Features all auction houses should implement

[packs]

Have closing times be lot specific. If no one bids on my lot for 15 minutes, I want the lot to close. I can't stand the bidding on all lots must cease for 15 minutes rule.

[vintagehofrookies]

Originally Posted by packs

Have closing times be lot specific. If no one bids on my lot for 15 minutes, I want the lot to close. I can't stand the bidding on all lots must cease for 15 minutes rule.

this!

[glchen]

Shipping and insurance cost for the lot, like ebay does.

[ibuysportsephemera]

Originally Posted by glchen

Shipping and insurance cost for the lot, like ebay does.

Plus a million. I just won a lot from one of the larger AH's where the shipping was $40 (which was more than the juice). I expected it to be half of that amount. I only know of one AH that shows the expected shipping costs in their auctions.

Jeff

[cubsguy1969]

I agree wholeheartedly on the shipping. And it's not unique to sports-related auction houses. I just won a couple lots (for resale) in a military auction. Some very cool WWI panoramic photos at a steal. The shipping cost more than the damn items! Had I known that upfront (their guidelines were very vague), I wouldn't have bid.

[The Nasty Nati]

Agreed the shipping and insurance costs can be way too high.

If I'm paying a premium of over 20% the shipping cost shouldn't be so high. I'm not a fan of paying for $14 worth of shipping costs for an $85 card ($102 with premium).

In a perfect world no buyer's premium would be nice, but I understand the auction houses needed to make a profit.

[btcarfagno]

Free shipping from REA. Although they jacked up the buyers premium a bit so...

Tom C

[bobfreedman]

Originally Posted by packs

Have closing times be lot specific. If no one bids on my lot for 15 minutes, I want the lot to close. I can't stand the bidding on all lots must cease for 15 minutes rule.

This is not a feature but a rule and is not something that is controlled by the software or any other means. I may be wrong but I don't think the OP meant for others to complain about each auction company's rules.

[Bocabirdman]

Isn't it obvious? Any lot that I bid on, automatically should end, declaring me to be the winner of that lot.

[packs]

Originally Posted by bobfreedman

This is not a feature but a rule and is not something that is controlled by the software or any other means. I may be wrong but I don't think the OP meant for others to complain about each auction company's rules.

I didn't mean to offend. Features and rules seem semantic to me but I see what you mean.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by packs

Have closing times be lot specific. If no one bids on my lot for 15 minutes, I want the lot to close. I can't stand the bidding on all lots must cease for 15 minutes rule.

Agreed. Lot by lot is nice.

[oldjudge]

Have auction descriptions which, if relevant, highlight why a bidder should want to own that lot. Unfortunately, many smaller auctions with no catalogs have virtually no descriptions, thereby saying pay me my buyer's premium just for snapping an image of this lot and posting it on line. Many larger auctions fill up a page with flowery language (and often incorrect information), but provide little reason for a bidder to be attracted to the lot. It takes real skill to write good descriptions. Sadly, with the exception of REA and LOTG, few do what I consider to be a good job.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Have auction descriptions which, if relevant, highlight why a bidder should want to own that lot. Unfortunately, many smaller auctions with no catalogs have virtually no descriptions, thereby saying pay me my buyer's premium just for snapping an image of this lot and posting it on line. Many larger auctions fill up a page with flowery language (and often incorrect information), but provide little reason for a bidder to be attracted to the lot. It takes real skill to write good descriptions. Sadly, with the exception of REA and LOTG, few do what I consider to be a good job.

+1.

I'm in the camp that prefers to be able to go back and bid on a lot after I've been outbid in overtime on something else, so I don't enjoy the lot-by-lot closing as much, but I definitely appreciate a good description. If you're looking to buy a PSA 3 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth with a clean back and decent corners that may not matter so much, but if you're looking for esoteric stuff the description is essential.

[4815162342]

Great thread topic, DJ. The one feature that I wish all auction houses would implement is a mobile-friendly web site.

[darwinbulldog]

And another thing. There is at least one major auction house that doesn't include scans of the backs of cards. They provide them upon request (after a couple of days), but the whole process is an annoyance, and it seems like a very inefficient way to run their business.

[x2drich2000]

I definitely did not mean for this to involve the auction rules as we could easily debate the pros/cons of different ending formats, but I'm sure we could almost all agree that knowing the cost for shipping for each lot would be great (says the person who just spent $17 shipping for a lot of 3 graded cards costing less than $150).

I would also add that auction houses should, within reason, allow customers to pick up their winnings at a show where they are setup.

Daryl, interesting cause I really dislike the mobile views of most sites. I almost always try to switch back to the desktop version on my iPad. But I agree they should at least give the customers that option.

DJ