Auction Houses. Do we need more?

[conor912]

I'm just about over auctions of all kinds these days. I'll happily "over pay" with a BIN than deal with competition and absurd time restraints...it's just not worth the hassle to me anymore.

[Steve D]

Hell NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are too many auctions houses as it is, the last thing we need is more!!!!!!!!!

JMHO


Steve

[bobfreedman]

Obviously I am a bit biased about the number of auction houses out there but I think people fail to realize that more auction companies breed competition. Competition helps us all out with lower seller's fees. Do you think that if there were only 2 or 3 sports auction companies, that they would offer 0%?, -5%?.

Many of our customers use our live auction format www.morphyauctions.com , www.celebrityauthenticsauctions.com , www.goldinauctions.com runs 2 to 3 live events a year as well.

Again, I realize that I am biased but lets give things some thought before we open our mouths

[T205 GB]

revised

[Steve D]

Originally Posted by bobfreedman

Obviously I am a bit biased about the number of auction houses out there but I think people fail to realize that more auction companies breed competition. Competition helps us all out with lower seller's fees. Do you think that if there were only 2 or 3 sports auction companies, that they would offer 0%?, -5%?.

Many of our customers use our live auction format www.morphyauctions.com , www.celebrityauthenticsauctions.com , www.goldinauctions.com runs 2 to 3 live events a year as well.

Again, I realize that I am biased but lets give things some thought before we open our mouths

I totally agree with you, that competition is good. I am all for healthy competition. There comes a point however, where the playing field becomes over-saturated.

As it is now, very few of us, if any (and certainly not me), are able to keep track of all the auctions going on. I do get the more than once per week email from auctionreport.com, but even it does not list all the auctions either soon to open, or that are currently taking bids.

It seems to me that when so many collectors are unable to keep up with the goings on, it is not good. Too much of a good thing, just like drinking too much water, is unhealthy, and can even be disastrous.

Just some examples:

- All the cards that were produced in the late 1980s - too much of a good thing

- All the card stores that opened in the late 1980s-early 1990s - too much of a good thing

- Overproduction of collector postage stamps in the 1990s - too much of a good thing

- Same thing has been said about US coins (especially commemoratives), collector plates, Star Trek action figures, Beanie Babies, and on and on and on.

I just don't want future collectors (or Heaven forbid, those of us here today) to be able to say the same thing about sports card auctions contributing to the demise of our hobby!

Steve

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by Steve D

I totally agree with you, that competition is good. I am all for healthy competition. There comes a point however, where the playing field becomes over-saturated.

As it is now, very few of us, if any (and certainly not me), are able to keep track of all the auctions going on. I do get the more than once per week email from auctionreport.com, but even it does not list all the auctions either soon to open, or that are currently taking bids.

It seems to me that when so many collectors are unable to keep up with the goings on, it is not good. Too much of a good thing, just like drinking too much water, is unhealthy, and can even be disastrous.

Just some examples:

- All the cards that were produced in the late 1980s - too much of a good thing

- All the card stores that opened in the late 1980s-early 1990s - too much of a good thing

- Overproduction of collector postage stamps in the 1990s - too much of a good thing

- Same thing has been said about US coins (especially commemoratives), collector plates, Star Trek action figures, Beanie Babies, and on and on and on.

I just don't want future collectors (or Heaven forbid, those of us here today) to be able to say the same thing about sports card auctions contributing to the demise of our hobby!

Steve

Apples to oranges comparison.

You are equating the over production of a good to the proliferation of auction houses that do not produce goods.

I can see no scenario wherein increasing the number of outlets through which hobby items can be bought and sold would somehow contribute to the demise of the hobby.

Tom C

[mechanicalman]

I think we need to make a distinction between what we'd want as collectors and what's feasible given the laws of supply and demand. As a collector, would I want more outlets from which to buy? Sure, why not!

But if, for sake of argument, the number of AHs doubled, would the supply of quality cards to sell double? Unlikely.

So, you'd have a dilution of the quality cards available to each house, and some would simply not get enough good material to pay the bills.

As consumers/consignors, competition is great. But competition creates winners and losers, and the losers don't tend to stay in business long.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

I think we need to make a distinction between what we'd want as collectors and what's feasible given the laws of supply and demand. As a collector, would I want more outlets from which to buy? Sure, why not!

But if, for sake of argument, the number of AHs doubled, would the supply of quality cards to sell double? Unlikely.

So, you'd have a dilution of the quality cards available to each house, and some would simply not get enough good material to pay the bills.

As consumers/consignors, competition is great. But competition creates winners and losers, and the losers don't tend to stay in business long.

I feel like there is already dilution in that we see cards going from one auction type venue to the next...pretty regular...never spending time in a "collection!"

[T205 GB]

I was able to speak with my friend last night about setting up a live auction format with electronic bidding and ect. It is going to cost a tiny bit but I am going to give it a shot and see if we can get the site set up and some testing done. Will keep you all posted.

I also agree there are way to many AH around. I am not looking to post 1000 items a night or allow bidding into the next day. The whole point is to bring something old and new together and make things better right.

I will be looking forward to feedback as I start this journey. I want to make sure its a great experience overall for everyone.

[Stevenice1]

www.cardboardpicasso.com is something to check out. They market themselves as an alternative to sports card auctions and have "buy now" prices, 0% buyer's premium, free next-day shipping with insurance, a loyalty program, and coupons up to $200 off (through their loyalty program). They have an ebay site as well but the prices are always cheaper on their site.

Originally Posted by conor912

I'm just about over auctions of all kinds these days. I'll happily "over pay" with a BIN than deal with competition and absurd time restraints...it's just not worth the hassle to me anymore.

[x2drich2000]

Originally Posted by Stevenice1

www.cardboardpicasso.com is something to check out. They market themselves as an alternative to sports card auctions and have "buy now" prices, 0% buyer's premium, free next-day shipping with insurance, a loyalty program, and coupons up to $200 off (through their loyalty program). They have an ebay site as well but the prices are always cheaper on their site.

3 posts, 3 references to the same business. Any chance it is yours? If so, why don't you just say that's?

DJ

[Exhibitman]

How about a niche auction house? I see so many generalists doing the best they can with a variety of items. Wouldn't it be nice to see a niche auctioneer devoted only to prewar baseball, for example.

[GoCubsGo32]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

How about a niche auction house? I see so many generalists doing the best they can with a variety of items. Wouldn't it be nice to see a niche auctioneer devoted only to prewar baseball, for example.

I think that's why I love RMY Auctions. It's a niche auction for photo collectors. How many times do you actually see photos featured in an auction house? Not very often. Most of the time it's a Ruth...Mantle...Cobb...game used bats...hats..etc or personal awards from an estate.

[TheBig6]

This thread made me think of Don West
https://youtu.be/CTaxttRR3Lc

[oldjudge]

If more auction houses meant more great cards coming to market then yes. I fear that what it would mean would be more stuff that you could just as easily find on EBay. I say no. In fact, we probably need less than we have now.