I've had a few... none catastrophic, though. One reason I like Hunts, is that they will set a reasonable reserve in many cases. So you can't get burned too badly. I have had a few items fail to make their reserve, for which I was very thankful. It saved me losing a few hundred dollars on each piece.
In this current economy, it is more important than ever for consignors. I know that bidders and prospective buyers like to bitch and moan about "hidden reserves" but they really do serve as an important safeguard to the consignor.
That said, the worst beating I ever experienced was in a Bricol auction. It was one of those Crosley Field Stadium Seats in nice condition with all-original paint and the figural "C-Reds" on the side panel. Purchased it for $950, and just shipping it was another $100. It ultimately sold for under $300, so I realized maybe $250. I don't use Bricol much anymore, except for the very low-end consignments that other auction houses won't look at.
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