What are all the reasons you might have a person/entity bid on your behalf?

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

To my mind, the most likely reason one might employ a proxy for a life auction is simply because you can't spare the time and/or travel expense to attend the event yourself. Having a proxy that you trust attending the auction enables them to 1) inspect the merchandise in person and report back any findings that were not evident in the auction catalog and 2) bid live where there would be less possibility of any technological hiccups (dropped cell phone call, lost internet connection, unavailability of either). It may be cheaper/safer to have a proxy who is already attending the auction bid on your behalf than to attend yourself or risk something unexpectedly being wrong with either the item or the bidding.

And let's face it, there are also plenty of people in this world who have the means and the desire to have the high-profile items that come up for auction, but if it means having to go fetch it themselves, won't put forth the effort. That's what lackeys and employees and proxies are for. If you pay someone to do your shopping, drive your car, clean your pool, order flowers for your mother's birthday, etc., how is paying a proxy to bid on something in an auction for you that much different?

There is also something to be said for anonymity when it comes to rare and/or high-priced items. If nobody (well, other than the proxy) knows you have it, nobody can bug you about seeing it, selling it or trading it, and nobody would know where to go to steal it if they were so inclined. Doesn't make much sense if you're one who wants to show off their collection, but everybody doesn't want to do that. There is a certain satisfaction that comes from having something of value that you treasure and that nobody else knows about (picture Gollum in his cave with his "precious").

This is my favorite reply...but there a lot of good interesting ones here...all good and some that got close to home...This is an interesting post.

My view is mainly from reading about high end art auctions in that I believe it's common for zillionaires and or those who wish to remain anonymous, to have someone bid for them. Usually an art dealer...i.e. a pipeline dealer they know and trust who's been feeding their habit for years. And I imagine many in the given collecting community know who the dealer is buying it for....at least that's the way I do it....just kidding...

I'm sure some buyers send a proxy bidder simply because they they're tied up in what they do...and rely on an expert to do their bidding. Those kinds of buyers have to consult experts just like any collector....what do you think? How high should I go? etc....and they're smart to do that. I would think most all collectors ask their friends in the hobby for their opinion before pulling the trigger...I often do...even if I've already made up my mind...just to be cautious.

In relation to sports memorabilia which is still in it's infancy.... I personally have seen the proxy scenario....where a high ender sent someone else to bid in a major sports auction...Certainly all the big sports auctions have seen this.

I can understand a collector who prefers to keep it quiet when they buy something expensive that is out of reach for most people. There's two kinds of collectors....the kind that collect for status and snob appeal...and the passionate kind that collect because they genuinely like the item....I don't think there are many of the former in our hobby