Posted By:
bruce DorskindWhilst we appreciate how upset active buyers can become when it comes
to the subject of "book bids," said tactic has been practiced by the
major auction houses around the world for more than 200 years.
Furthermore, said auction houses do not, in any way shape or form
pretend to hide the fact that they have the right, and perhaps, in their
view, the obligation, to bid on the consignor's behalf.
What surprises us is the large number of postings regarding the
concept of integrity. If there is one word which is not generally
associated with baseball memorabilia and baseball card collecting
that word is integrity
(1) Millions of dollars of fake autographs and non-game used bats are sold
in each year
(2) According to some distinguished Board Members nearly every other very
high grade pre-war card has been trimmed or otherwise manipulated
(3) Dealers, especially those at large card shows are not particularly
adverse to telling "white lies or some cases big lies." For example,
we recently attended a show where a dealer had a card he won e-bay
(less than 2 weeks prior to the show) f$or $4500. When asked if this
was his best price he said he had paid 3500 and that the best he
could do was $4000. As fate would have it, we were the underbidder
and the dealer in question actually paid $2250. We passed because
we had knowledge of the sale and we checked the price guide.
When we came back to the dealer with the matching PSA grade number and
a copy of the E-Bay print out- he suddenly remembered that the
correct price and lowered his best price to $3000.
Whilst we passed, we did demonstrate to a number of people at the
dealer's table that they were dealing with a liar...and that caused him
him to lose several customers.
Isn't this "dealer's" action far worse that a book bid...because he is not
telling the truth and creating a false story in order to make a sale?
What he should do is the say the price is $4500 and that is firm
or it is $4500 and he will listen to offers.
The point, of course, is that some people who are quick to blast
the major auction houses commit far worse sins when they are
the seller rather than the buyer
What do you think?
Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List