ANNOYING AUCTION HOUSE SALE TERMS

I bid on and won a lot that piqued my interest this week. It was not in the numismatic field, instead it was in the art field. Amidst hundreds of paintings and sculptures, was a handful of reliefs of numismatic interest. The auction rules were so stringent that made sure you really wanted to bid on a particular lot -- and that you would pay for it promptly.

Please, if you are an executive of a numismatic auction firm do not read any further. I sincerely hope these conditions and higher buyers fees are not adopted in the numismatic field. Perhaps coin auction houses are aware of the conditions in other fields, but this was my first exposure to how some art auction houses are tightening the screws.

Not everyone reads the auction rules in front of the catalog or itemized on an internet auction. These should be read before every new auction. In effect, the auction house is declaring: "These are the conditions in which you can bid on our lots; if you don't like it, don't bid."

I ordered the catalog by phone and had to give my credit card number. The buyers fee in this auction is 25%. If you attend in person the buyers fee is 26% (plus the states sales tax). That discouraged attending in person and bidding from the floor.

I elected to bid by phone. I called again to register. They required my credit card number again. You have that already I said. "Sorry, that's another department. We don't pass around credit card numbers." Obviously they needed your phone number and first lot you wish to bid on.

A pleasant-voice clerk called five lots before the one I want to bid on, while the auction was being called. I asked how she preferred to learn of my advance. We agreed "bid' was satisfactory.

My lot was estimated at $1800 to $2000. It opened at half the low estimate. That told me they had no mail bids. "Bid" I said. I could hear the auctioneer state my bid, "$1,000."

Over $1,000 the increments increased. "$1,200." That is a floor bid said Lovely-Voice. "Bid" I said. I heard the auctioneer announce $1,400." He repeated it and no further bids. I had won the lot. Mr. Floor Bidder -- if he did exist -- had dropped out.

I was happy to obtain the lot at $1400. My preset limit was $2200. So I was well ahead and obviously delighted. Had I submitted a $2200 mail bid, I wondered in my mind where the lot would have opened, and what it would have been knocked down at.

Two days later the invoice arrived. The two credit card numbers given previously were not needed. They preferred wire transfer or personal check. But checks were to be made out to a name different from the name of the auction house.

To encourage prompt payment the invoice stated the buyers fee would have a 3% discount if paid in ten days. I calculated the fee at 22% instead of 25%.and added that to the $1400 hammer price. Then wrote the check.

The auction house does not do the shipping. I had to sign a form authorizing a different firm to package and ship the material. Here again a request for a credit card number. When that invoice arrives I wonder it that charge will indeed go on the credit card this time, or another request for personal check.

Wayne Homren, Editor

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