posted on March 8, 2004 08:56:30 AM new
Overcome by curiosity, I took four items over to a local AuctionDrop store Saturday.
The items were:
-A handpainted silk sari
-A handpainted scenic backdrop from an amateur theatrical, circa 1860
-A Wave Crest milk glass piece, circa 1900
-A bag of new sterling jewelry
I thought others might be interested in the complete AuctionDrop experience. If not, move on to the next thread. Don't whine, please, it hurts my ears.
When we entered the store, there was no one in sight. Eventually a clerk came out of a backroom. I explained that he could skip the usual how-eBay-works spiel (not that it might not have been entertaining) and cut to the consignment part. I showed him the backdrop first. This is a full-length panel, oil on canvas, that hangs from a wooden rod. It shows a charming rose-laden woman in a pale pink dress walking down a path. It may be a classical figure, I don't know. The panel isn't signed.
Much to my surprise, the clerk refused to take it because I had no "provenance" and the panel wasn't signed by the artist. It is, however, very clearly quite old in every detail as well as very visually appealing.
I note here in passing that very few works of art actually are consigned to AuctionDrop. This is probably because a seller can get a better commission deal with any of the big auction houses. So the bit about no provenance was amusing to say the least.
Next up, the Wave Crest piece. Here, the clerk was in his element. He hopped on to eBay to research comparable pieces and his eyes lit up when he saw the auction results. You bet AD took it. What's important here is that without a search window on eBay, these folks don't know nuthin' about nuthin'. This clerk even said as much.
AD assigns an arbitrary "insurance value" to newly-consigned items. He valued this piece at $300.
So we move on to the bag of jewelry. I say that I want them to sell it all in one lot and I explain what the pieces are. He laboriously looks up each one on eBay and finally decides on an insurance value of $500 for the bag.
Last, the sari. I pass. There's nothing like it on eBay, and as this guy says, that's all they know.
The wrap-up: He says I will get two emails from AD almost immediately. The stuff will be sent to the San Carlos warehouse for photos, etc. but probably won't be listed for at least a week. I should see a check (if anything sells) in 5 1/2 weeks.
posted on March 8, 2004 09:21:23 AM new
let me know when they go under.
or they have found a way to make everyone works for free and have landlords who let them have the stores/warehouses for free.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on March 8, 2004 09:26:44 AM new
Verrry interesting, Fluff! Do keep us informed. Thanks for sharing this with us.
___________________________________
Have you noticed since everyone has a Camcorder these days no one talks
about seeing UFOs like they used to?
posted on March 8, 2004 09:31:05 AM new
Here is the commision schedule from their site....
Our commission is based on the item's final sales price, as follows:
38% of the first $200
30% of the next $300
20% of the remaining amount (over $500)
Minimum commission: $19.99
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 8, 2004 10:35:44 AM new
That's interesting that you say that Ace because isn't that the very kind of service you promote with a huge logo on your Me page? I find it strange that anyone would promote something that they know nothing about.
Or do you just use the e-powersellers name and logo to make people think you're a powerseller? lol
posted on March 8, 2004 05:42:27 PM new
how good are their photos??
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on March 12, 2004 12:00:59 PM newJust curious - what are the consignment terms? The Santa Margarita auction charges 15-30% depending on, I guess, final bid.
Actually, Lucy, I might want to consign that backdrop to the Santa Margarita auction. I think it would do very well there.
Gotta check the dates and schedule another trip down 101. We like SLO, particularly the Thursday night Farmer's Market, but Cuesta Grade scares the bejeezus out of me. Is that fixed yet?
posted on March 12, 2004 12:08:32 PM new
I am the first to admit that I know nothing about glass or antique jars etc but is having the price written and photographed on the bottom of the piece really advisable? I understand the value or a retail value price tag but those are quite detachable also considering the bids this has taken in the early moments, does the 450 put an unintentional cap on possible bidding amount?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 12, 2004 12:25:59 PM new
Hi fenix.
It was that way when we bought it way back when (and no, I didn't pay $450!) I wasn't sure whether or not AD would photograph that. Actually, I wasn't sure about a lot of the things they might do, so I gave some very specific instructions on certain aspects. Some they followed, some they didn't.
AuctionDrop auction descriptions are written not so much to sell the item, but to make sure AD has no liability for misrepresentation. I've noticed that over and over in their auctions, and I'm sure their sales results suffer sometimes because of it.
What little detail given in the Wave Crest auction was mostly wrong. Wave Crest glass was made by CF Monroe, not Pairpoint. Maybe they found a Pairpoint mark on the lid; I never looked. But to get something that basic that wrong...that worries me.
Here's the other auction that worries me. Every antique dealer with any experience knows about these violins.
This is no Guarneri violin. It is an inexpensive copy made in Germany's Black Forest region, sold to Sears & Roebuck by (practically) the boatload at the turn of the century. There were fakes with the names of other makers produced as well, such as Stradivarius. They generally go for $300-$500 depending on condition and tone and are often quite acceptable student instruments. I owned one for a time.
posted on March 12, 2004 12:56:47 PM new
HELLO\
"Wave Crest glass was made by CF Monroe..."
[1]..after transaction is complete, how long to you have to wait for payment.[i assume AD pays you a net amount.]
[2]..if winning bidder finds misrepresentation in this auction, and AD is forced to allow the return for "misinformation," will you the consignor have to return monies?
[3]..i note you gave them some info..if they didnt follow your instructions, are you still liable if the auction is cancelled and then relisted.
[4]..i noticed their f/back is 9500+..how many locations involved in this..that is, in my opinion, a stronnnnnnnnnng number for a approx. a year...
posted on March 12, 2004 01:37:07 PM new
Fluffy mentioned a violin sold by Sears. Funny--I have a 1909 Sears Catalog replica up for sale right now, and in it are pages of the violins they sold. (I don't show a picture of those particular pages in the auction description, though.) The item #, in case anyone's interested, is 3593446142. I had my eyes opened in several collectibles areas when I looked through that old catalog!
___________________________________
Have you noticed since everyone has a Camcorder these days no one talks
about seeing UFOs like they used to?
posted on March 12, 2004 02:31:07 PM new
Adele: Yes, I had a bunch of those Sears catalogue reprints from various years. Sold them all on eBay for $5-8 apiece, just to keep them from collecting dust here.
The violin kits featuring copies of Amati, Guarneri, Stradivarius and other master violins are in the earlier catalogues. I don't know when Sears stopped selling them.
The Smithsonian says that originally there was no intent to deceive anyone as to the violin's origins and that contemporary purchasers would have understood they were not getting an actual Guarneri, only a new instrument in that style. It's only today with half the population in the throes of Antique Roadshow fever that folks are quick to believe they have an instrument worth six or seven figures.
MOT: Actually it's not particularly high feedback, but it might look that way to someone who doesn't run 650 auctions a week.
That would be 33,800 auctions a year. Their earliest feedback is dated March 10, 2003, so they have been at it just one year. AD is one of those sellers who won't leave you feedback unless you do it first.
The answer to your first question is: 5 1/2 weeks from consignment to cash.
Number two is: I have no idea. The contracts they sent me were in nearly-impenetrable legalese but I saw no provision for return of goods.
posted on March 12, 2004 02:36:56 PM new
Wow! That's quite a business. I wonder how many employees they have to handle all of that? Do you think it is a 24 hour business?
I imagine in a given town if someone started a business like that it would be booming. I have been asked to sell for others but I have no time for my own and I just don't want the hassle but, if I had a store front things might be different. I could never do it more than 8 hours. Almost all of their items have bids.
posted on March 12, 2004 02:59:19 PM new
Hi Fluffy - The widening on Cuesta Grade is finished. About time, it took a couple of years. No more white knuckles - it's easy driving. - Lucy
posted on March 12, 2004 03:12:34 PM newAlmost all of their items have bids
Well, they start almost all of them at $1, so you'd expect that.
I wonder how many employees they have to handle all of that?
A lot. The company info is on their web page. They are advertising and couponing everywhere in the Bay Area, creating the impression (according to a real estate broker I talked to yesterday) that they are very successful.
I contend they are getting nowhere near the auction volume they need to make their overhead.
posted on March 12, 2004 03:26:38 PM new
selling on ebay is so labor intensive,only coolie entrepreneurs like us are willing to work so hard and so long for so little.
how much are they paying their workers ??
do they pay overtime and benefits??
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on March 12, 2004 03:52:28 PM new
sure i will work there and come back and tell all of you what happens every day,hour by hour,blow by blow!!
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on March 12, 2004 03:52:41 PM new
It will be interesting to see how your auctions with them go ... there is an article in our newspaper today, here in Ohio, about AuctionDrop .
posted on March 12, 2004 03:58:40 PM new
Fluffy, do you really think they have listed it better than you could have? Or did you just want to try this out and see?
I read in a newspaper, that down here, they opened some sort of place like this. Where you can consign your items to be sold online.
Surprized they dont expand their research beyond ebay. What about rubylane or those other sites? hmmmph! Interesting to see this in action. (Five weeks wait, sux though, fluff! lol)
[ edited by neroter12 on Mar 12, 2004 04:00 PM ]
posted on March 12, 2004 04:18:26 PM new
Thanks for the thread, this is definitely interesting. We don't have them here yet, but we will I am sure. That would be an interesting business to open up here, if they succeed there will be competition...
posted on March 12, 2004 04:19:53 PM new
personally....I wasn't too impressed with the pics or the layout. I would of expected something a little more......non vendio for the $$$$$$$.
