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Author
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Topic: Regency-Superior Jan 2010 auction
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gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-20-2010 04:59 AM
   
Well... I thought it had gone smoothly.According to the online bidding I "won" a particular lot, only to be told by email after the auction that I had been outbid by $5, despite this bid not appearing on the online bidding. I then received my first invoice with four won items, only to receive a second invoice yesterday with THREE won items. Again, the online bidding told me I had won the deleted item. I'm awaiting a response. I'd also like to know exactly what has been charged to my credit card. |
Ross
Member Posts: 472
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 01-20-2010 06:09 AM
I also had a good experience with the auction. All my bids were pre-auction. I found the system easy to use and the email updates very useful. My only problem was I was outbid on several items. In particular I was outbid on the USS Noa cover which went for quite a good price (more than I expected). Although I did pick up a couple of nice Captain's covers, so I did OK. I also now know who outbid me on the Apollo 11 Captain's cover , although I suspected my bid may not be enough. Despite originally 6000 Captain's covers being produced, Apollo 11 items always bring a premium.All in all a very good auction. Thanks to Alan and everyone else involved. I should also mention that communication was excellent with my two emails being answered quickly. I'll certainly be bidding in future auctions. Dr. Ross Smith |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-20-2010 03:20 PM
A HUGE improvement in the auction software this time around, and the usual very friendly and responsive service that is the norm for Superior, made me a happy camper... again. |
Mercurypgm
Member Posts: 292
From: Houston, Tx
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-23-2010 08:50 AM
Received the auction items I purchased on Friday (6 days after the auction) and everything arrived safe and sound. I even ventured into the "sports" section of the catalog and picked up a near mint 1958 Detroit Tigers signed baseball. Man does not live by space alone... |
GerryM
Member Posts: 244
From: Glenside PA
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-23-2010 01:46 PM
I went to the trouble of posting and writing privately to Alan about lot #197 featured on the cover of the catalog. I reflected my concern that it was not the accepted design and also also having Calle's agreeing that it was not 'the accepted design".I would love to know the reason why this listing was not revised to reflect the inaccuracies or not pulled all together after being informed of this. This is clearly not the accepted print used for the postage stamp. The 'air mail' wording is listed under the "10 cent" in the upper left hand corner, not beside it as this print shows. Sadly someone paid $3800 for a print that was the NOT the accepted design. Gerry Montague
Astronaut Archives |
Alan Lipkin
Member Posts: 78
From: Beverly Hills, CA USA
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 01-25-2010 01:51 PM
Hi Gerry, I answered your questions about lot #197 in two emails sent to you on Dec. 23 and 24, 2009. The buyer of the lot has been informed that the words: "AIR MAIL" in this essay are to the right instead of below the denomination.As a stamp auction house we frequently sell both accepted and preliminary essays of issued United States stamps. Many times "Unaccepted Essays" sell at the same or even higher prices than the essay for the issued stamp. If you check the Scott United States Specialized Stamp Catalog you will find both types of essays with pricing that does not reflect whether it was accepted or not. In this case. The buyer has been informed about the placement of the words "AIR MAIL". Thank you for your comments and interest. |
GerryM
Member Posts: 244
From: Glenside PA
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-26-2010 04:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Lipkin:
Hi Gerry, I answered your questions about lot #197 in two emails sent to you on Dec. 23 and 24, 2009.
Hi Alan, Yes you did send me a email and your said you would "put a correction on-line and post to collectspace" I saw neither. I thought the whole object of us helping you out was you would correct these lots BEFORE the auction took place so the lots would be described correctly.Gerry Montague |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-26-2010 05:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:
According to the online bidding I "won" a particular lot, only to be told by email after the auction that I had been outbid by $5, despite this bid not appearing on the online bidding.
You're not the only one who experienced a similar issue with online bidding. I placed a bid for a signed photo and was shown as being the high bidder for a good 10-20 seconds before the lot closed. (I remember the "sweating it out" period quite well!) Once the lot closed, a message appeared in the right hand column listing me as the winner. After waiting several days for an invoice, I logged in and saw that the item sold for my bid amount, but I was apparently not the winner (even though my recorded high bid is the same amount as the winning bid). Had I known I was not going to be high bidder in Regency's eyes, I would have at least had a chance to bid again. (Count that as a loss for the consignor of the item.) Instead, the online bidding software gave me every indication that I was the leading bidder and the eventual winner. I think a lot more beta testing of the auction software is necessary. Otherwise, it's the consignor's who stand to lose more than anyone else. As for me, I will save my money for the Heritage Auction instead... |
Alan Lipkin
Member Posts: 78
From: Beverly Hills, CA USA
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 02-02-2010 05:22 PM
According to Regency-Superior's President:When the clerk clicked the CLOSE button, we discovered that when there were multiple LIVE bidders the system allowed any bid in transit to crossover. Hence the problem described below. That is why a few bidders thought they won. Fortunately, we flew in the programmers to babysit the sale and make sure everything worked smoothly. Once the 'bug' became evident, they fixed it immediately by reprogramming it that when the CLOSE button is pushed - the iron gate falls. That created another problem. We then had some bidders call and say they were shut out. Evidently they pushed the BID button, but it was too late. Due to the inherent latency problems of the internet and the speed of folks personal computers, I am convinced there will never be a complete solution. To solve the latency problem, we are considering making SPACE a COMPUTER only auction - that is, a lot would stay open for 10 minutes after someone bids until no more bidding. In essence a lot could stay open all night until bidding stops. We are definitely open for suggestions. |
Ross
Member Posts: 472
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 02-03-2010 06:26 AM
My items from the Regency-Superior auction have arrived in Australia. They arrived in great shape due to the usual excellent packaging. I now have two extra Captain's covers to add to my collection. Thanks Alan. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-03-2010 04:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Lipkin:
To solve the latency problem, we are considering making SPACE a COMPUTER only auction - that is, a lot would stay open for 10 minutes after someone bids until no more bidding. In essence a lot could stay open all night until bidding stops.We are definitely open for suggestions.
I'm not sure that is the solution. We'll end up with the RR-type auction where those of us outside the US have to get up/stay up in/to the early hours of the morning if you really want something. I thought the issue was not conflicting internet bids but a conflict between floor and internet bids. eBay live bidding had its issues but you could never lose an item to a floor bidder and you knew pretty much when the hammer would close on a specific item. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 02-03-2010 04:41 PM
I think a computer only auction is a great idea, as long as it is done on a per-lot basis...and doesn't keep the entire auction running just because two people are in a bidding war over one item (like was often the case with R&R's old system). My only suggestion is set a more reasonable initial closing time, such as noon central US time. That way, overseas bidders in Europe will still be awake and can monitor their bids at the time of initial closing. After the initial closing time, you should only accept further bids on items from people who have already placed bids on that item. Items with only one bid at initial closing are awarded to that bidder at closing, while items with no bids can remain open for bidding from ALL bidders at least a few hours after the initial closing time (and...of course, 30 minutes after the last bid is placed). I think you'll find the vast majority of lots will close within a couple hours...with only a few that linger on into the wee hours. The advantage is that nobody in Europe has to sit up until the wee hours for their lot to come up for auction...as they often had to do under the old system. If they got tired and went to bed without placing a bid, it was the consignor who ultimately lost out. Since a computer-only auction has the same closing time for all lots, no consignor is left at a disadvantage because their lot is late in the running order. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 660
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 02-03-2010 04:53 PM
quote:
Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:
I thought the issue was not conflicting internet bids but a conflict between floor and internet bids.
My issue was between two Internet bidders. It accepted a bid after "close" was hit giving no chance to respond.I am in favor of computer solution with the reservations described in other latest posts. |
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