RIAC 19-22 February 2015 Auction

[sheepherder]

I mentioned in another thread that I usually got the catalog or at least a flyer for the RIAC auctions, but still haven't received one for this auction...In fact, I'm not even sure what weekend it is...

...But I got a telephone call at ~10:30am this morning from a RIAC representative asking me if I'd received the catalog for this auction...

...Huh???...They're asking me???

I told him no, and he assured me that I was welcome to browse the online catalog ("the pictures are much bigger") and to let them know if the catalog didn't show up...

...Very strange...

[Edward Tinker]

They are pushing this sale for some reason....

[Diver6106]

Yah, I got a catalog - for free. If I get one, I usually go in and put a couple of bids in at the low end. Haven't won, but I guess that keeps me on the catalog list, or maybe for surplus if they over print.?

[alvin]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

...Very strange...

Not very strange. You could forget their auction session.

If you forget it, that implies nothing attracts you in the session. So, why bother calling? But I noticed auction house always has a lady sitting at the front desk answering phones. She's paid anyway, so, find her some work to do

Have you checked Carol Watson's catalog? A collector is selling his collection, even CC's inside, not many people have it and it's seldom listed for sale. Supposed to be a final summary sale. That catalog contains quite a few rare Lugers.

[Dwight Gruber]

Many of these pistols listed as "John Siroonian estate". Anybody know who he was?

--Dwight

[alvin]

There was some info here.

http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...-1939-HK/page3

For collectors considering high-end Lugers, there was one dealer hard to bypass. I guess he caused lots of damage to Luger community in the long term, many years after his death, the impact will still be felt... but still case by case..

The situation is not unlike Beijing's Rolex market.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

Not very strange. You could forget their auction session.

It's strange they're asking if I received their catalog. Like they know that some bidders didn't.

No, I wasn't aware of any 'Carol Watson' auction. Have you got a URL???

[alvin]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

It's strange they're asking if I received their catalog. Like they know that some bidders didn't.

What would you expect her to start the conversation.... I mean, she could not say "Hey, we have not received your bid yet" That would be too pushing... so, you know, "Have you received our catalog", "Anything we can help you with", etc. Normal. That does not imply they thought catalogs being lost.

No, I wasn't aware of any 'Carol Watson' auction. Have you got a URL???

https://cwocauctions.proxibid.com/as....asp?ahid=4840

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

What would you expect her to start the conversation...

"Hello Mr Fong, this is Julie from Rock Island Auction house. I'm calling to let you know that our phone lines and online bidding operators will be available from 0800 EST to 0530 EST 19 to 22 February for your bidding pleasure...blah blah blah"...

No need to mention catalog. In fact, every reason NOT to mention it, as not all RIAC web site visitors receive catalogs/flyers.

I would hazard a guess that there was a snafu somewhere; printer, mailing distributor, dropship shipper...Maybe PC crash & mailing list corrupted...etc...

Also good way to update/check bidder phone number. I think I would expect an email also sometime before bidding starts.

Also strange that representative [man in this instance] didn't ask if snail mail address was correct when I mentioned I did not receive catalog. Or ask if FFL was up to date. Or if CC information was current.

Lot of strange things about this phone call. Why phone? Why not email? Why this one time, after 3 - 4 years of bidding/auctions? Why mention catalog?

Very strange...

[Arizona Slim]

[

https://cwocauctions.proxibid.com/as....asp?ahid=4840[/QUOTE]

Unless things have changed in the last couple of years at Carol Watson's Auction's it would be adviseable to avoid bidding through Proxibid or any other outside company as they add 3% to your bidders fee. That information came from a representative from Carol Watson's. Hope this helps.

Lon

[alvin]

Yeah. They gave 3% discount if bid by phone and pay by check or cash. So BP will be 12%. But for high-end guns cost so much, better go there to handle them in hand. Auction sale is usually final. Return things back to them is almost impossible.

[alvin]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

"Hello Mr Fong, this is Julie from Rock Island Auction house. I'm calling to let you know that our phone lines and online bidding operators will be available from 0800 EST to 0530 EST 19 to 22 February for your bidding pleasure...blah blah blah"...

It's quite amount of work to call a few thousand of bidders. They are pushing... 7000 guns, that's not a small number. While we are seeing some mid and high end guns are struggling in auctions, what would be the auction performance of low end guns? We'll see. Could be surprisingly high, but I doubt that.

[Arizona Slim]

I should add that at this time there doesn't seem to be a way to log in to your account and view their catalog without going through Proxibid. I sent an email to Carol Watson's Co. to find out if some changes were made. If I get an answer I will post it here.

Lon

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

It's quite amount of work to call a few thousand of bidders...

Long distance phone charges too.

I put in a bid [RIAC], maybe that will get me more catalogs. No hope of winning, but should keep me on mailing list.

Wait! Snail-mail just came! Could it be RIAC catalog???

...No catalog. Just bills.

I am forever loser in auction wars.

[alvin]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I am forever loser in auction wars.

No problem. That's a sign -- you have already setup a collection. So only very special ones interest you. Or, very undervalued ones.

Initially, I did not count cost much. But gradually found, I am losing more and more in auction. Espeically after I start selling some guns from collection. There is always a "how much can I sell this one" in my mind -- although I am a collector not a dealer.

But who knows... remember that M711 sold via RIAC in 2011? I bid there, my cap was $12k, BP included will be its book value (RIAC's low estimate). People pushed it... I was out after the 1st round. Not expecting I could find another one in merely a few years, at a fraction of the cost. Probably only once in lifetime though.

Sometimes, you would hear this: "Gun is a good gun, but you don't leave me any profit". That means the viewer has already have it, or it's not in his/her planning. So, it's not for him/her.

[tomaustin]

i received the same phone call from RIAC on my recorder....said it was a follow-up to insure i would have the latest info.....whatever that meant.....

[Diver6106]

... but I don't mind the free catalogs. It helps me review the auction and get some nice pictures of collector pieces.

[sheepherder]

No phone call or email reminder yesterday or today...I wonder if this weekend's auction has been postponed due to storms???

Has anyone heard???

[alvin]

Most bidders will bid via phone or internet. No need to postpone. There are some people sitting in the bidding room, yes, but most of them are local. Did you plan to fly there originally?

[sheepherder]

No, no plans to fly in. I don't even know what state they're in...

Update: I received an email reminder about an hour ago date/stamped 2/19/2015 8:45 pm about the auction which has been going on for a day and a half now...