What would you think if you got this reply from a major auction house?

[whiteymet]

I recently saw a lot in an auction by a major auction house with cards from multiple sets etc. They had one photo showing a lot of cards, from different sets, most hidden where you could not see condition, numbers names etc.

In the description they just said for example:

1952 Topps 13 diff, 1949 Leaf 18 diff, etc. No card numbers listed on any of them.

I emailed and asked what numbers they had from one of the sets and to send me a scan of two cards I could partially see in the photo.

I received no replies after three emails. I finally emailed the owner of the AH and received the below reply:

we will do our best but we are in the throes of the recent auction and we will try

The next day in my inbox was an email from the person I originally emailed. Figuring the owner had asked them to reply to my questions, that person replied:

Sorry, yes, we received your requests and it is on our list to do, but with the catalog auction just closing we are extremely busy and have not had a chance to do it yet.
We will try our best, but i can not promise anything.

Am I being unrealistic in my request? If an AH can not answer questions on an auction ending in a week because they are still dealing with an earlier auction maybe they should not run them so close together.

Your take?

[Stampsfan]

Whenever I see an online auction where not all the cards are displayed, I assume there is something wrong. They're not hiding a bunch of PSA 7's and 8's under the PSA 4's. I assume all "hidden" cards are not on the top for a reason, and will almost ignore the value of those items when deciding what to bid on a lot.

In answer to your question, you as a potential bidder or consumer have every right to ask a question on the lot. They've taken the time to send you a couple of responses, but not taken the time to inspect the lot for you. My take is there is no gold in the hidden stuff, and they know it. Therefore there is no reason why they would point the obvious out to you. I'd move on.

[pclpads]

Too many AH out there to deal with this nonsense and that value your $$$. Move on.

[RedsFan1941]

i once read (maybe on this board during my lurking days) that a great way to choose an auction house for your consignments is to see how they treat you like a bidder, like in the situation described here. if an AH doesn’t have the time or inclination to accurately describe an item and/or get a bidder the info he needs on items you want to bid on, why would you think that auction house will do things right when it is your items they are selling? too many auction houses treat their businesses like a part-time job.

[bbcard1]

I have only modest problems with this if it is their own items. It is bad service for sure and they will deflate their selling price, but at the end of the day they suffer the consequences for their actions. I have serious problems with this if is on behalf of a consignor.

[ibuysportsephemera]

"What would you think if you got this reply from a major auction house?"

I sure would like to know who it is so that I can evaluate doing business with them in the future.

Jeff