Heritage Auctions, revisited

[E93]

What they say they do and what their rules allow them to do are two entirely different things. I wish they would modify their rules to bring them in line with what they claim are their actual practices.

According to rule #21 as I understand it they could check all "absentee bids" and max them out a minute before closing the auction. I know they claim they do not do that. So why not change rule #21? I would love it if Chris Ivy would respond to this.
JimB

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by E93

What they say they do and what their rules allow them to do are two entirely different things. I wish they would modify their rules to bring them in line with what they claim are their actual practices.

According to rule #21 as I understand it they could check all "absentee bids" and max them out a minute before closing the auction. I know they claim they do not do that. So why not change rule #21? I would love it if Chris Ivy would respond to this.
JimB

He explained to me about changing the actual rules. While I wish their system was better, it at least made sense. You might want to call him if you have issues.

I did tell him I thought the more transparency in the hobby the better, and he agreed. On the other hand, he said that he was in a situation where he would never make everyone happy. I had to agree with that.

My feelings, and I relayed this to him, was that I understood how he could take a day a week just putting out fires. But I thought this was bigger than many issues, it got a lot of people angry, and I think he (and HA) would benefit from taking the time to come on here himself to state their policies once and for all. I also let him know that I thought Jonathon was not a particularly good spokesperson on the forum, he seems to inflate more than explain. Just my opinion, but from reading the threads, I'll bet I'm not alone.

Ken

[travrosty]

Originally Posted by E93

What they say they do and what their rules allow them to do are two entirely different things. I wish they would modify their rules to bring them in line with what they claim are their actual practices.

According to rule #21 as I understand it they could check all "absentee bids" and max them out a minute before closing the auction. I know they claim they do not do that. So why not change rule #21? I would love it if Chris Ivy would respond to this.
JimB

me too, why not officially restrict themselves to what they are claiming they are doing already. nothing to lose on their part, and it would only show everyone else they are serious about it.

[Jaybird]

Originally Posted by travrosty

me too, why not officially restrict themselves to what they are claiming they are doing already. nothing to lose on their part, and it would only show everyone else they are serious about it.

good question. I can't think of many possible reasons not to amend their official rules.

[Fuddjcal]

Heritage can call it whatever Heritige likes. Fudd calls it Shill Bidding...but I wonder if it is "legally" called shill bidding because "they tell you up front" they are shill bidding? I just like the word shill...

If I'm reading the definition right from Wikipedia it makes sense.


"A shill, plant, or stooge is a person who publicly helps a person or organization without disclosing that he has a close relationship with that person or organization. Shill typically refers to someone who purposely gives onlookers the impression that he is an enthusiastic independent customer of a seller (or marketer of ideas) for whom he is secretly working. The person or group who hires the shill is using crowd psychology, to encourage other onlookers or audience members to purchase the goods or services (or accept the ideas being marketed). Shills are often employed by professional marketing campaigns. Plant and stooge more commonly refer to any person who is secretly in league with another person or organization while pretending to be neutral or actually a part of the organization he is planted in, such as a magician's audience, a political party, or an intelligence organization"