Questions for Doug Allen

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Doug, I spend money on your auctions on a regular basis--in your world isn't that "something nice to say"? I've also got over 25K in bids in on your current auction -- let me know if you want me to withdraw them, I'd hate to make you sad. Also, I've never denigrated your auctions themselves, just your lame responses to questions as to why you raise prices the way you do (i.e. charging $75 for catalogues when certain auction houses eat these costs and certain ones do not) - you always claim that it is about the rising costs associated with putting out "a first class auction" but never acknowledge that yours is a business designed to make money, period, and that is a large contributor to your raising prices. Your responses are misdirection at best. Honesty is really the best policy here. Somehow I think that we as consumers would rather save the money associated with Mastro purchasing packing tape for boxes with the word "Mastro" all over it. But that's just me, of course.

While you're being so forthcoming, perhaps you can finally publicly explain the logic behind raising the BP after taking on consignments without disclosing this to consignors. I'm sure the reason can't be because you're trying to "run a first class auction." You'll agree, of course, that the consignors are the ones directly impacted by this raise in BP -- and Mastro is the direct recipient of their lost money. I'm sorry you think that my criticism on this subject is unwarranted. Alas, you might be the only one on this forum that thinks that way.

Next, how do you determine if a crease "impacts the integrity of the paper or card stock"? How can a crease NOT compromise the integrity of the paper? Let me guess: if the crease is on a card consigned to Mastro then it does NOT compromise the integrity of the paper? Is there a scale you use to determine how deep a crease has to go in order for paper to be compromised? Why not note on every card that you do some sort of restoration with? What can be the harm - other than to provide more information to bidders? What can possibly be the rationale to refuse to disclose this information other than the obvious one?