Creative auction house descriptions

[CW]

"Dripping with gloss" is a good one.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by CW

"Dripping with gloss" is a good one.

I have seen "Dripping with Gloss" on cards that were not supposed to have ANY gloss!!! (think 1948 Bowmans, et al)....to me, that makes me question whether they even looked at the card.

[asoriano]

"elite centering"

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by asoriano

"elite centering"

Yeah that is annoying as hell. LOL. Just in case you couldn't tell from the picture.

[drcy]

My dad often said put on your resume only that which is you can prove as accurate if someone questions you about it. If you put on your resume that you were "special assistant to Stanley Kubrick," assume someone will ask you about that claim. If you really were a special assistant to the legendary movie director and can demonstrate it, by all means proudly include it. If you made it up or obviously exaggerated your position (You cleaned windows and served coffee in his offices part time one summer when you were 15), there's a good chance you will end up looking foolish and dishonest.

That's my approach to writing auction descriptions. If a superlative is accurate ("ultra rare," "finest example extant," "gorgeous"), there's no need to apologize for using it. If it isn't accurate or is an exaggeration, exclude it. You don't want to develop a 'Boy Who Cried Wolf' reputation, where bidders assume you're once again being full of BS even when the card really is "the finest example extant" or has "brilliant, radiant colors" as you write.

[slipk1068]

http://sterlingsportsauctions.com/Lo...ot-of-%282%29-



calling this Zimmerman card "diamond cut" is creative.

[Runscott]

It IS diamond cut. 'Diamond cut' doesn't mean it is shaped like a diamond, or even cut with multi facets.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by asoriano

"elite centering"

I've seen AH's boast about centering when the card isn't perfectly centered on the front, and the back centering is atrocious. I don't mind some of the over-bubbly descriptions, but don't insult my intelligence.

But I've never seen this particular description (elite centering). Not sure I would go with that one, even if I was prone to lying.