Poor Consignment Experience

cjedmonton · #1 06-16-2013, 05:14 PM

Ooo, fun! While we're airing private emails on a public forum, I've got one.

The bottom of this post features my response to the invoice for proceeds due.

In response to the consignee's weak defence of "you never asked to amend the title" argument, I should not have had to hold your crew's hand by specifically asking that you draft a meaningful and effective auction.

Granted, these were all lower profile items than most that were listed. Nonetheless, I am a paying customer. I should have, without question, been entitled to a quality listing that would best market the items to interested bidders.

If I had a Mathewson autograph, should I have overtly asked them not to list it as a "pre-war Bucknell scholar turned National League star pitcher"? If it were Cobb...please don't say "ex-Tigers great turned shrewd businessman and early Coca-Cola stockholder."? Give me a break.

I stated earlier in this thread that I have throughly washed my hands of this matter. Nothing's changed, other than a decade+ spent collecting those autographs and more money than I care to admit.

The silver lining is that the ordeal is over and the amount lost is not a life-changer. I just want to move on.

-------------------------

6/14/2013

To Whom it May Concern,

I hereby reject this invoice. Please do not forward these proceeds to me or they will be returned.

As suspected (and discussed with Josh Wulkan), this was a poorly constructed listing which I am certain resulted in several hundred dollars being left on the table. Surely this can be acknowledged.

If not, here is a recent example of what just one of the key signatures in this lot (in the same form) commanded:

https://www.premierauctionsonline.co...px?lotid=36361

For the others, simply refer to Quality Autographs for their retail prices as a starting point. Even by deeply discounting those figures, you will see that several of the key signatures were lost in the fray due to the poor format and ambiguous title.

My personal expectations aside, I am thoroughly disappointed with the lack of attention given to this lot.

I fully understand the nature of an open auction environment, and realize that bidding tendencies can fluctuate wildly in such a setting. However, the auction as it was presented was such a disservice to the rarity and quality of these autographs, I would rather waive the $295 in proceeds than accept that disservice.

I do not wish to discuss this matter any further.

Chris Jenkins

thenavarro · #2 06-16-2013, 05:41 PM

Chris,

If they send you the proceeds and you still feel like you can't accept them, I would be happy to request that you send them to the Ellis County Children's Advocacy Center, Inc. They are a 501(c)3 organization that serves my County and I have been their volunteer board Treasurer since 1998. We provide a child friendly environment for children to make outcries of sexual or severe physical abuse, and we interview each child by a forensic interviewer who is trained to capture all the information that the different law enforcement agencies (CPS, the State, City, County, etc) need in order so that the child doesn't have to continue reliving that trauma with each interview otherwise. Additionally, we have a counselor that provides services to the child and non offending family members after their outcry. It would be a good use of those proceeds rather then having an auction house that you are not happy with keep them

If this is an option you would like to choose, feel free to PM me and I'll send you their address and executive director's name.

Thanks,

Mike

cjedmonton · #3 06-16-2013, 06:41 PM

Hi Mike,

Sounds like a very worthwhile cause. If they insist on sending the proceeds to me, I will gladly donate it to this cause.

Please PM me with the details.

Thanks,
Chris

scooter729 · #4 06-17-2013, 08:31 AM

Sorry to see this went down the way it did for you, Chris.

One thing I'm curious about - you said you would end up with a net of $295 from the auction. Since the final bid price (without premium) was $550, how do you get the $295 figure? That would mean their percentage of the final bid is nearly half. Or are you factoring in some other costs on your end? Just curious where the $295 came from.

Thanks....

cjedmonton · #5 06-17-2013, 02:49 PM

15% commission plus $172.50 in authentication fees.

A perfect time for me to step back from the hobby for now.

At least I found a home for the proceeds if they send a check against my wishes.

Griffins · #6 06-17-2013, 04:21 PM

you were charged a sellers fee AND had to pay the authentication fees?

sb1 · #7 06-17-2013, 04:48 PM

I have been wondering about the net as well. There are a myriad of auction companies that would have charged you ZERO sellers fee and depending on the grading, which most get a discount on, might have passed on some of that savings to you as well.

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