Posted By:
Bruce Dorskind
Over the past 30 years that we have been active buyers of rare baseball
cards and memorabilia we have found significant variation among the
auction houses in the quality of material, accuracy of description,
speed of delivery and most notably payment to consigners.
With tens of thousands of hits each month, it is incumbent upon the Board Members
to take control and rate the auction houses every six months.
Only registered Board Members should be able to vote. And we should
design a methodology so people can only vote one time.
We would suggest a 1-5 rating system and that following five areas be covered
1. Overall quality of rare material
2. Quality and accuracy of lot descriptions
3. Level of customer service
4. Timely payment to consigners
5. Timely shipping of items
The auction houses that we suggest be included are:
Clean Sweep
Goodwin
Heritage
Huggins and Scott
Hunt
Lelands
Andy Madec
Mastro
Memory Lane
Mile High
19th Century Only
Robert Edwards
SCP/Sotheby's
Sloate
Baseballl memorabilia collecting is a $500m a year plus business. Rating the major auction
houses will provide interesting information, raise the profile of the hobby, help some dealers
and hurt others, and perhaps attract items long hidden away.
We should also develop a press release for PR Newswire.
After two or three surveys it will be interesting to see if any auction houses
adjust their policies. Will some continue to pay in 6-8 weeks while others
pay in 4 days? Will bad ratings destroy any chances of obtaining great new
material.
Let's use the power of marketing to enhance the hobby.
Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List