AH Catalogs

[Edwolf1963]

I know I'm most likely in the minority here but I have no use for AH catalogs. Don't get me wrong, I'm active in most but find the online aspect (search, view, etc) more than enough. Catalogs just seem old-school to me. As with the yellow pages dropped off every so often at the foot of my mailbox, my AH catalogs last about 7 seconds (from mailbox to recycle bin). Seems like a huge waste of money for the AH as well to send. I need to get better (been too lazy) at asking them to take me off their catalog mailer list - again not for lack of interest in the auction, just don't use them.

That said, this is a personal choice and I totally respect others opinions on the subject. Curious what the community take is on this - AND - if your views have changed at all over the years one way or the other?

[Aaron Seefeldt]

Before the internet, I used to read every page of every catalog I'd get. REA catalogs in particular were a great way to learn, research, take notes in, etc. Catalogs used to be my bedside reading...

Then came the internet and I still get bombarded with catalogs that I rarely, if ever, even open! I might open it if I've consigned a bunch of stuff, otherwise it's straight to the blue recycle can out back.

That being said, it is on me, and all of us who don't read them anymore, to make AH's aware so they perhaps will produce less.

[h2oya311]

I believe Huggins & Scott went with a "green" option whereby you can get an auction credit for any purchases you make as long as you opted out of getting their catalog. This seems like a no-brainer for all AH's to use. Let the potential bidders click the "go green" button and allow us to make the choice. AHs should encourage this catalog opt-out by providing incentives, just as H&S does.

I would probably do this for every AH except REA (depending on the incentive).

[Leon]

I think you guys are missing the reason there are still catalogs. Consignors have to have them = consignments. AH's need consignments so there will continue to be catalogs.
Buyers mostly don't care anymore. I see both points. Most I don't read and some I read in the morning and at lunch when eating alone and out. Great, I am the only one so far that voted "sometimes".....well, that is me, Mr. Sometimes.

[Edwolf1963]

Originally Posted by Leon

I think you guys are missing the reason there are still catalogs. Consignors = consignments. Buyers mostly don't care anymore. I see both points. Most I don't read and some I read in the morning and at lunch when eating alone and out. Great, I am the only one so far that voted "sometimes".....well, that is me, Mr. Sometimes.

Good point, I understand the branding aspect catalogs have given in building awareness, name recognition and consideration for your next consignment. I'm sure that plays in for many. For me, personally though, that hasn't factored in at all and I've actually consigned more than I have purchased over the last few years. The influence points for whom I have chosen relied more on word-of-mouth, meet/greet at shows, recommendations and feedback from this and other forums, eBay fatigue, etc.

Again, that's just my take .. that's why I was curious on others, other points of view and if/how that may have changed over the years. I work in a capacity of ever-changing consumer view and influence points - - always looking at/find it interesting what resonates, what doesn't, how and why that changes.

PS - you are still the only "sometimes" vote :-) .. Edited. Strike that, spoke too soon

[kvnkvnkvn]

It's nutso humans are still printing newspapers, magazines and catalogs...There are more, but lets stick with these three...Ridiculously foolish...

[steve B]

Originally Posted by kvnkvnkvn

It's nutso humans are still printing newspapers, magazines and catalogs...There are more, but lets stick with these three...Ridiculously foolish...

I'm the opposite way. If it's worth knowing it's worth printing. Auction catalogs are often a valuable resource.

The web is fine, but not when the information gets removed, or taken behind a paywall, or is too near to some other topic to be readily found with a search.

Look how many threads used pictured that can't be viewed because a photo hosting place changed policy.

[BeanTown]

Auction catalogs in time, become a piece of sports Americana. How can you throw away a Hakes catalog? I haven't thrown one catalog away since 1995. Some of my favorites are Lipset and Sloate (hi Lew and Barry if reading).

[Al C.risafulli]

Leon nailed it - many consignors won't consider an auction that doesn't have a printed catalog.

That said, once I started doing one I discovered there are a lot of items that I can present much differently, and more effectively, with a printed catalog. As an auctioneer, I was originally not a fan. Now I'm a big fan, and I'm always looking at ways to improve my catalog and make it nicer and more effective.

-Al

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

Auction catalogs in time, become a piece of sports Americana. How can you throw away a Hakes catalog? I haven't thrown one catalog away since 1995. Some of my favorites are Lipset and Sloate (hi Lew and Barry if reading).

Hi JC- my catalog was useful as a bookmark for the REA catalog.

I actually find it easier to browse through a catalog than to look at every lot online, so I still like them. I think they could be a little smaller and save on some paper; not every key card needs two pages, or every T206 Cobb a full page. They could be a little lighter and easier to handle.

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by kvnkvnkvn

It's nutso humans are still printing newspapers, magazines and catalogs...There are more, but lets stick with these three...Ridiculously foolish...

Totally disagree. Spend way too much time already looking at this damn computer screen, no way I want to read a newspaper or magazine or book on a stupid screen.

My bidding in Hunt's internet auctions have cut in half since I don't want to peruse "thumbnails" and such.

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by earlywynnfan

Totally disagree. Spend way too much time already looking at this damn computer screen, no way I want to read a newspaper or magazine or book on a stupid screen.

My bidding in Hunt's internet auctions have cut in half since I don't want to peruse "thumbnails" and such.

Agree w/ Ken
I'd rather read a real newspaper or magazine then reading it on the computer
Same w/ auction catalogs.
Some I keep afterwards, if not I bring them to my post office and there's always someone who picks em up & keeps them.

[MVSNYC]

A big part of the enjoyment of Auctions, for me, is paging thru a well laid-out and well photographed (real) catalog. Getting REA's is always like Christmas morning. Several other AH's do it very well also. I have a nice library of special catalogs saved, spanning 25+ years, including the Halper sale and Copeland.

I'm old school, and love it.

PS- I like Memorylane's offerings, but I really dislike their address book style with the tabs, it's impossible to flip thru...

[Jcfowler6]

They have electronic baseball cards now. I’ll keep enjoying the paper.


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[pokerplyr80]

I don't spend much time looking through the catalogs, but they do often remind me to go online and check an auction I may have otherwise forgotten about.

[Leon]

At least "sometimes" got some more votes.
Pretty evenly split. Nice poll questions.

[pawpawdiv9]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

I believe Huggins & Scott went with a "green" option whereby you can get an auction credit for any purchases you make as long as you opted out of getting their catalog. This seems like a no-brainer for all AH's to use. Let the potential bidders click the "go green" button and allow us to make the choice. AHs should encourage this catalog opt-out by providing incentives, just as H&S does.

I would probably do this for every AH except REA (depending on the incentive).

Whew!!!
I had a huge pile of catalogs building on the shelfs. It happens about every 3-4 yrs that I need to throw them away.
Yes, I receive many, many catalogs in like 15-20 auction houses over the yrs.
Now, just throwing away 2 garbage bags full, weighing like 200 lbs..I am done with it!!!
I wanna go green.
Over recent time, I been able to preview or look at the auctions before I get the catalog anyways. It only acts as a reminder when I receive it to maybe place a bid.
I also use auction reports frequently to view the calander or oldcardboard's site.
So I am asking---
Which Ah's have the 'go green' feature/option??

[npa589]

I'm a "sometimeser" as well.

What I do is scan through all of them to see if there is any full page photos of great historicity or Cubs affiliation, I'll trim it out and continue to decorate the back of my enormous desk I have in my office. I have nicely presented photos of Cobb/Ruth, Gehrig's famous speech, period Cubs jerseys, etc.