Graham Budd - Sporting Gold - Stacey's - all this week

[Tynie Topics]

Back on the subject of auctions, anyone noticed that despite the fact that many of the auctions are now online only, with no venue hire costs, the commission has gone up?

Also, I won a single programme at the last Mullocks auction and I was charged over £9 for p+p. It was posted Thursday but still not arrived (I guess a knock-on from strikes) and it transpires that for my £9.20-odd I got signed for delivery costing £3.45 max. I can't even track the damn thing! is the envelope gold plated.....

Who's kidding who here, are they not making enough via their ridiculous commission?
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[Stute2022]

It's a joke Tynie - you pay more for postage than you do for a bundle - not to mention the commission

[bee007]

It needs everyone to boycott these auctions until they charge postage according to item, i.e. 1 badge x amount, 1 programme x amount and reduce commission to reasonable levels. There was 1 item i was interested in at tomorrows auction, but at 24% commission it makes the item extremely expensive and not worth buying.

[Bokbag]

It feels like the only people missing out are the sellers. I think there were quite a few programmes which went unsold or cheaply at Sportingold this week. I bought one bundle for £22. I suspect it will be £32 by the time it’s sent. I am happy with that price but do wonder if people who only casually collect what I do would be put off?

What is the justification for 23% commission on bundle items (as discussed in another thread) and sky high postage? Surely that will put people off

[tackler7]

Yes P&P can be outrageous but they have you by the short and curlies.

I just grin and bear it and then try not to moan later!

[Tynie Topics]

On a £100 programme, a lot of auction houses are taking (pre VAT) £24 from the buyer and around £15 from the vendor, so they're really making almost 40% of hammer price from every lot.

I appreciate that isn't all profit, but it seems to be getting worse despite the fact that it's mostly online these days and therefore reduced venue hire costs.

Saleroom charges have also increased. Easylive is the only VFM part of the whole process if you pay your £3 up front.
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/footballprogrammes/albums

[ndg1860]

It would be interesting to look at what percentage of lots are passed in at auctions now compared to recently and further back in time. Before their lunch break at Graham Budds, it is 153 passed in of 274 lots offered or 56%.

It appears to me, by a simple viewing that the percentage is growing. While this also relates to the seller asking too much, one wonders if the number of buyers is diminishing given the lack of funds or possible future lack of funds. How many individuals will temporarily or permanently walk away from buying individual lots? How many more will see that they need to make ends meet and will commence selling their collection or, as many have done recently, dumping the whole lot at a dealer or auction house. With the possibilities of what could happen to the UK over the next 12 or so months, the effect on prices could be quite interesting. I guess we shall have to wait and see. Will that alter the auction house commissions? I rather doubt it.

[Bokbag]

Having never put anything into auction myself, I would be interested to know what fees a seller pays if you submit to auction and your lot doesn’t sell? I see 1888 put unsold lots through eBay Which seems an interesting way of shifting them.

I agree that what is going on in the country will be bound to affect prices negatively as people don’t have the disposable cash. I doubt it will effect commission, if anything I would bet it would increase to guarantee income from anything that does sell. It puts me off more expensive items that could potentially be found on eBay as it adds so much to the final price