a small minority of customers who are unreasonable -- fortunately most are understanding. Auction houses, on the whole, do their best to accurately describe the lots on offer. What I have learned from decades of viewing and attending auctions is that every auction house has individual idiosyncracies. This applies to descriptions as well as lotting techniques and everything else which goes into making an auction. What you can expect, given the same set of circumstances, is different treatment from one auction house to the other.
posted by Ian Kimmerly @ 5:24 PM
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