Posted By:
BobI understand what Barry and Scott are saying but I think they are wrong. For example, if I couldn't find someone interesting in bidding on the two Blomes Chocolate backed cards and the Cobb, all of which would go for a bunch, I wouldn't be interested in bidding on the Young and some commons I need. The net result would be that I wouldn't bid on the lot at all because I didn't want to pay for an entire lot which has those 3 cards in it. Others I know feel the same way. You would thus have 6 or 7 less bidders and less money chasing the cards. The bottom line is that the consignor is actually better off with a strong spirited bidder (i.e. group of bidders) going after the lot. As far as the intent of the bidders, it is not to lower the price but rather to be able to secure needed cards. There can be a bidder who wants only the Cobb card and doesn't want to have to shell out for a "bunch of commons" and two high priced cards, but is willing to go strong after the lot since he knows he is only paying for the Cobb.
Finally, I was a member of a group last year or maybe the year before that bid very aggressively on a set (or near set, can't remember, of E98s) but were outbid by a more aggressive bidder (or group). The final hammer price and thus the money sent to the consignor of the lot was much greater than it would have been had it not been for our group bidding and continuing to drive up the price.