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Posted By: davidcycleback

My opinion is that the best way to maintain consignors is to treat them well and do a professional, effecient job. Descriptions, payment, questions answered, etc. Consignors are more likely to consign their stuff to the place that did a good job last time, and are likely to recommend that auction house to follow collectors (both as consignors and bidders). The best way to get a consignor to go somewhere else and to not recommend the auction house is to do do a bad job-- not pay, be a jerk, etc.

Bidders and consignors are less likely to want to deal with an auction house that has authenticity problems. What consignor wants his genuine Don Mattingly game used jersey, purchased from Mattingly himself, to be auctioned beside a bunch of potentially questionable items. He wants his authentic item being offered by an auction house that is known in the hobby for being knowledgeable, ethical for selling authentic items. He knows (or should know) that if bidders question the auction house they may, in turn, question the jersey.