Just out of curiosity, have any of you participated in eBay's Live Auctions, either as a seller or buyer?
Been mighty tempted to bid a few times, but generally found descriptions to be so marginal to be virtually worthless. With the buyer's premium generally very high, plus what I assume to be steep packing/handling/shipping fees -- well, I just didn't.
And how about selling at live auctions? While I see there are live auctions on the Bay for just about everything, how about antiques and collectables? Anyone?
posted on January 17, 2006 02:49:06 PM
I have a friend who collects coins. He had a few negative experiences when participating in Live Auctions.
Those ending bids are so high because the bidding is processed so fast that you end up bidding against yourself.
I never bid at a physical auction where I can not see who I was bidding against. I darn sure would never bid on in an electronic auction where I could not see who I was bidding against!
Real live auctions are not for the uneducated and online auctions are sucker bets as far as I am concerned.
On the other hand, it is very good business for the auctioneer <g>
posted on January 17, 2006 04:43:24 PM
A major auction house in my state does this. A friend saw some things on eBay and wanted to bid. I offered to go in person to preview auction. Almost no condition problems were mentioned in the eBay listings, although many lots had serious problems (e.g., teapots missing spouts, cracks, repairs). In addition, their eBay premium is higher than their regular buyer's premium.
Oddly enough, if you just call them, and ask about a lot, someone will describe condition, etc. over the phone, and they will accept a "left bid", and the regular premium without an "eBay surcharge".
I must confess that I don't see how they can have true interactive internet bidding, unless it is just working through the proxy bids; they sell almost 100 lots per hour - so I don't think you can just type in additional bids while that lot is up - it would be sold before you hit enter.
posted on January 17, 2006 05:04:27 PM
My younger sis (not Neglus) was signed into a live jewelry auction, went for a break, came back and found her cat had bought her a diamond ring. The auction people were very gracious and let her cancel the auction when they learned the cat had buyer's remorse.
[ edited by pixiamom on Jan 17, 2006 05:04 PM ]
posted on January 17, 2006 06:22:36 PM
A dealer who used to have catalog phone auctions has an eBay Live auction soon. I have bought from him in the past and his starting bids always seemed reasonable to me. The items have very skimpy descriptions but I know and trust the dealer so that would not worry me. There are some items that I would love to buy but the starting bids are REEEEEALY high. Add the buyers premium and I am out of the running before it starts.
There is one upside. The similar things I already have just went up in value. It is a pretty small field and the collectors are going to take note of what he sells.
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“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on January 17, 2006 06:29:01 PM
I bought a piece of antique jewelry from an eBay Live Auction. By the time they added the buyer's premium, it WAS kind of expensive but exactly what I wanted so I didn't care. (Wedding gift for my DIL) Still WAY less than what it would have cost me at my local estate jeweler.
There's a big doll auction in my area this coming weekend that's also an eBay Live Auction. I'm going to go to see how it works...
posted on January 17, 2006 07:57:54 PM
I am in the process of putting together my first Ebay live auction - it is set for 1/29 - the catalog is still under construction - I only have 30 lots up right now - this is my first one, and I'm still listing away.
You have to have a licensed auctioneer conduct the sale and be a licensed business. It's expensive - $1,500 to do a catalog and Ebay takes 5% on lots sold online - at least the 5% you can charge off to the buyer in a buyer's premium - which is why the premiums are so high.
The descriptions are marginal so you can't hold the auction house accountable for condition, age, etc. I am trying to slant my sale to the online buyer, offering a more detailed description and more reasonable shipping cost. You're welcome to take a look at my catalog - I'd appreciate any feedback on it. http://www.liveauctions.ebay.com/catalogs/18594
posted on January 17, 2006 09:02:49 PM
Thanks all for your input, very helpful and informative -- as always!
Caroline: Your auction descriptions are excellent. I'd feel comfortable bidding on any or all of your items, especially since you've provided so many detailed photos. Looks like a lot of work so good luck; you should do well. I like that sailor's box a lot ... and the watercolor ... and the tiles ... and...
Adding the very reasonable shipping is just another confidence builder for bidders. Thumbs up!
posted on January 18, 2006 05:00:27 AM
We have a shop on the GoAntiques site. Every time we add an item over a certain amount to our shop they prompt us to put it on an eBay Live Auction. Some dealers we know say it is a great way to sell. We have not tried it but I think GoAntiques must do the catalog and conduct the auction. Maybe it would be worth our time to investigate.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on January 18, 2006 05:58:42 AM
Thanks for taking the time to look! I'm still researching the watercolor - I haven't examined it out of the frame yet - there is a tear to the bottom right corner, and I'm scared I'm going to make it worse by taking off the back. Every time I look at it, I think she looks so familiar - and the technique seems more modern and less folky than some of these you see.
I've bid on some of the GoAntiques live auctions - they are actually absentee auctions that have horribly high reserves and outrageous estimates - IMHO - also you are not dealing with one person, and the item is still in the dealer's possession - so although GoAntiques may have OK feedback they are not doing the description, the shipping or communication.
What's funny about the sailor's box is that I bought it in England - although it is American - I'm going to re-examine it today, I don't like the way the paint looks, I don't believe it is the original paint - but I'll have to look again by daylight.
I'll let you know what I find on the watercolor. I think I need to lighten up the photos as well, I think they look a bit dark. Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on January 18, 2006 09:24:42 AM
... I don't like the way the paint looks..
Obviously, I haven't seen it in person, but I would be very suspicious. Loads of this stuff has appeared up here in New England - I think that I have seen more "Nantucket" labeled boxes and such than there have been people living on the island. Anything with desireable motifs/regional associations should send up a red flag. There is one local dealer who always has a selection - repainted trays, boxes, small furniture etc. Many times in motifs that don't quite match the purpose/period of the item, such as tennis-related, fly-fishing. I believe many are done in England (although the Edwardian ladies in tennis gear seem to have very Asian features.
posted on January 18, 2006 06:20:09 PM
Good thought, Fluff - I couldn't get the mark on the ring, but I'll add a pic of the one on the silver set. Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on January 23, 2006 05:48:10 AM
Wonder if everything is OK with Caroline? The tea set is not in the catalog itself (was number 109), and there are no new items with only 48 listed and the auction set for this Sunday. Surely one doesn't do a live auction with catalog fee of $1500 with so few listings? I don't believe she's posted here for a few days either.
posted on January 24, 2006 08:08:41 PM
Sorry! We had planned a weekend away a while ago to use up some frequent flier miles and of course the trip came at the worst possible time. I lugged along my laptop and couldn't get connected - but I did manage to get a bunch of pics editted, but I am way behind.
I'm up to a whopping 70 lots - my lots just seem to come and go as they please today at one point I was missing 10 of them - it's very unnerving! Can't wait to see what happens during the live auction portion - what a nightmare! Now I know why the descriptions are so short for live auctions - this is really taking much longer than I ever thought it would.
I heard Catbecca sold their software package for a few million and then just stopped doing business. They were one of the very few live sellers that catered to online buyers - hopefully I can fill a void if I ever get everything listed.
Most of the live auctions I've dealt with act like they are doing Ebayers a favor and don't even ship - one place was so snotty to me that I decided to try this myself - what have I gotten myself in to though!?
Hope to be caught up within the next day or so, but I have a more questions to answer than I ever thought I would (sorry Birg - will get to yours tomorrow!) and I think I'll need to hire someone for sale #2.
Caroline