What is the point of the "Buyer's Premium"?

[Snapolit1]

As explained on the board a gazillion times, most AHs will waive a sellers commission for a decent piece. So they have to make their nut somewhere. And that’s called the buyers commission. I know a bunch of good dudes who run AHs, and none of them are running not for profit charities.

Allowing the AH to get a piece of the selling price also serves a smart economic function of incentivizing them to promote. If it was just “hey, pay me $200 if I sell your item, we’ll that wouldn’t get the juices flowing from the promotional side of things.

[Exhibitman]

My wife has an expression for it (which she may have taken from someone else): scam culture. Most people in this country are constantly on the grift, always looking for an advantage, and the more unfair the better.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

My wife has an expression for it (which she may have taken from someone else): scam culture. Most people in this country are constantly on the grift, always looking for an advantage, and the more unfair the better.

There are millions and millions of people who idolize a guy who brags about cheating on his taxes, refusing to pay workers on his properties, and even scams people in educational endeavors. But that's a discussion for another board.

[puckpaul]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

As explained on the board a gazillion times, most AHs will waive a sellers commission for a decent piece. So they have to make their nut somewhere. And that’s called the buyers commission. I know a bunch of good dudes who run AHs, and none of them are running not for profit charities.

Allowing the AH to get a piece of the selling price also serves a smart economic function of incentivizing them to promote. If it was just “hey, pay me $200 if I sell your item, we’ll that wouldn’t get the juices flowing from the promotional side of things.

I dont think anyone believes the AHs shouldn’t charge for what they do. Of course they need to! It’s always a question of how much and are you getting what you pay for as a consignor. I have been very happy as a consignor thus far, notwithstanding that an auction is always somewhat risky for any one item at any time. If it’s a big enough item you can use an AH that allows a reserve (like on that Mantle card described above, which is just one anecdote and I dont think represents the whole experience).