Author Topic: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares  (Read 3221 times)

Offline Simes

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Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« on: November 21, 2016, 12:19:24 PM »
People,

Is there any strategy for those who happily pop their posters up for preview way ahead of the auctions dates, like Heritage, and those who seem only to squeak their lots up just two weeks before the auction date, like Ewbanks and Bonhams, for example?

As both a buyer and a would-be seller, I would like to have my items up for as long as possible to ensure no one misses something just because they happen to be on a fortnight's holiday.

Anyway, happy to hear thoughts for For and Against.

Offline originalcinemaposters

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2016, 03:10:08 AM »
totally agree, when i have sold stuff, especially at Ewbanks, i am frequently frustrated at the short time between the items being listed in preview and the actual auction.

Online Tob

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2016, 05:36:19 AM »
Maybe I'm spoiled by emovieposter, MPE, Movieposterbid, Heritage etc, but at places like Ewbanks, the online customers seem like a bit of an afterthought. I think we all know it's quite a time consuming task to properly photo and describe posters and I guess if you're not a specialist poster auction house set up for these things, it's a struggle to do it well and maintain your margins.

Offline Simes

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2016, 07:10:29 AM »
I would take issue with the necessity of being a specialist movie poster auction house to do the job properly.  All these places (like Ewbanks and Bonhams) are consolidated auction houses in their own right.

An auction house has to photograph and advertise anything they auction.  The issue is in getting it all up for advertising well ahead of the time, be they posters or French Renaissance dolls.  Especially if there is something of worth that one may have to prioritise against something else, like a wedding anniversary present.

The Dr No quad went for ~$11k at HA this weekend.  It was notified to the public at least one month prior to its being auctioned.  People therefore knew that if they were going to compete, the setting aside of a sum would be a good idea.

I have yet to sell anything of major worth, but this Will be a concern to be tackled if, as and when that time comes.
« Last Edit: November 22, 2016, 08:43:01 AM by Simes »

Online Tob

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2016, 07:48:34 AM »
Yeah, my post was just a general rambling on Ewbanks, as a non-local buyer, I find their auctions a bit lacking.

It seems perfectly logical that the earlier you get previews up, the more likely you are to attract more potential bidders.

Offline paul waines

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2016, 11:17:24 AM »
Yep, up early is the way, especially for bigger ticket items, as One maybe thinking of purchasing another less important item, when the money could be saved for said item...

Ewbanks descriptions are as poor as you could get for a poster collector, even when you contact them for better pics or descriptions, it seems like a chew on for them. I never bid full amount at their auctions due to this reason.
It's more than a Hobby...

Offline originalcinemaposters

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2016, 02:26:02 AM »
i have personally fed this back to Alastair at Ewbanks a couple of times, specifically the condition reports and early photo release. He didnt seem particulalry bothered, I would also say their customer service from a seller perspective is pretty poor. I had a lot of stuff to sell, and they havent bothered once to contact me post my first couple of auctions to see what else is coming in (so nothing did). proactive  management of both buyers and sellers peices produces better quality auctions with probably higher prices paid. I am guessing they dont see it worth the extra effort?

Offline martinc

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2016, 11:15:59 AM »
I have no experience of Ewbanks either as a seller or buyer but their approach sounds poor. It is hardly as if we are spoilt for choice in this country for auction houses offering this type of material so you would think it would be in their interests to cultivate prospective long-term consignors.

I imagine that most consignors don't submit their "best stuff" immediately but wait to see how their initial consignments go. If they receive poor customer service/communication they are not going to be encouraged to come knocking at the door again anytime soon, I wouldn't have thought. 

Offline MoviePosterBid.com

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2016, 03:01:32 PM »
a lot of sellers, both auction and otherwise, just want to make the money and really don't care about a lot else.

For instance, when I was among the biggest sellers of original comic art & illustration, someone sent me a pin-up pastel without disclosing that the piece was heavily scratched. Fixing pastels is nearly an impossible job, but the dealer had me bring the piece to their restorer who really looked down at this type of art and commented "well it's only illustration, what's the big deal"

so in his mind, if it wasn't what we call an 'easel painting' to him it's low art & doesn't deserve the same respect.

I'm sure Ewbanks and others have this same attitude and when you consider that the majority of items they otherwise sell via their auction are of higher values, while the movie posters go from a few hundred to a few thousand, it doesn't engender their interest as heavily. It's wrong, but this is where the buyer or seller makes their decisions on who to deal with, when the time comes.

for my part, my collections will be sold by Heritage and Profiles in History. Both companies that know what they are doing and will get the best prices, two issues of paramount import.

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Offline Simes

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2016, 04:44:03 AM »
Fair play.

But IF the interest is in making money, (and why shouldn't it be in the capitalist society in which we live?), and relative values to their other auctions notwithstanding, then popping the pieces up a little earlier, or, as Heritage does, as they are available, would seem an agreed possibility.

Ewbanks, since this is the auction house we are exemplifying, have finally got their December auction up a couple of weeks before the day, but still, a goodly number of their images are unavailable.  From a buyer's point of view, this may work to their advantage.  But from a seller's, I would have to wonder if placing wares with an auction house that works this way makes sense.


Offline originalcinemaposters

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Re: Auctions and the Previewing of their wares
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2016, 09:41:01 AM »
I wont be using them again, i had a few excpetional prices acheived but most went for lower of estimate. Would have been better off letting them drip out on ebay. Glad i didnt put the crown jewels on consigment!