VCP and auction houses

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Matt

Thanks Jeff - this just confirms we need to add you to the list of those who are ruining the hobby.

And, therefore, humanity as well.

Perhaps Mike O'Keeffe will write a book about me?

[calvindog]

Captain Big Puss

[4815162342]

With some good software development (parsing auction results web pages, e.g. Google) you could scrape the data that way couldn't you? Would there be any legal problems in doing this?

[wondo]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but there is a fee associated with having your auction house results included in VCP. These auction companies PAY for the right to have their results published, i.e. it is a business expense. If the auction house decides it is not a good business decision to participate, why hold it against them?

[Wesley]

I thought Heritage never included it's prices on VCP.

[BobbyVCP]

We charge the auction houses no fee to be included. For them or any auction house to have their results posted should cost basically nothing except a few minutes for a person to program an xml feed.

[Rob D.]

Auction houses do all that work to realize sometimes-record prices selling ball cards, and they don't want to publicize and have a record of their accomplishments for collectors to see?

Golly, that doesn't seem to make sense.

[Peter_Spaeth]

As previously noted, the stated rationale makes absolutely no sense. It seems clear the motive is to avoid comparison of their sales prices with other sales prices.

But that confuses me, because I thought each auction WANTS to show high sales prices to attract consignors?

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by BobbyVCP

We charge the auction houses no fee to be included. For them or any auction house to have their results posted should cost basically nothing except a few minutes for a person to program an xml feed.

Bobby, don't kid yourself. A light shining on their prices costs those auction houses plenty. After all, those PSA 8 1915 Crackerjacks and PSA 8 Goudey Ruths are selling for pennies on the dollar on ebay and really drag down auction house prices.