Shaw Collection Bidding Has Started!!

[x2drich2000]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Seeing the bid history is awesome. I wish all auction houses did that, ESPECIALLY the ones who bid on their own auctions or allow for “hidden reserves”.

I think this should be the wave of the future; seems like a simple upgrade in a time of badly needed transparency

I can see both sides of this. Yes transparency is great. Shill bidding sucks. And any auction house that runs up bids with their house account should face the wrath of their customers. But I can also see how people wouldn't want to know what or how much I am bidding. There are a lot of very private people in the hobby who don't want others to know about their collection and would be very turned off if people knew what they were bidding on and how much they are spending. In addition, imagine the impact if people saw "Joe's Card Shop" was willing to pay x for a card and began thinking it must be a good deal if Joe is willing to buy it for that price. Or even if I knew you were looking at a card and I decided to run it up just cause I dislike you.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

I can see both sides of this. Yes transparency is great. Shill bidding sucks. And any auction house that runs up bids with their house account should face the wrath of their customers. But I can also see how people wouldn't want to know what or how much I am bidding. There are a lot of very private people in the hobby who don't want others to know about their collection and would be very turned off if people knew what they were bidding on and how much they are spending. In addition, imagine the impact if people saw "Joe's Card Shop" was willing to pay x for a card and began thinking it must be a good deal if Joe is willing to buy it for that price. Or even if I knew you were looking at a card and I decided to run it up just cause I dislike you.

Yup, it's something I struggle with for exactly these reasons. Just because someone wants to be kept private doesn't necessarily mean it's nefarious. Of course at a live auction without absentee bids the point is moot.