Are some AHs getting too big for their own good?

[Fred]

Originally Posted by BobC

Guys, humans are humans, and we all miss things and make mistakes. I doubt anyone would ever think an AH would intentionally do something like that. The real test is when something is pointed out to them, how quickly and effectively was the error/problem fixed. Sounds like Goldin passed with flying colors.

If this turns out to be the worst problem/error they end up with in this particular auction, I bet they'd be ecstatic.

When I read the first sentence, I thought you were talking about the graders at the TPGs.

[troutbum97]

1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig / "PSA 8".

A truly breath-taking card.

If you were the consigner, how pleased would you be when you read the description of the card written by the auction house - plus they stuffed the card allllll the way down at Lot #1533:

https://goldin.co/item/1934-goudey-3...a-nm-mt-825qjt

Description
Presented is one of more than 4,000 items in our 2022 Jackie Robinson 75th Anniversary Auction, closing between April 30 and May 2, 2022.

[Rhotchkiss]

Perfect example. They can’t take the time to even simply state in the description what will likely be a $30k+++ card?

[glynparson]

Not a goldin fan at all but come on mistakes happen. So tired of people expecting humans to be perfect.

[Republicaninmass]

Only 4-5000 lots every month or so. Plenty of demand out there

[troutbum97]

Originally Posted by glynparson

Not a goldin fan at all but come on mistakes happen. So tired of people expecting humans to be perfect.

"Mistakes" ?

C'mon. If someone had a typo on a $200 card, fine. That is a simple mistake.

But to bury and gloss over a PSA 8 Goudey Gehrig? WTF? It's either lack of expertise, or a blunder in someone's chosen profession.

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by troutbum97

"Mistakes" ?

C'mon. If someone had a typo on a $200 card, fine. That is a simple mistake.

But to bury and gloss over a PSA 8 Goudey Gehrig? WTF? It's either lack of expertise, or a blunder in someone's chosen profession.

The placement seems to be moderately random, or at least their categorization scheme escapes me. Reminds me a lot of Hunt. Still, there are period pieces all around that auction lot number, including Ruth and Joe Jackson cards. So really don't know what was going on there, but I seldom follow Goldin auctions closely.

As for complaints about the lack of description, I consider those to be just whining. How many threads have we seen where people bitch about the lengthy, overly verbose descriptions that "exude" the "dripping color" and "razor-sharp" qualities of some "pristine specimen" and ask that they just be shown a large clear scan with a note of any flaws that might be difficult to see. This is a PSA 8 card of an all-time great player from a rather commonly seen set. If someone doesn't know what the hell they're looking at with this card and can neither calculate possible value or know who to ask/where to look, I have zero sympathy and would suggest they not bid.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

The placement seems to be moderately random, or at least their categorization scheme escapes me. Reminds me a lot of Hunt. Still, there are period pieces all around that auction lot number, including Ruth and Joe Jackson cards. So really don't know what was going on there, but I seldom follow Goldin auctions closely.

As for complaints about the lack of description, I consider those to be just whining. How many threads have we seen where people bitch about the lengthy, overly verbose descriptions that "exude" the "dripping color" and "razor-sharp" qualities of some "pristine specimen" and ask that they just be shown a large clear scan with a note of any flaws that might be difficult to see. This is a PSA 8 card of an all-time great player from a rather commonly seen set. If someone doesn't know what the hell they're looking at with this card and can neither calculate possible value or know who to ask/where to look, I have zero sympathy and would suggest they not bid.

I think you're right to an extent but they could have at least put a pop report for the card so the registry folks could get a better picture of its condition scarcity.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by troutbum97

1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig / "PSA 8".

A truly breath-taking card.

If you were the consigner, how pleased would you be when you read the description of the card written by the auction house - plus they stuffed the card allllll the way down at Lot #1533:

https://goldin.co/item/1934-goudey-3...a-nm-mt-825qjt

Description
Presented is one of more than 4,000 items in our 2022 Jackie Robinson 75th Anniversary Auction, closing between April 30 and May 2, 2022.

Has 54 bids as of this AM. Seems like quite a few people found the card and are interested. Oh and with the BP -- it's at over 33K. Sounds like the consigner is going to do just fine.

[troutbum97]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Oh and with the BP -- it's at over 33K. Sounds like the consigner is going to do just fine.

Per PSA auctions sales, there were three (3) sales of PSA 8 of 1934 Goudey #37 in 2021, all considerably more than $33k:

$138,000
$157,200
$132,000

It's still early in the auction, and too soon to state the consigner will have his/her expectations met.

Consign a $250 card? Eh. Mistakes are fine. "It all evens out".

Consign this card, I would expect the highest expertise in the hobby.

[Peter_Spaeth]

That is a pretty significant card to have no description at all. I agree someone was pretty negligent in letting that go through.

[Casey2296]

I would be livid if that was my Gehrig consignment, would pull it from the auction if possible, and send it to HA, REA, or LOTG. The treatment of the consignor and that card is insulting and disrespectful. So yes, I suppose auction houses can get too big and miss things, the Gehrig is a perfect example.

[Tabe]

The Gehrig's description has been updated to what you would expect.

[molenick]

Originally Posted by troutbum97

1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig / "PSA 8".

A truly breath-taking card.

If you were the consigner, how pleased would you be when you read the description of the card written by the auction house - plus they stuffed the card allllll the way down at Lot #1533:

https://goldin.co/item/1934-goudey-3...a-nm-mt-825qjt

Description
Presented is one of more than 4,000 items in our 2022 Jackie Robinson 75th Anniversary Auction, closing between April 30 and May 2, 2022.

I was curious, so I clicked on the link. As mentioned, they have changed the description (maybe it was a placeholder?). But could they also have changed the lot # in the middle of an auction? It is Lot #75 (right between two Ruth cards) not Lot #1533 . It also has the most bids of any lot in the auction (I clicked on the left arrow but nothing happened, so I assume this is the lot with the most bids). I would not be livid if this was my consignment (at least not as the lot is currently situated and described).

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by molenick

I was curious, so I clicked on the link. As mentioned, they have changed the description (maybe it was a placeholder?). But could they also have changed the lot # in the middle of an auction? It is Lot #75 (right between two Ruth cards) not Lot #1533 . It also has the most bids of any lot in the auction (I clicked on the left arrow but nothing happened, so I assume this is the lot with the most bids). I would not be livid if this was my consignment (at least not as the lot is currently situated and described).

I'm curious if the litmus test for a good AH is accepting consignments of what is clearly an exceptional card, burying it to lot #1533 giving an insulting description to the card, and only changing things when they get called out on this sub. Is this particular AH so big that they can't take the time or train their staff to get it right before the auction opens? Is that acceptable? Reading some of the comments here it seems so. I would bet dollars to donuts that Brian, Al, or the folks at HA would not treat this card the same way. It smells of Hubris to me but maybe I was raised on old school values.

[molenick]

I do not believe in any way that the initial treatment of the card was acceptable. I was just posting what I found currently as an update. I'm an REA man myself, I have never consigned with Goldin.

Edited to add: when I said "could they also have changed the lot # in the middle of an auction" I did not mean to question whether the lot was originally #1533. I could have phrased that better, so if that was taken as questioning the original post, I apologize.

And good for Net54 if we brought this to Goldin's attention!

[troutbum97]

What is the likelihood that whoever handled this Gehrig for the AH was not impressed since it wasn’t a “PSA 10” compared to other Lebron, Trout & Brady cards of the same auction ?

So they buried it at Lot #1533 and started bidding at $100?

[notfast]

This is typical for Goldin.

There is no rhyme or reason for their placement except for the extreme high end stuff.