[raulus]

I assume you're looking to sell a big card that routinely hits 6 or 7 figures, so it's important to be selective here.

Here's how I would approach it:

1) Dig around the various auction sites to check out past auctions. Focus on the major auctions, which are usually every 3-4 months for most AHs. Ignore the weeklies or smaller encore auctions, since your card shouldn't be in one of those. See whether similar cards are ever listed in those major auctions. If not, that might be a sign whether this AH is a good choice. My guess is that this will skinny your list down to about a half dozen AHs.

2) Dig into the results to see whether any one AH tends to deliver a little better results. My guess is you won't see much of a difference, at least not once you adjust for the market and the card. But it's worth checking just so you can put your fears at ease about whether the results are similar enough. If you're seeing an AH that consistently struggles to deliver solid results, then remove them from the list.

3) Is your item rare or obscure? If so, then check to see how well the AH does with marketing similar stuff. Do they bury it in a big lot with little or no writeup and force buyers to figure it out? If so, then it's probably a good idea to remove this AH from your list.

In any event, given your assertion that you have a big card to sell, it's probably a good idea to ask each AH still on your list to determine how your item will be featured. Make sure to mention your specific card, so they know the context. Will your item be on the front cover? Inside front cover? Will you get a full page with pictures and a glowing write-up? A half page? Something less? If any of the AHs go cheap on their offered real estate, then you can probably take them off the list.

4) Start talking to your short list of AHs to ask them about their fee structure. Make sure to mention your specific card, so they know the context, and can give you their best rates.

Are they willing to share some of the BP with you? If so, how much? Are there other features that matter to you, like getting an advance? If so, what are the terms?

I've never consigned a card at this level before, but I hear from plenty of others around these parts that you should expect to have zero selling fees, and the AH should be willing to share a big piece of the BP with you. I guess you'll find out whether that's true.

My guess is that you'll probably have 3-5 AHs that are ready and willing to give you everything you want, or at least very similar deals overall. Then it's probably just a question of deciding which group has been treating you the best, and which one you feel confident will really take care of you, and not just ignore you.

Good luck!