Auction 18.5% ++++

hayhugh · 02-25-2015, 02:55 PM

Looking at last weeks auction and having won a couple of guns before on same type auctions, I now have a couple of questions:

I have had the experience of being charged 18.5 to 20% plus shipping & handling plus 3% internet fees. Question #1 How much does it cost the seller to sell on these auctions? I am sure there is S&H to the auction house - is there a registration fee?

Between what the seller has to pay and what the buyer has to pay, that adds up to quite a substantial "Middleman's" fee!

Are there any forum members interested in selling at a reduced fee to help eliminate the middleman?

I bid on three guns this last weekend and was out-bid by $500.00 to 1000.00 on each bid. Maybe my expectations are to great on maybe I was at the wrong auction. Someone was making money but there did not seem to be any "good deals"

Edward Tinker · 02-25-2015, 03:40 PM

One thing to keep in mind, is that although proxibid (if you have used that) is convenient, that you should bid on the actual site.

Plus, cash or check saves you 3% - which adds up

For Sellers, it depends on which auction site I think.

Ed

mrerick · 02-25-2015, 05:05 PM

The sellers usually pay a fee that is anywhere from 15 to 30 percent.

There are quite a few costs to promoting and organizing an auction, but it does make a popular auction house quite a bit of money...

Marc

hayhugh · 02-25-2015, 07:42 PM

The Rock Island Auction was using at least two bidding houses (Proxibid and Invaluable) to accept bids and if you did not watch it you could be bidding against yourself.

I can only assume that the guns were at the RIA site and packaged and shipped from that site after payment was verified. Once the gun is in the hands of RIA that you can't buy the gun from another dealer for less money. Too much shipping and changing of hands to make it plausible. So once you see the gun in the catalog or on the RIA , Proxibid or Invaluable website, the only place to buy the gun would be online. Is this not true? I am asking this of someone who has actually sold a gun through an auction...

alvin · 02-25-2015, 08:27 PM

Have not sold anything from auction houses yet. No experience. But I will. A couple of expensive guns had some issues, but I was not allowed to return them back. Those two will be sent to the same auction houses for sale in future. No other choices. There are at least two advantages: (1) Since I am not the direct seller, I know nothing so I don't have to reveal anything. No such a burden; (2) if they use the same old description, that's fair. I have the old catalog.

hayhugh · 03-04-2015, 03:50 PM

OK, from what I have learned here the seller of a gun has to pay the auction 15% + and the buyer has to pay @20% on top of what he bid.
So say I want to buy and bid $2500.00 on a Navy Luger. The seller would realize @ $2125.00 and I would end up paying $3000.00 on this gun. This does not seem like a good deal for the seller or buyer.
I am going over to the Want To Buy section and see If anyone on this forum can get me a better deal then the auctions

I would like to buy a pre 20's navy luger in the $2500.00 range (+/- a couple of hundred) I do not want a collector grade, just a good honest gun! Lets see what happens....

02-25-2015, 03:40 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,995 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	One thing to keep in mind, is that although proxibid (if you have used that) is convenient, that you should bid on the actual site. Plus, cash or check saves you 3% - which adds up For Sellers, it depends on which auction site I think. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

02-25-2015, 05:05 PM	#3
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,901 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	The sellers usually pay a fee that is anywhere from 15 to 30 percent. There are quite a few costs to promoting and organizing an auction, but it does make a popular auction house quite a bit of money... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

02-25-2015, 02:55 PM	#1
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	Auction 18.5% ++++ Looking at last weeks auction and having won a couple of guns before on same type auctions, I now have a couple of questions: I have had the experience of being charged 18.5 to 20% plus shipping & handling plus 3% internet fees. Question #1 How much does it cost the seller to sell on these auctions? I am sure there is S&H to the auction house - is there a registration fee? Between what the seller has to pay and what the buyer has to pay, that adds up to quite a substantial "Middleman's" fee! Are there any forum members interested in selling at a reduced fee to help eliminate the middleman? I bid on three guns this last weekend and was out-bid by $500.00 to 1000.00 on each bid. Maybe my expectations are to great on maybe I was at the wrong auction. Someone was making money but there did not seem to be any "good deals"

02-25-2015, 07:42 PM	#4
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	The Rock Island Auction was using at least two bidding houses (Proxibid and Invaluable) to accept bids and if you did not watch it you could be bidding against yourself. I can only assume that the guns were at the RIA site and packaged and shipped from that site after payment was verified. Once the gun is in the hands of RIA that you can't buy the gun from another dealer for less money. Too much shipping and changing of hands to make it plausible. So once you see the gun in the catalog or on the RIA , Proxibid or Invaluable website, the only place to buy the gun would be online. Is this not true? I am asking this of someone who has actually sold a gun through an auction...

02-25-2015, 08:27 PM	#5
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Have not sold anything from auction houses yet. No experience. But I will. A couple of expensive guns had some issues, but I was not allowed to return them back. Those two will be sent to the same auction houses for sale in future. No other choices. There are at least two advantages: (1) Since I am not the direct seller, I know nothing so I don't have to reveal anything. No such a burden; (2) if they use the same old description, that's fair. I have the old catalog.

03-04-2015, 03:50 PM	#6
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	OK, from what I have learned here the seller of a gun has to pay the auction 15% + and the buyer has to pay @20% on top of what he bid. So say I want to buy and bid $2500.00 on a Navy Luger. The seller would realize @ $2125.00 and I would end up paying $3000.00 on this gun. This does not seem like a good deal for the seller or buyer. I am going over to the Want To Buy section and see If anyone on this forum can get me a better deal then the auctions I would like to buy a pre 20's navy luger in the $2500.00 range (+/- a couple of hundred) I do not want a collector grade, just a good honest gun! Lets see what happens....