Heritage Auctions - Boston Garters

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

I would normally agree with this, but I am sure invoices and payments have been sent out/paid by now.

They could undo that. Just refund the money. To me the question is have they shipped any cards.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

They could undo that. Just refund the money. To me the question is have they shipped any cards.

Its been 2 plus days since the auction closed. I think you have your answer.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Its been 2 plus days since the auction closed. I think you have your answer.

Not sure I follow. So you're saying it's too soon for that to have happened?

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Not sure I follow. So you're saying it's too soon for that to have happened?

No, I am saying too much time has passed for a redo. Heritage is moving forward with the sale of the individual cards.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

No, I am saying too much time has passed for a redo. Heritage is moving forward with the sale of the individual cards.

Ah got you. I suspect that's right. And all these suggestions of a redo are moot if any cards have gone out.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

No, I am saying too much time has passed for a redo. Heritage is moving forward with the sale of the individual cards.

They can easily fix it by not sending out the cards — which they surely haven’t done as of today. The question is whether Heritage wants to do the right thing for its bidding customers and also reveal to the non-hobby consigner that they a) screwed up and b) may have cost the consigner money. My guess is they will never have that conversation. This isn’t REA.

[GaryPassamonte]

Even if there was a redo, which almost certainly isn't going to happen, the rules would have to be amended or the same unfair result could happen again.
There would need to be thirteen lots, the twelve individual cards plus the complete set lot. All thirteen lots would have to remain open until no bids are received on any of the thirteen lots for 30 minutes. That way no bidder can be shut out.

[nolemmings]

The outcome is not going to change-- the individual card winners will get their cards.

I am not taking sides, and would emphasize that this all falls on Heritage for not clarifying the rules and/or adjusting its software to allow for the type of bidding that Powell believed was in effect. Still, I believe the ship has sailed, and it does not matter if the AH has not sent out the cards.

If I were a winner of one of the 12 I would be pissed if they changed it now. Had I known I was foreclosed from bidding a half hour or whatever earlier and that my efforts to win my lot were basically a nullity, I could have used that tens of thousands of dollars (or more) to go after other cards I wanted that were still active at the time. Instead I'll take nothing and like it?

IMO the rules as they played out were not unconscionable. Bidders are for the most part at the mercy of others to get to the finish line in an auction set up like this one. "Winners" of the individual lots have to hope that others bid up the remaining cards in order to actually exceed the set chaser, and the latter has to hope that there is competition for his lot so that he can keep bumping his bid. Not an ideal format and not necessarily fair, but I can see it as a reasonable interpretation of the rules.

Just out of curiosity, suppose the Complete set lot never went to extended bidding-- that Powell put in the initial bid and that when initial bidding ended, it was greater than the aggregate 12 singles. Is it the view of this forum that he should have won then and there-- that none of the 12 individual lots would be subject to extended bidding? If so I understand your logic, but could only imagine the outcry that would have generated.

[notfast]

I wonder if the high bidder of the set wasn’t a well known collector, if everyone would be so up in arms.

I mean the set/cards were up for auction for a month or so and no one seemed to have any issues with the format…