Stroud Auctions

[Jerry Cornelius]

Crazy how prices at Armsfairs (not just Kempton) are so much better. I am seriously thinking of buying up bits and putting them in Auction.

I dunno Pete. For genuinely and obviously rare things I think auctions will probably raise the seller the most money, even after fees, but for run of the mill things you might do ok or you might get your trousers taken down

It might be the worst of all worlds. I thought most of what went at Stroud went fairly cheap so far as the hammer price went, and if you were the seller you’d be disappointed, but if you were the buyer, after fees, postage and (if post war) rfd fees, you still weren’t really getting a bargain

[Mobiasstrip]

I dunno Pete. For genuinely and obviously rare things I think auctions will probably raise the seller the most money, even after fees, but for run of the mill things you might do ok or you might get your trousers taken down

It might be the worst of all worlds. I thought most of what went at Stroud went fairly cheap so far as the hammer price went, and if you were the seller you’d be disappointed, but if you were the buyer, after fees, postage and (if post war) rfd fees, you still weren’t really getting a bargain

I think this assessment is spot on.

[stevegv8]

I dunno Pete. For genuinely and obviously rare things I think auctions will probably raise the seller the most money, even after fees, but for run of the mill things you might do ok or you might get your trousers taken down

It might be the worst of all worlds. I thought most of what went at Stroud went fairly cheap so far as the hammer price went, and if you were the seller you’d be disappointed, but if you were the buyer, after fees, postage and (if post war) rfd fees, you still weren’t really getting a bargain

Agree.

[Binners]

I stand corrected, only going by old Beezers and Webleys on my table

[Jerry Cornelius]

I stand corrected, only going by old Beezers and Webleys on my table

It’s the way you stand there glowering and cracking your knuckles Pete. Put anyone off that would.

[walnutfarmmick]

Crazy how prices at Armsfairs (not just Kempton) are so much better. I am seriously thinking of buying up bits and putting them in Auction.

I stopped standing at fairs for just that reason, Pete.

If anyone is not sure who I am I’m the one with a sign that says -

“ If you think we get this stuff for nothing, have it delivered here by magic, and don’t have to pay to stand, please continue making stupid bids “.

FFS, you got half a day out for £2! And how you want something for nothing?

Greed is part of human nature but it isn’t an attractive part.

From the heart, Mick
PS in a triumph of hope over experience I shall be at M M with a Greener, Britannia, Mk II, Giffard et al but I shan’t be giving anything away.

[Binners]

It’s the way you stand there glowering and cracking your knuckles Pete. Put anyone off that would.

And I thought it was the Wife scaring em off....

[walnutfarmmick]

I dunno Pete. For genuinely and obviously rare things I think auctions will probably raise the seller the most money, even after fees, but for run of the mill things you might do ok or you might get your trousers taken down

It might be the worst of all worlds. I thought most of what went at Stroud went fairly cheap so far as the hammer price went, and if you were the seller you’d be disappointed, but if you were the buyer, after fees, postage and (if post war) rfd fees, you still weren’t really getting a bargain

I really think that an auction shows the true value of something - which is what folk are actually prepared to pay. It is unfortunate that the auctioneers’ charges have pushed prices artificially high. It is fine line between getting enough lots there to attract the punters and not flooding the market. A sale in the northeast a few years ago made aircane sales pointless until the market recovered.

Pete explained all this to a relative newcomer a few years ago far better than I can. I wish I’d saved the post.

ATB, Mick

[keith66]

FFS, you got half a day out for £2! And how you want something for nothing?

[/QUOTE]

"But im a pensioner you know"......

I have heard a bloke i know try that one on several times, Always wants everything dirt cheap but if selling expects top dollar.

Trouble is if like him you have a substantial collection an auction is the only way to shift the lot when you have to finally part with it. Otherwise how are you going to shift them?
One or two items you can put them on here or ask a friend to do it, but what if its hundreds of items? Who has the time to list, research prices, advertise, deal with punters, box up & post, deliver or be in when someone wants to pick up an item?
Weeks of work for no recompense?

Thats why auction houses exist.

I used to do a boat jumble every year, People would ask me, "Can you take this for me i want £X for it", After a couple of times I got savvy & the answer was "Sure i can, I will get the best price i can for it & i want 50%". Most started spluttering & wouldnt bite in which case i hadnt lost anything. Those that were ok with it everyone was happy!

[Phil Russell]

Auctions ... aaah auctions. Auctions work two ways; a good hammer price benefits the seller. A low hammer price benefits the buyer. The auction house wins both ways as in general they are going to get something in the region of 50% of the hammer price in commission ... half from the seller, half from the buyer.
Auction houses that seem to specialise in airguns/firearms etc may get higher prices but it all depends on who is bidding, either in person or on-line. If few people are interested in bidding then hammer price may, just may, be lower than you expect compared to if a lot of punters want the item. Find an item in a little known auction, maybe with no on-line facilities (and hence no pre-auction advertising via e.g. SaleRoom) or an auction selling mainly 'household effects' and you might get a bargain and the seller get pretty brassed off, especially if the auction house has no idea of what they are selling.
As ever, set your limit and don't exceed it ... well maybe a little bit if you really want the item.
Just remember that if you do not know what you are bidding on with regard to exact condition, you can make a nasty mistake.
Cheers, Phil

[nishijin]

I stopped buying 'valuable' items at auction after I got stung on an Omega Seamaster. After fees, servicing, I lost around £150 or so when I sold it a short while later. The sale was forced by circumstance. It wasn't purchased to flip, but I would have liked to break even.

Recently there's been a trend of buyers paying above list for items, and the auctioneers I've met are very good at performing the "you did very well, sir" lines. I think that's important to dampen the buyer's remorse.

As for the Stroud auction, my suspicion is a lot of the bidders that got carried away were basing their budgets on dealer prices on guntrader-type websites.

[Garvin]

and (if post war) rfd fees

Maybe I misunderstood. I thought Stroud had its own delivery service that means it's direct to your door even for postwar airguns?

[Dornfelderliebe]

I rang them up they do their own delivery service the same as pellpax.

[stevegv8]

I rang them up they do their own delivery service the same as pellpax.

I rang them up and asked their delivery agent and they said parcel force 48 and suggested an air rifle would be around £35 un insured

[Dornfelderliebe]

I rang them up and asked their delivery agent and they said parcel force 48 and suggested an air rifle would be around £35 un insured

Something odd there, because Parcel force don't ask for photo ID and that's what they told me, unless they have a deal with PF.