Goldin lots still open 1/2 he after nobids

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by AGuinness

There's probably a slightly more than subtle difference between a bar tab and the auction items that could get into five or six figures (although there are those tall tales about people throwing down at bars, too). If auction houses and their clients (consignors and bidders) were all completely comfortable with a system that used pen and paper to determine auction outcomes (with bidding information obviously out in the open for the auction house representatives), that system would probably be used - much cheaper than software, etc. But I don't think I'd want my maximum bid known by the auction house, much less scribbled down in someone's handwriting that might look like chicken scratch.
Taking a step back, something like this kind of seems like a first-world problem. We are so used to having regularly occurring auctions that offer a wide range of desired items (including many expensive ones, scarce pieces, etc.) that we can track, bid on and critique all while in our pajamas with the TV on in the background. And without the hassle of interacting with a live person (who the heck wants to do that?!). Most of the time, these auctions happen without a hitch. I didn't have any skin in this one (or any others that have been hacked), but I'm not sure a little delay in the final bell is such a big deal.

I think any discussion of paying money for pieces of cardboard likely falls into the very overused "first world problems" canard, regardless of auction irregularities.

Do you realize that some auction house employees can bid on items? And do you know what happens in auction houses as items are closing? Consignors call up and piss and moan about how poorly their items are and how they are getting killed. And this is the last time I work with you kind of stuff. I think it's a huge issue when "irregularities" like this seem to be increasingly the norm these days.

[buymycards]

Any decent business should have contigency plans. For instance: How are we going to tabulate new bids? How are we going to notify our bidders? If our email isn't working, how about a back up bidder list on another computer system. What do we do if we are down for 30 minutes, or 1 hour or 1 day? Do we have an emergency phone number for our software person, and a back up number for someone else if the main person isn't available. How far away are they? Can they access our system from their business?

It seems that the current contigency plan for these auction houses is - "Oh shit, our system is down, now what?".

People will keep bidding with these auction houses, just as they are bidding with PWCC and just as they are continuing to swamp PSA with submissions.

PS. I did purchase a low grade T213 from PWCC a couple of weeks ago. I am no better than anyone else when it comes to a card that I need/want.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by buymycards

Any decent business should have contigency plans. For instance: How are we going to tabulate new bids? How are we going to notify our bidders? If our email isn't working, how about a back up bidder list on another computer system. What do we do if we are down for 30 minutes, or 1 hour or 1 day? Do we have an emergency phone number for our software person, and a back up number for someone else if the main person isn't available. How far away are they? Can they access our system from their business?

It seems that the current contigency plan for these auction houses is - "Oh shit, our system is down, now what?".

People will keep bidding with these auction houses, just as they are bidding with PWCC and just as they are continuing to swamp PSA with submissions.

PS. I did purchase a low grade T213 from PWCC a couple of weeks ago. I am no better than anyone else when it comes to a card that I need/want.

Yes, folks like me and you will continue using the auction houses and PSA and SGC. But honestly I'm using them a lot less. And I'm buying few if any huge items. And when I see a card like a beautiful Cracker Jack PSA 7, for example, all I now think about is how was precisely it altered. And by whom. And I look at it ten more times wondering why a 100 year old card that was in a box of caramel coated candy is obviously whiter than the teeth in my mouth. I end up buying something on eBay for $125 and I don't lay in bed at night wondering if I was ripped off. And while I can imagine sending in something to get graded, most of the time I think about for a bit and the mood passes, and I just say fk it. Takes forever to get my order processed. So while, yes, most of continue to use these places, I'm guessing I am not the only one whose bidding habits have changed dramatically in the last 9 or so months.

I don't want to spend $20,000 on a card only to have someone expose it as doctored on the board a week later.

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Yes, folks like me and you will continue using the auction houses and PSA and SGC. But honestly I'm using them a lot less. And I'm buying few if any huge items. And when I see a card like a beautiful Cracker Jack PSA 7, for example, all I now think about is how was precisely it altered. And by whom. And I look at it ten more times wondering why a 100 year old card that was in a box of caramel coated candy is obviously whiter than the teeth in my mouth. I end up buying something on eBay for $125 and I don't lay in bed at night wondering if I was ripped off. And while I can imagine sending in something to get graded, most of the time I think about for a bit and the mood passes, and I just say fk it. Takes forever to get my order processed. So while, yes, most of continue to use these places, I'm guessing I am not the only one whose bidding habits have changed dramatically in the last 9 or so months.

I don't want to spend $20,000 on a card only to have someone expose it as doctored on the board a week later.

+1
Well said.
I am not grading any cards, and I am not buying near what I was 6-12 months ago.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Yes, folks like me and you will continue using the auction houses and PSA and SGC. But honestly I'm using them a lot less. And I'm buying few if any huge items. And when I see a card like a beautiful Cracker Jack PSA 7, for example, all I now think about is how was precisely it altered. And by whom. And I look at it ten more times wondering why a 100 year old card that was in a box of caramel coated candy is obviously whiter than the teeth in my mouth. I end up buying something on eBay for $125 and I don't lay in bed at night wondering if I was ripped off. And while I can imagine sending in something to get graded, most of the time I think about for a bit and the mood passes, and I just say fk it. Takes forever to get my order processed. So while, yes, most of continue to use these places, I'm guessing I am not the only one whose bidding habits have changed dramatically in the last 9 or so months.

I don't want to spend $20,000 on a card only to have someone expose it as doctored on the board a week later.

Steve, I get your point, but I believe you picked an erroneous example. It is my understanding that the 1914 CJ cards were only distributed in boxes of CJ, whereas the 1915 CJ cards were also available as a complete set via mail order, as stated on the backs of the 1915 cards. Hence, legitimate 1915 CJ cards that are "whiter than the teeth in my mouth" are frequently seen. Here are the backs of both of my CJ WaJos (both of mine came out of CJ boxes), but you can see the mail-in offer on the 1915 example.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Steve, I get your point, but I believe you picked an erroneous example. It is my understanding that the 1914 CJ cards were only distributed in boxes of CJ, whereas the 1915 CJ cards were also available as a complete set via mail order, as stated on the backs of the 1915 cards. Hence, legitimate 1915 CJ cards that are "whiter than the teeth in my mouth" are frequently seen. Here are the backs of both of my CJ WaJos (both of mine came out of CJ boxes), but you can see the mail-in offer on the 1915 example.

Thanks! Bad example indeed.

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I think any discussion of paying money for pieces of cardboard likely falls into the very overused "first world problems" canard, regardless of auction irregularities.

Perhaps it's only overused because collectors have conniptions over a lot of small stuff, in addition to the actual problems within the hobby.