The everchanging bb collectibles Auction landscape

There have been a lot of changes lately in the bb collectibles auction biz...what with:

1. Bill Mastro and Doug Allen being indicted and Legendary's insider bidding questioned

2. the admittance of shill bidding at Huggins and Scott(a ways back)

3.The change of ownership of Sterling

4. new auction houses w/ Al Crisafulli...love of the game auctions and most recently Ken Goldins...kengoldinsauctions.com

All of this combined with Ebay being used less amongst "serious" collectors due to their ever-increasing fees and sea of "crap" mixed in with vintage.

In your opinions...what poses the biggest challenges for these new-comers...as well as the existing houses who seem to be doing well...ie. Goodwin, REA, etc, in order to succeed and thrive in this ultra competititive industry?!?!

I say quality consignments...if one can consistently bring these in...the rest should fall into place. This combined with excellent customer service...which includes quick pay/ship.

What do you guys think?

Do you mean Al Crisafulli's Loveofthegame auction? Perhaps this is a question that can be best answered by those in the industry themselves.

As in; How do you hope to improve upon the sports memorabilia atmosphere? What will you do to stop shilling? Will you operate a fair and open bidding platform?

yep...that's what I meant...thanks for the correction!

It seems that most auction houses(I think)already run a no shill auction...this is obviously a negative thing from a buyer's standpoint. I will not bid anywhere where this is a known, admitted practice.

Pete, I believe it's Heritage that sets a 'double secret' reserve by bidding what they deem a 'wholesale' price 7 days before the auction.

As a followup.

If I had a card below $1,000 I would consign to Bagger's Auctions, because the owner has always been very helpful when it comes to trades and liquidating my cards in a timely manner at a very fare rate.

For a $1,000-$10,000 card I would consign to Goodwin & Co. simply because I think they do the best presentation and marketing at this level. I have experience as a bidder, not a consignor, but I've heard very good things.

For a $10,000+ card (of which I freely admit I have none) I would of course consign to REA, provided time was not a pressing factor. The king is still the king.

I agree about ebay hosting a sea of crap... they have really ruined it for themselves, it all started ten years ago with the "Buy It Now". They should have realized that for niches like baseball cards where every card is worth something that it would lead to a flood of overpriced crap. I chalk it up to arrogance and a failure to listen by a company that's too big to accommodate the hobby.

I actually don't mind Heritage's reserve policy. Christie's and Sotheby's also have hidden reserves, so it's status quo for bigtime players like that. It's a healthy way of protecting an asset. For my Ewing and Mascot there was an autobid I had to take out early on, and I honestly didn't mind very much.

We'll continue to see Goodwin and REA as major players, but I think we could see Mile High start to move up in the food chain as a third option. It should open up territory to get more consignments. I wonder if we'll even see Memory Lane come on strong. Anything is possible.

If someone can get the former eBay market, they are doing to do very well. That's is the market that the smaller houses should be trying to get so it's large and open.

sabrjay wrote:If someone can get the former eBay market, they are doing to do very well. That's is the market that the smaller houses should be trying to get so it's large and open.

Not sure if I see that ever happening. The biggest thing that ebay had/has going for it is maximum exposure. That's the what the smaller auction houses have always struggled with the most.

sabrjay wrote:If someone can get the former eBay market, they are doing to do very well. That's is the market that the smaller houses should be trying to get so it's large and open.

Closest to that, I thought, was Sterling. Frequent auctions. Smaller value lots. Collector grade cards available. Easy pay via Paypal, cheap shipping...I'll miss Sterling!

Bosox Blair wrote:

Closest to that, I thought, was Sterling. Frequent auctions. Smaller value lots. Collector grade cards available. Easy pay via Paypal, cheap shipping...I'll miss Sterling!

Sterling isn't gone.

terjung wrote:

Bosox Blair wrote:

Closest to that, I thought, was Sterling. Frequent auctions. Smaller value lots. Collector grade cards available. Easy pay via Paypal, cheap shipping...I'll miss Sterling!

Sterling isn't gone.

Any word on who is taking over?

Bosox Blair wrote:

terjung wrote:

Bosox Blair wrote:

Closest to that, I thought, was Sterling. Frequent auctions. Smaller value lots. Collector grade cards available. Easy pay via Paypal, cheap shipping...I'll miss Sterling!

Sterling isn't gone.

Any word on who is taking over?

is this one of those news where you need to be on facebook again?

Just to flesh out this thread (and in case this was not well-known), our friend Brian who founded and ran Sterling has recently taken a position with REA. I believe it was understood that he would no longer run Sterling, but that it was possible Sterling would continue...maybe new ownership? That's where my info ends. Have not heard any more info or word on how this might take shape or who else might be involved in running Sterling in the future.

No need to be on Facebook... just at the National.

I'll let him announce it to the forum though.

Since it was just broadcast emailed, I feel more comfortable posting it here now.

Congratulations Lee!


Sterling Sports Auctions is pleased to announce longtime hobbyist Lee Behrens as the new owner/operator of the auction platform, replacing Brian Dwyer who started the site and recently took a position as Consignment Director for Robert Edward Auctions. Lee brings with him over 20 years of collecting experience including past ownership of a card shop and partnership in an eBay consignment outlet. The first auction conducted by Lee will be held in September with specific dates to be announced shortly. Consignments for this sale are currently being accepted.

Contact information for Sterling Sports Auctions will remain the same except for a new physical mailing address which is noted below. Brian Dwyer can now be reached at bdwyer@robertedwardauctions.com.

If you're interested in consigning to the upcoming Sterling Sports Auction, please contact info@sterlingsportsauctions.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sterling Sports Auctions
PO Box 866
Alexandria, MN 56308

Congratulations, Lee.

But now that the cards are going to Minnesota will they require little card-sized jackets to stay warm?

I'm looking forward to your first auction at the helm of Sterling Lee.

Thanks Guys,

It was tough to keep it under raps. I was able to get some leg work in at the nationals, but we finally got all the i's dotted and the t's crossed. I do not plan on changing Brian's original format since I belief that it is a niche that is not being filled in the hobby.

I am excited for my first auction I am tentatively looking at either Sept 13th or 20th.

I look forward to all of you bidding or consigning, as always I am open to feedback or questions.

Lee

bowlingshoeguy wrote:Thanks Guys,

It was tough to keep it under raps. I was able to get some leg work in at the nationals, but we finally got all the i's dotted and the t's crossed. I do not plan on changing Brian's original format since I belief that it is a niche that is not being filled in the hobby.

I am excited for my first auction I am tentatively looking at either Sept 13th or 20th.

I look forward to all of you bidding or consigning, as always I am open to feedback or questions.

Lee

Congrats Lee!

Glad to hear you are keeping Sterling going as it was...I agree, a good niche being served. I'll continue to be a bidder.

Best of luck to you with this!

Congrats Lee! Nice meeting you in Baltimore and I wish you the best with the Sterling take over.

Cheers,

John

Congrats Lee!! Much success on the new venture.

an auction house owner right in our little backyard, congrats lee.

Best of luck Lee...I hear there's a o% consignment fee if you live in MN...SUH-WEET!!!!!!

Congrats, Lee!

Glad to see Sterling will live on.They have had something for me in every auction thus far and I hope it continues.