[meteorite-list] AUCTIONS

From: Anita D. Westlake <libawc_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 11:47:28 -0500
Message-ID: <007e01c74ba0$d19964d0$72a38caa_at_genlibad.library.emory.edu>

At our club auctions, we take a break in the middle to allow those wanting
to leave to check out early.

We have two people cross-checking winning bids and accepting payment while
another member volunteer picks up the items won. We don't allow people to
pick up their own items because sometimes they "accidentally" pick up
someone else's as well.

After the auction, we keep everyone (bidders and by-standers) away from the
items by forming a line away from the auction tables so there's no confusion
at the end.

After years of upset, hurt feelings and stolen items, these precautions have
helped tremendously.

Anita
-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Jim Strope
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 11:41 AM
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] AUCTION RESULTS - Blood and Lang

Obviously, a lack of staff results in less than optimum customer service.
Perhaps spending an extra $100- to hire someone to check out bidders who
want to leave would have a positive impact on the auction results as a
whole. I personally know of at least two collectors who refused to attend
an auction because of lack of customer service. I also personally know of
one collector who left without paying because he got tired of waiting.

Hopefully, next year will be a more pleasant experience.

Jim Strope
421 Fourth Street
Glen Dale, WV 26038

http://www.catchafallingstar.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Moni Waiblinger-Seabridge" <moni2555 at hotmail.com>
To: <nwa482 at comcast.net>; <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] AUCTION RESULTS - Blood and Lang


> Hi Jim and All,
>
> I also go to an auction and it is the same as you describe.
> I think if you have to wait until all the auction is done, it is simply
> because there isn't enough staff.
> At the auction I attend, there is two auctioneers that take turns and then

> about three people helping with showing, putting the items on the back
> table and as you wrote, getting the items and handing them to the winner
> after his purchase.
>
> > With best regards,
> Moni
>
>
>
>>From: "Jim Strope" <nwa482 at comcast.net>
>>To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] AUCTION RESULTS - Blood and Lang
>>Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 10:52:15 -0500
>>
>>While I agree with you in principle for big professional auction houses,
>>you
>>need to attend an auction in Denver or Tucson before reserving judgement.
>>Some of them are very informal and not like a normal auction situation.
>>
>>In at least one auction that I attended, the procecure is unlike a normal
>>auction in such a way that tends to depresses the prices in my opinion.
>>
>>For example, in a normal auction if I buy item number 10 out of 200 items
>>offered and
>>want to go home, then I just check out, pay and go home. At at least one
>>Tucson auction that I attended,
>>I would have to wait until the end of the auction to pay and then pay in
>>bidder number order. So instead of going home at 8:00 when I am done
>>buying
>>I have to wait until until all bidding on all items is completed before I
>>can go home which could be well after midnight. This makes it so that
>>people don't tend to bid unless they REALLY, REALLY want the item. So
>>prices are certainly
>>not representative to prices much may have been realized in one of the big
>>auction houses.
>>
>>Just my two cents...........
>>
>>Jim Strope
>>421 Fourth Street
>>Glen Dale, WV 26038
>>
>>http://www.catchafallingstar.com
>>
>
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Received on Thu 08 Feb 2007 11:47:28 AM PST