Problem with REA
 

I was bidding on a bunch of lots, but 1 I had zeroed in on 1 in particular. I had a window open with the clock counting down from about 14 minutes. I went to place a bid when there was still ~2:30 left on the clock and received a message that the lot was closed!!??

similar experience
 

If you change screens the clock doesnt reflect the accurate time left on each lot.... you have to refresh the screen each time you change items or what happened to you is the result. It happened to me before but Ive figured it out now.... it can be the same thing on eBay as well. Overall Ive had almost no issues with REA over decades of bidding and consignments and consider them to be at the top of the auction sites.

Thank you for the response
 

I have bid with numerous houses over many years - don't ever recall this happening. I opened the tab with the item just after I was outbid with 14 or so minutes counting down. In that tab, I never navigated away from it. I did open and navigate on other tabs - which apparently has the same effect that you describe. I would think that either the platform or house would put in big bold letters a reminder to refresh if you navigate away from the tab/page.
Cost me an item I wanted and the consignor of the same $1k+. Didn't help matters that the 1 consignment I had in the auction sold WAY below what I was expecting.

Sorry to hear about those issues, Howard.

I was going to add a snarky note that I hoped you were bidding on the same stuff that I was bidding on, so that I could get it for a better price.

But I suspect in this auction we were probably in on different stuff. If for no reason other than the bid increments on the stuff I was bidding on were still in the $25 or $50 range.

Went 1-12 last night. But happy with what I got. This is usually how I feel the morning after:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4ee54b0e_o.jpg

I've had this happen to me maybe once or twice - it sucks. Last night I had no issues though. I bid with like 3 seconds remaining on one item - I couldn't make up my mind - and it went through just fine.

I wouldn't stress over it. Whatever you wanted will likely show up in their next auction (and the auction after that ...) People are dumping like crazy.

Howard, sorry to hear this. Your note about your consignment is the third such statement I have seen about this REA auction (other two were on other social media sites). Maybe the larger lots got all the attention?

Responses
 

Thanks Nicolo. Appreciate the refrain from snarky note as I'm quite bothered about what happened. Definitely sounds like in on different stuff! Hope you got some of what you were after.

Thank you for the encouragement. Sadly what I was bidding on will almost assuredly not only not show up in their next auction, but perhaps not show up again in my lifetime. That said, I expect within a day or so I will no longer be stressing about it. Things not working the way they are "supposed to" are a pet peeve. Wouldn't bother me 1 bit if I had simply been outbid and unwilling to bid higher.


I have commented numerous times how I am amazed at how many romanticize auctions and consigning to them. For every lot that achieves a record price, I suspect there are 50-100+ that sell at or below "market". How a company positions and describes the lot is such a critical part of the process. I have consigned items probably about 2 dozen times to different houses - the only times I have been impressed with the results were when the items were positioned and described well. The big houses today imo are like the equivalent of baseball card puppy mills - just pushing as much product through as possible with little regard for all but the "Morehouse Ruth's", Wagners, Planks, etc.
Part of the market softness in the places where it is soft is due in part to the fact that during Covid all the larger auction houses (and many of the smaller ones) increased dramatically the number of auctions they were running.

Howard, what was it? The Mantle Jello box?

I could definitely see Howard going all in on that box.

I bowed out early on that one, and scooped up most of the rest of the jello boxes without much of a fight.

Sorry you had an issue Howard. Hopefully the items show up again. My one observation was that a couple Topps Test Items sold very soft. Specifically the 98 Sportscubz and the 3 90's pencil holders. Very rare and REA used to be full of test issue collectors. The 98 Sportscubz set was $700 going into extended.

Great guess, but not the item. I bowed out on the Jell-O box a bit earlier - sold one of the 3 total known (2 at the time) for a considerably stronger price a couple of years ago and took a much smaller % commission than REA got.

It was the 1962 Sugardale Weiners complete set including the Clemente in a PSA 4 which appears to have never been in a package of hot dogs. That card in that condition (grade notwithstanding) is essentially impossible. The Clemente is the POP 1 highest graded example.

Thanks Jonathan. Those weren't even on my radar. I generally focus on pre- 1980. Auctions are often not the best place to sell test issues & certain other rarities as many of my consignors will attest to.

Rea
 

I have commented numerous times how I am amazed at how many romanticize auctions and consigning to them. For every lot that achieves a record price, I suspect there are 50-100+ that sell at or below "market". How a company positions and describes the lot is such a critical part of the process. I have consigned items probably about 2 dozen times to different houses - the only times I have been impressed with the results were when the items were positioned and described well. The big houses today imo are like the equivalent of baseball card puppy mills - just pushing as much product through as possible with little regard for all but the "Morehouse Ruth's", Wagners, Planks, etc.
Part of the market softness in the places where it is soft is due in part to the fact that during Covid all the larger auction houses (and many of the smaller ones) increased dramatically the number of auctions they were running.
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this is reason Im very uncomfortable putting my stuff in a major auction..

Totally agree with you. I will also say that at least 25 percent of items (maybe more) of items that I see in major auction listing should not be in there. I am shocked more items are not sold privately.

I'm guessing most of those consignors don't really know any differently.

Or they have dreams of setting the next world record at auction!

We can't blame the auction houses here.

Since the bubble burst in 2021, all the people who got into the hobby with the intention of making a quick buck have been dumping at an alarming rate. And this is what has led to numerous auctions and disappointing sales.

If you've purchased something in the last 3-4 years, the chances of consigning to an auction and turning a profit are pretty unlikely for most items. You paid more for it than anyone else wanted to pay, and now need to gross 20% or 24% higher at auction than that just to break even. If you've been holding onto something for much longer, much easier of course to turn a profit.

If a good AH is going to market you special item, like LOTG does, it's totally worth consigning. If they are just going to stick your item on page 241 of their catalog with no write up, why bother. Of course every auction has "filler" which is not going to be actively promoted.

Howard, if you feel inclined, what was the item in REA that you consigned?

I'm inclined
 

The N173 checklist. Lot #52

It is by far the nicest of the 5 examples I have ever seen. Outside of the factory fold lines, I don't recall any creases - nor can I see any n the scans.

Beautiful piece. And I agree, should have went higher.