The SCDA trip

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Posted By: PASJD

Perhaps someone from one of the auction houses or their proxies will answer this. Why can't they simply disclose, before the fact, and not in fine print, all instances where the consignor and the authenticator are the same person. I understand, based on something I believe Jay said, that there just isn't enough money in authentication to make a living, and I accept that. So if authenticators must also purchase and sell items, so be it. But why not follow a practice of full disclosure, and let the buyers decide whether or not they care that the consignor has authenticated his own items? Last time I posed this question in a thread where someone (was it Mr. Martinez?) was defending the auction houses, it never was answered. It does not appear to have been answered, or even asked as best I can tell, in connection with the recent "trip," although in fairness it arguably was beyond the scope of the trip. But WHY? What is the answer? Anyone?