Posted By:
Marc S.but it is an implication of what MEARS specifically indicated on its unyielding policy:
"2. All auction houses wishing to use MEARS will agree that no bids will be placed on lots owned by any employee or family member by any employee or family member. No consigner will be permitted to bid on their own items. This will require that bidder sheets/records for all auctions be maintained for the year. To ensure compliance, the auction house agrees to subject itself to an audit by the Policy Director of MEARS at least once a year. These will be short notice audits and the auction house will be required to provide a copy of the catalog and the consigner listings, and the bidding history for the auction in question. Failure to comply with this provision will result in the inability to submit items to MEARS for a period of not less than 3 years. "
<a href="http://www.mearsonline.com/news/newsDetail.asp?id=302</a" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.mearsonline.com/news/newsDetail.asp?id=302</a>
Perhaps slightly less draconian than how I portrayed it (now that I read the entire policy), but it nonetheless gives me significant pause.