Christie's Photos

[bobfreedman]

I had this discussion with Christies and they said that many of these photos originally had PSA/DNA letters attached to them. However, Christies did not want to "advertise" or market these other third party grading companies and decided to run the auction without them. Did it cost money to the consignor ultimately? I think we can all agree on that it did but, Christies chose to do it a certain way and let the chips fall where they may.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by bobfreedman

I had this discussion with Christies and they said that many of these photos originally had PSA/DNA letters attached to them. However, Christies did not want to "advertise" or market these other third party grading companies and decided to run the auction without them. Did it cost money to the consignor ultimately? I think we can all agree on that it did but, Christies chose to do it a certain way and let the chips fall where they may.

I noticed this with one of the items (not a picture) that I won. When I picked it up, it was from the Merkin collection, and had LOA's etc., which were not mentioned in the listing.

I was able to find when the listing had sold at Hake's so I had assumed the authentication was included going in...

[pherbener]

Originally Posted by bobfreedman

I had this discussion with Christies and they said that many of these photos originally had PSA/DNA letters attached to them. However, Christies did not want to "advertise" or market these other third party grading companies and decided to run the auction without them. Did it cost money to the consignor ultimately? I think we can all agree on that it did but, Christies chose to do it a certain way and let the chips fall where they may.

One would think there could have been wording used... something like guaranteed to pass third party certification or at least use the words Type 1 photo or type 2 etc. While I'm on my soapbox, I wonder who they had doing estimates? Josh Gibson estimate $600-$800, sold for $10,000 ; Matty and Smokey Joe Bain estimate $1000-$1500 sold for $10,600 etc....etc...

[Shoeless Moe]

-Bad estimates

-Bad photos (not being able to enlarge)

-Bad descriptions (not disclosing Type 1's or not, the Gehrig D&M, photos used for cards not mentioned, they didn't even mention Christy Mathewson in the Title of the 1917 Reds Team Photo, etc. etc)

-Bad marketing (never heard anything about it until the post here on NET54 just days before it, had that post not been there even greater prices would have been had)

-Reputation itself of being Christies thus high prices may have turned some away, then the auction itself yields the reverse, low prices on some

-Their moronic shipping charges may have turned some off (yet if you figured it into your bid you were fine, but the initial turnoff of being excessive kept some away I'm sure)

-Bob Freedman being on an airplane when the auction was ending, not getting his bids in always keeps the prices down : )

All combined equaled "some" good prices for the buyers.