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Albums and Auctions

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 9:38 pm
by Pigeon Post
What do people feel about an auction listing an Edwardian album as a "super collection" with a high valuation and it turns out to be an album full of what are very evidently a dealer's unsaleable rejects..... the vast majority very poor to abysmal condition, some not even cards, many unidentifiable locations, some with prices on the back, no two recipients the same etc etc.

Yes I know I shouldn't have bid on it without seeing it but I had been to several local auctions and missed out, so resorted to bidding online at an auction too far away to travel to, making the mistake of trusting the auction's description.

Re: Albums and Auctions

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:12 am
by CollectIreland
Caveat Emptor! There's real no other answer to this because if you bid online it's what you're up against. Did you leave, or threaten to leave, negative feedback? I find that even with online auctions it's fairly easy to spot dubious listings, but then I'm on the auction scene for more years than I care to remember. Chalk it down to experience. :)

Re: Albums and Auctions

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 2:58 pm
by kevinramsdale
I think this most likely a case of online bidding at a normal auction using something like http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb ?

Had it been purchased at a purely online auction site you would actually be in a stronger position - on eBay for example this could have been readily returned as "not as described" with the seller paying the return postage cost.

Re: Albums and Auctions

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 4:14 pm
by Pigeon Post
Yes you are right Kevin on both counts. I just thought professional experts at an auction house would see the difference between a 'super collection' in an album and a load of rubbish that has been deliberately put into an album. Clearly their descriptions can't be trusted, so what's the point of having expert valuers? It's been a very expensive learning experience.

Re: Albums and Auctions

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 4:31 pm
by eastlondonpostcard
Pigeon Post wrote:Yes you are right Kevin on both counts. I just thought professional experts at an auction house would see the difference between a 'super collection' in an album and a load of rubbish that has been deliberately put into an album. Clearly their descriptions can't be trusted, so what's the point of having expert valuers? It's been a very expensive learning experience.
If it was bought from a reputable auction house with a valuer's 'opinion' (even though Saleroom) , well then that should be questioned if you ask me. It is easy enough to tell the difference between a genuine 'lot' and the auction house should be made accountable for it's shortcomings here in my opinion.

Having said that, buying blind is always tempting fate, especially from an auction house you don't know well...

Re: Albums and Auctions

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:16 pm
by Dave43
someone has prob already said this but a lotta people get old empty albums and fill them with rubbish, it's prob best to buy the singles you want, like browse on Delcampe rather than buy job lots, which reminds me, what can I do with all these cards I bought and don't want!?