Auction purchase is fine, if you know what you're looking at and can handle it.
Purchase from selective photographs and descriptions written by people who do not know what they're looking at is never OK.
A couple of months ago, for the first time in about 20 years, I attended an auction of arms in Sydney. Many of the items offered I had sold to the previous owner of the goods on auction, and I did have a very good understanding of the nature, quality and market value of these items.
The prices realised were so high that they simply surpassed my understanding, most especially so when the 20% or 25% auctioneer's premium was added.
Many of these items were sold to buyers in other parts of Australia, and overseas, so those buyers were also hit with packing costs on top of the shipping.
I am coming to the opinion that traditional auctions have gone past their "use by date".
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