REA Shipping Issues

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Posted By: Aaron M.

I saw that there was a thread last week with some complaining (rightfully so) that they had been charged exorbitant shipping costs for their winning lots in last month's Robert Edward Auction.

While I also felt that I'd been overcharged ($70 for 2 programs and 1 small pinback for about $5,000 in winning bids), I neither participated in the thread nor contacted Rob to voice my complaints. I basically felt that if my items shipped quickly, then I wasn't bothered by the shipping charge (plus all my dealings with Rob in the past have been extremely favorable, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt).

Sure enough, Fed Ex delivered my package exactly one week after I mailed a personal check (so I got my quick ship). What I didn't expect to find, and at first didn't even notice is that Rob took the time to a check for $40 and an apology letter stating that some bidders had been inadvertently overcharged for shipping.

To me this once again shows that Rob Lifson is in a class by himself in terms of both his ability to "do the right thing," but also the ability to think outside the box and go the extra mile when it comes to solving problems. He was never going to hear from me about the shipping charges, and he could have kept my money with no negative impact on my eagerness to participate in his auctions in the future, yet he rectified the situation anyway. That's the kind of guy he is.

On a related note, I think the results from his auction affirmatively answered the question of whether or not REA's realized prices could match or exceed Mastro's. Now, if he can bump up to two or three auctions a year and increase his lot volume (without suffering in quality), I think REA surpasses Mastro as the premiere auction house in the business within a year.

This is one of the reasons why.

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Posted By: leon

I got a check in the mail for over half of my shipping charges too. A very nice gesture that I didn't ask for....regards

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Posted By: Yankeefan51

I have been an active collector rare baseball items for more than 25 years.

Accordingly, I have worked with every major dealer, and many legendary
collectosr, many of whom are now deceased.

I bought my first Four Base Hit from Rob when he was only 18 years
old.

He has always been the most knowledgable person in the hobby.
While some may think him aggressive in his style or for his determination,
Rob suceeded where so many others have floundered because he
puts the interests of the customer first.

He commands extraordinary prices because of his intimate knowledge
of obscure pieces, and he gets great material because he knows
where the best stuff is burried. His auctions may not be the largest,
and he does consolidate lots, but an overall basis, I am pleased
with the experiences that I have. In fact, there has never been a time when
I purchased an item from Rob (either directly or in his auctions) that I lost a single
dime on it if I later chose to sell said item.

He is not only a brilliant business person and Ivy League graduate but
he is an astute student of our hobby and baseball history.

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Posted By: anonymoushunterdude

I called Rob to say my check was a touch late, but on the way.

We chatted at length about the lots i won and he offered up some info i did not know.

In the end, he not only told me to take more time if i needed, he offered to reduce my shipping to what I believe is less than what it's gonna cost him..
he refused to take a little bit more when i said "that's enough..you sure?"

I'll not forget this gesture in my future support of REA.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I just have to ask:

Amidst all the accolades did any of you recipients of refund checks stop to wonder why it was that you got hosed in the first place?

As a professional cynic and amateur conspiracy theorist, I find it rather interesting that we bitch and whine here and presto, an accounting mistake in your favor is discovered (just like in Monopoly). Sounds less like fixing errors and more like damage control. As the old saying goes, it is better to ask forgiveness than permission.

Just my $0.02 on the situation; don't take it personally.