Pretty sure I've posted it before but it was Sotheby's and Christie's that started BP in the art world for exactly the reason Adam posits. Basically it let them tell consignors "Hey we're charging you less" even though we know the reality. Unfortunately once an entire industry adopts a practice it's hard to fight that. If I went to my clients and said we don't charge BP but we charge a higher commission I don't think I could talk fast enough to make that work.
|