What is the point of the "Buyer's Premium"?

raulus · #1 09-21-2022, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

It's a shell game, plain and simple, but one that you're basically stuck playing at this point.

Thanks for being willing to admit it, even if others seem less convinced on this point.

Aquarian Sports Cards · #2 09-21-2022, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raulus

Thanks for being willing to admit it, even if others seem less convinced on this point.

It's literally just moving the money we collect from one party to another. Doesn't seem any rational way to deny it.

Orioles1954 · #3 09-21-2022, 03:07 PM

.

Orioles1954 · #4 09-21-2022, 03:07 PM

In the heat of competition many bidders, the majority of whom are intelligent and successful people, lose a sense of boundaries and proportion.

raulus · #5 09-21-2022, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

It's literally just moving the money we collect from one party to another. Doesn't seem any rational way to deny it.

Exactly!

For those who aren�t fans, I think the bigger issue is that we want to pay less for our items. And the premium means that we�re paying more, not less. It�s less about the premium and more just complaining that we have to pay so much period, and the premium happens to be a convenient scapegoat.

And I guess those who defend it want to think the best of their fellow men, their motives and approach to conducting business. And I certainly applaud their approach.

My own feeling is I�ve given up caring. It�s there, and it�s there for a reason, some of which are benign, some less so, and the only way around it is to opt out of bidding in these auctions altogether. Since all of the nicest stuff ends up in these auctions, that�s a fairly poor option. I�m not convinced that ascribing pejorative motives to the auction houses helps me to feel any better about it, although maybe there�s some cathartic effect to expressing a disdain for it in general.

Johnny630 · #6 09-21-2022, 03:27 PM

I've noticed over the years that card shows are becoming less and less filled with Nrmt or Better Cards. Those all go to auction houses. If they are at shows they're asking auction house prices those of which do not sell at the shows. Several dealer friends of mine told me last year that tried selling their higher-end stuff at shows to no avail. Sent to a major auction house, REA, and did better than 25% over their asking price at shows, it's a big divergence. Big money and big egos show up at MA's !!

puckpaul · #7 09-21-2022, 03:31 PM

Well, i just shopped around to sell some minor art pieces (mom cleaning out our old house) and it�s a whole different game there�27.5% buyers premium and 10% sellers commission (this can be reduced with some negotiation AND a big enough amount of material which isn�t small). So, the card AHs seem cheap now!

Aquarian Sports Cards · #8 09-21-2022, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckpaul

Well, i just shopped around to sell some minor art pieces (mom cleaning out our old house) and it�s a whole different game there�27.5% buyers premium and 10% sellers commission (this can be reduced with some negotiation AND a big enough amount of material which isn�t small). So, the card AHs seem cheap now!

You don't even want to look at general estate rates. often 40% plus 15% AND they sock you with assorted fees, labor, transportation, photography, advertising etc... Even when I was in auction school I couldn't figure out why you would have to add fees on top of your rates. Again it's a shell game.

puckpaul · #9 09-21-2022, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

You don't even want to look at general estate rates. often 40% plus 15% AND they sock you with assorted fees, labor, transportation, photography, advertising etc... Even when I was in auction school I couldn't figure out why you would have to add fees on top of your rates. Again it's a shell game.

Yeah, they �waived� the $50/piece photography and listing fees and other fees. I did tell them i did a lot of sports memorabilia auctions and getting 40% of the value seemed awfully high to me.

Snowman · #10 09-21-2022, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny630

I've noticed over the years that card shows are becoming less and less filled with Nrmt or Better Cards. Those all go to auction houses. If they are at shows they're asking auction house prices those of which do not sell at the shows. Several dealer friends of mine told me last year that tried selling their higher-end stuff at shows to no avail. Sent to a major auction house, REA, and did better than 25% over their asking price at shows, it's a big divergence. Big money and big egos show up at MA's !!

This is certainly true for cards that are easy to find otherwise, but for extremely high-demand key cards that are dead-centered with superior eye appeal, and thus very difficult to find, sellers can often ask pretty much whatever they want, within reason, and they'll find a buyer.

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