Just in case anyone wanted to know how this turned out. I sent them to Clars Auction House and the sale was this morning. Valued at 1,000 to 2,000 for the set. hammer price was $500.00 I never really told anyone how much i paid for these when i first posted the thread over a year ago they were 1.00 each from a yard sale in downtown Sacramento Not a great sale but pretty good for my first large auction house item. Mikey
While they did not meet the estimate, the profit is spectacular. I am not really familiar with Clars. I wonder if they might have done better elsewhere.
One can only wonder at this point, but i would tend to agree with you Brad. maybe next time i will try some better know Auction house. originally I was told before i sent them that they would estimate them at 800 to 1200 each. then they lowered that estimate after they received them and wanted to sell as a lot instead of individual. I am still not totally clear on why the change.
Who knows why auction houses do what they do. I once sent a good Indiana impressionist painting to Jacksons who seem to be best for this genre. They allowed me a $1500.00 reserve but figured the painting could go for 3K or more. Once they had it in hand, they decided to offer it as first lot for the auction despite my misgivings. The painting did not meet reserve in the bidding but they were able to come up with a buyer for the reserve once it was revealed. Later paintings in the auction of similar ilk exceeded estimates. I understand that auctioneers want to kick off auctions with something good but my experience is that first lots underperform. People seem to need to get warmed up to bidding. I was happy with the profit but a bit disappointed in the experience. I can only guess that they felt that, since my painting had a reserve, they could risk it as first lot. OK for them but not necessarily in my best interest.
They do what they do for their own reasons, to make the most profit for them. if you disagree then they offer to send them back and you have to pay for the return shipping. A sale is better than no sale I guess.
And if you get it cheap enough, you make yours and leave something on the bone for the dealer who bought whatever it was.
Well, I will say congrats! Yes, they could have done better, but you got them so cheaply it's all just icing on the cake for you. I've sold a few items through Clars. They don't deal in the very highest level, but I think they have very, very good exposure...large auction house. Ostnce I was burned by Leland Little Auction House out of North Carolina. I was watching the auction live on live auctioneers and the bidding got to $850 on a painting that started out at $500. All of a sudden the screen said "Lot passed." When I inquired about what happened later, the auction house told me they couldn't remember the details. I had the painting sent back to me, and sold it for $750 on Ebay.
Yes moon, thank you. I know because i didn't pay anything for them i am very happy. especially since for almost a year i thought they were not even Janco's. Then just recently i re-posted them on the A/B on ebay and was told that they are in fact real. to think I almost threw them away too. Mikey
I took some things to a local auction house and was given values. I wasn't able to attend the auction, but they sold for far less than I could even have gotten on Ebay. When I brought it up, the auctioneer told me I should have set a reserve. Duh. Why didn't he tell me that at first? He probably had a shill buy the stuff and then he could resell it for higher. Oh well. Live and learn.
Thank you for the follow-up, Bulldogs. I remember the post on the Ebay boards, was interesting to see how it turned out. Your profit was certainly good!
Thanks the profit was great on that one, But like others i have boxes full of mistakes and no sales..
