auction house experience

Battara · 26th March 2016, 04:08 AM

And please check with your country's laws regarding import of weaponry and ivory..........

silberschatzimsee · 26th March 2016, 04:53 PM

Thanks for your nice advice guys!

Next time i must prepare myself better though/fatten my piggy bank more.

All lots i liked went way beyond their upper valuation price. Must have been because its easter or something like that. Since i am only a beginner i was also not prepared to fight that hard for single pieces.

So i still have to wait for my first weapon purchase.

Gavin Nugent · 26th March 2016, 11:54 PM

Beware. There are many fakes, many composite pieces and many inaccurate descriptions. If something is not shown, ask for more images as there is often issues not shown...They also carry many fine and interesting items.

Sorry you missed your item.

Gavin

machinist · 27th March 2016, 01:07 AM

Do they take care of shipping or would I have to make arrangements? I miss out on European auctions because I worry and am a bit shy about shipping and language issues.

VANDOO · 27th March 2016, 01:33 AM

THE GOOD NEWS IS AUCTION PRICES ARE ALIVE AND WELL IN ITALY.

THE BAD NEWS IS YOU HAD BETTER HAVE VERY DEEP POCKETS IF YOU WANT TO BUY SOME OF THE ITEMS. FOR INSTANCE AN ITEM I BID ON WAS ESTIMATED AT 150 TO 200 EUROS, IT SOLD FOR 1400.00 EU. DON'T GET DISCOURAGED IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING COLLECTING AS I BID ON FIVE ITEMS AND DID NOT WIN ONE AND HAVE BEEN COLLECTING SINCE THE 1960'S. ITS A MATTER OF LUCK OR WANTING SOMETHING THE FELLOWS WITH UNLIMITED MONEY DON'T WANT OR DON'T SEE. KEEP TRYING AS A FEW CRUMBS DO FALL OFF THE BIG BOYS TABLE OCCASIONALLY.

estcrh · 27th March 2016, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machinist

Do they take care of shipping or would I have to make arrangements? I miss out on European auctions because I worry and am a bit shy about shipping and language issues.

Read the fine print, shipping policys are usually posted, or just ask them by email.

CSinTX · 28th March 2016, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

Beware. There are many fakes, many composite pieces and many inaccurate descriptions. If something is not shown, ask for more images as there is often issues not shown...for a company in business for so long I personally expect better...They also carry many fine and interesting items.

Sorry you missed your item.

Gavin

very accurate synopsis.

corrado26 · 28th March 2016, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSinTX

very accurate synopsis.

this is the reason why I never buy in auctions since the beginning of my collecting now more than 50 years ago.
corrado26

A. G. Maisey · 28th March 2016, 11:40 PM

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".

Ian · 29th March 2016, 02:16 AM

Alan:

Thanks for your comments. I have had similar experiences. Many successful bidders at arms and armor auctions are wealthy (at least they spend a lot more than I can afford), and there seem to be many more people these days with large amounts of cash to spend with gay abandon. With online bidding for live auctions at many of the larger auction houses, it's often not the person in the room who is one's main competitor--and who knows who they are and where they may be bidding from.

What would you like to see in place of the large auction houses, Alan?

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

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".

estcrh · 29th March 2016, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corrado26

this is the reason why I never buy in auctions since the beginning of my collecting now more than 50 years ago.
corrado26

You never bought anything from Ebay? There is not much difference between Ebay and an auction house except the buyers premium.

A. G. Maisey · 29th March 2016, 09:45 AM

Oh yes, I've bought from ebay:- batteries, photographic gear, bicycle parts, exercise gear, other stuff I forget.

But I have not bought any keris nor any of the other things I collect.

Nor have I ever sold any of this type of thing on ebay.

The reason I have not bought collectables or art works from ebay is that I do not buy from very poor photographs nor inaccurate descriptions. I do not like to gamble.

If I bought and I found that I had bought a dud, I am not in the position where I can simply recycle the item and resell through ebay, as so many people do, thus, a bad buy for me is absolutely, 100% dead money. I'm stuck with it.

The big difference between ebay and a live auction is that at a live auction I can go to the viewing and thoroughly examine the items to be auctioned. I would know exactly what the item is that I'm bidding on, and I will also know the market value of that item at several different levels.

I do not buy from on-line auctions either, for precisely the same reason I do not buy from ebay.

corrado26 · 29th March 2016, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estcrh

You never bought anything from Ebay? There is not much difference between Ebay and an auction house except the buyers premium.

Oh yes there is a very, very big difference between auction houses and eBay in Germany, because eBay in Germany does not allow to offer weapons because of German laws. So nobody is able to buy pistols, swords, daggers, knifes etc. at eBay.
In the last 50 years I managed to build up a well functioning net of connections in the field of arms collecting in whole Europe that I am not forced to buy at auctions and so I avoid to make rich the owners of auction houses.
corrado26

estcrh · 27th March 2016, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silberschatzimsee

Thanks for your nice advice guys!

Next time i must prepare myself better though/fatten my piggy bank more.

All lots i liked went way beyond their upper valuation price.

What were you looking at?

Here are some things I was watching just for fun. Ottoman silahlik (weapons belt) 750 Euro / $830 US, Indian serated blade haladie 1700 Euro / $1898, Japanese kusari katabira and zukin (mail armor jacket and hood) 750 Euro / $830 US.

26th March 2016, 11:54 PM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Beware. There are many fakes, many composite pieces and many inaccurate descriptions. If something is not shown, ask for more images as there is often issues not shown...They also carry many fine and interesting items. Sorry you missed your item. Gavin Last edited by Ian; 29th March 2016 at 07:58 PM. Reason: PLease keep negative comments to more general discussion, and send specific comments via PM or email

26th March 2016, 04:08 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	And please check with your country's laws regarding import of weaponry and ivory..........

26th March 2016, 04:53 PM	#2
silberschatzimsee Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 90	Thanks for your nice advice guys! Next time i must prepare myself better though/fatten my piggy bank more. All lots i liked went way beyond their upper valuation price. Must have been because its easter or something like that. Since i am only a beginner i was also not prepared to fight that hard for single pieces. So i still have to wait for my first weapon purchase.

27th March 2016, 01:07 AM	#4
machinist Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 93	Do they take care of shipping or would I have to make arrangements? I miss out on European auctions because I worry and am a bit shy about shipping and language issues.

27th March 2016, 01:33 AM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE GOOD NEWS IS AUCTION PRICES ARE ALIVE AND WELL IN ITALY. THE BAD NEWS IS YOU HAD BETTER HAVE VERY DEEP POCKETS IF YOU WANT TO BUY SOME OF THE ITEMS. FOR INSTANCE AN ITEM I BID ON WAS ESTIMATED AT 150 TO 200 EUROS, IT SOLD FOR 1400.00 EU. DON'T GET DISCOURAGED IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING COLLECTING AS I BID ON FIVE ITEMS AND DID NOT WIN ONE AND HAVE BEEN COLLECTING SINCE THE 1960'S. ITS A MATTER OF LUCK OR WANTING SOMETHING THE FELLOWS WITH UNLIMITED MONEY DON'T WANT OR DON'T SEE. KEEP TRYING AS A FEW CRUMBS DO FALL OFF THE BIG BOYS TABLE OCCASIONALLY.

28th March 2016, 11:40 PM	#9
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	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".

29th March 2016, 09:45 AM	#12
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Oh yes, I've bought from ebay:- batteries, photographic gear, bicycle parts, exercise gear, other stuff I forget. But I have not bought any keris nor any of the other things I collect. Nor have I ever sold any of this type of thing on ebay. The reason I have not bought collectables or art works from ebay is that I do not buy from very poor photographs nor inaccurate descriptions. I do not like to gamble. If I bought and I found that I had bought a dud, I am not in the position where I can simply recycle the item and resell through ebay, as so many people do, thus, a bad buy for me is absolutely, 100% dead money. I'm stuck with it. The big difference between ebay and a live auction is that at a live auction I can go to the viewing and thoroughly examine the items to be auctioned. I would know exactly what the item is that I'm bidding on, and I will also know the market value of that item at several different levels. I do not buy from on-line auctions either, for precisely the same reason I do not buy from ebay.