Anyone participate in this Hunt Auction?

[Koufax]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

Purely anecdotal: I've tried twice to do this with Hunt and each time was unsuccessful. The first time their agent on the phone failed to place my bid because he didn't realize the hammer was about to drop, and then it was too late.

The second time, after confirming the day of the auction that I was set up to receive a call, I never received a call (or an explanation).

I'm sure their system has worked just fine for many people, but after an 0-for-2 effort on their part, I vowed not to try a third time.

Rob, it just happened to me today. I placed online bids on 2 lots before today's live auction. I called them yesterday and they said they'd call me today to be involved when those lots went up to bid. Never received a call. Both lots were sold $100 above my online ceiling bids.

I was willing to go higher on both, although my original ceiling bids were fairly strong to begin with. Do the sellers of the cards realize that Hunt is leaving money on the table? This is not only disappointing, but for you lawyers out there, is there a legal angle to this that should be looked at?
Yes, they're missing out on their own higher commissions, but what about missed opportunity for higher consignor payments? Do I just look the other way and never bid in their auctions again?

And sadly enough, I actually won a third lot at my ceiling bid that I now have no desire to pay Hunt one penny for given their negligence on the other lots.

[Rob D.]

Sorry to hear that, Sandy. Having been in your situation, I can appreciate the frustration.

The thing is, I'm sure that during a live auction, the logistics of placing all of those calls at the right time and coordinating phone bids with bids on the floor borders on being a nightmare. But the first time the system broke down for me was about nine years ago, and the second time was two years ago. And when I've related my experiences, on more than one instance other collectors have said that the same thing -- or something similar -- happened to them, too.

So given that Hunt Auctions apparently doesn't have the bugs worked out of its own system, it surprises me that they continue to offer this service -- such that it is.

[Koufax]

Thanks for relating your experiences Rob. Unfortunate that they can't provide better phone support. But since this is clearly not a new issue for them, why do they continue to promise folks that they WILL call, and then fail to execute? Why not just say they'll make "best efforts" to call, or something like that. They even told me the timeframes to expect calls on my lots! Like you, I'll now be blacklisting them.

OK, full disclosure ... My biggest disappointment here? The 2 lots I lost were both K-Bats. Wonder if someone on the board here won them, and if so, were they called and not me? I've been underbidder on a few other K-Bats and still don't have one to add to my type collection. Geez, I'd love one of them, they reek of 19th century baseball nostalgia. Oh well, someday!

[Rob D.]

Just to be clear, I haven't blacklisted them or said that I won't bid in their auctions. I still do and plan to in the future.

I just won't use the place-a-bid-over-the phone-during-a-live-auction feature.

[perezfan]

They called me today on both lots I requested... each time was 3 lots prior to my lot coming up. The bidding process was very simple as a phone bidder. Too bad I was up against someone with deeper pockets on both lots (which I really wanted). I was the under-bidder on both.

I have never had issues with Hunt's and have won many items in most of their live auctions over the past 7-8 years. I consider Hunts to be among the best in the business, and would stake their integrity right up there with REA (or anyone else). But sorry to hear about the negative experiences and their failure to call. Must be a really frustrating feeling...

[daviddbreadman]

I mentioned that I expected I might win one lot which I did. It did not go to my ceiling BUT went close. Then again I kept my ceiling low enough so that I still thought I was paying a fair price so perhaps I just estimated the selling price pretty correctly. I find the format frustrating but also a bit inefficient, thus creating opportunities. I feel that they are accidentally leaving a lot of players on the sidelines. Their internet pre-bid is aggravating and probably dissuading a lot of people who'd otherwise be in there bidding. And the auction itself, limiting the ending prices to essentially those onsite?? I just can't understand the model. I feel the lot I won probably would have garnered 25% more had it been all internet auction.

[Koufax]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

Just to be clear, I haven't blacklisted them or said that I won't bid in their auctions. I still do and plan to in the future.

I just won't use the place-a-bid-over-the phone-during-a-live-auction feature.

Rob, understand the clarification, didn't mean to put words in your mouth, sorry about that. I too have only ruled out the place-a-bid-over-the phone-during-a-live-auction feature!

Breadman, I agree completely with your last post. I got a good price on the lot I did win. Yes, their system seems inefficient, an opportunity for us buyers, and not a good selection for consignors out there. If you look at the K-Bats price for the SGC 50, it's $600 below the SGC 40 in the Goodwin auction that hasn't closed yet.

[Mrc32]

They get GREAT consignments. I think we all could agree with that.

What is amazing is after watching how REA draws massive numbers simply by conducting an Internet auction, that Hunt wouldn't take their great consignments and run an internet auction.

Good stuff will draw good prices if people aren't scared away from the website and live portion.

[Leon]

Unless there is something I can't live without I don't participate in the auctions that do live, internet, phone, telefax, Morris Code AND/OR brail etc.....it's just too cumbersome. But, each company has to do what is best for them and their consignors and my opinion is just that, my opinion... regards