auction house experience

A. G. Maisey · 29th March 2016, 02:04 AM

I've never given much thought to it Ian.

Going back far into the past I used to buy at auction frequently. No buyers premium, auctioneers charged 10% of the hammer price, no GST (VAT). These days its a totally different ball game.

As you say there are telephone bidders and they bid from all over. At the auction I attended they had I don't know how many people up front taking calls and doing all sorts of funny things. Not like the old days when it was an auctioneer and a penciller.

Used to be simple, now its complex and the commissions and premiums pay for the complexity.

Replace this circus with what?

I don't know.

ebay and other similar sites seem to work OK for some people.

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29th March 2016, 02:04 AM	#11
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,990	I've never given much thought to it Ian. Going back far into the past I used to buy at auction frequently. No buyers premium, auctioneers charged 10% of the hammer price, no GST (VAT). These days its a totally different ball game. As you say there are telephone bidders and they bid from all over. At the auction I attended they had I don't know how many people up front taking calls and doing all sorts of funny things. Not like the old days when it was an auctioneer and a penciller. Used to be simple, now its complex and the commissions and premiums pay for the complexity. Replace this circus with what? I don't know. ebay and other similar sites seem to work OK for some people.