Anybody know anything about liveauctioneers.com? They seem to know nothing about watches in general, which might either be good or tremendously bad for a bidder. I stumbled on the site by accident, and after a cursory look, it seems oddly uninformed compared to most auction sites dealing in watches.
Interesting discussion.
I'm starting with this statement because it seems that there may be some confusion, if you will, about the nature of liveauctioneers on the part of some.
First of all, they are merely a 2nd party platform from which auctions are staged by many independent participating auction houses both in the U.S. and abroad. Similar platforms are bidsquare and auctionzip. Often an auction house will participate on more than one of these. Some of the bigger houses will in addition have their own in-house on-line bidding capability. That is on top of the more traditional left bids and phone bidders. All in the name of casting the biggest net, no pun intended.
The cataloging and descriptions of the objects are provided by the participating auction houses. Liveauctioneers has no input and so any apparent lack of knowledge is that of the participating auction house, not live auctioneers.
Couple of personal observations.
When I do attend a live auction, the internet bidding often makes them quite painful and sad. So many times the room is nearly empty as most people are at home. Gone are the good old days of schmoozing and discussing. Most of the stuff sells to the internet and then sometimes the phones. I've been to auctions where 3 platforms are going at once. They typically slow things down to an excruciating pace while the auctioneer waits for the bids on all three to trickle through and then to be announced by the people tending the computers. The auctioneers realize that's were most of the action is not to mention the highest prices. Also to me, a good auctioneer has a pace and a cadence that keeps things moving and the audience awake. Destroyed by these starts and stops waiting for internet bids. Then there are the technical problems. For example, I was at a live auction that was delayed 45 - 60 minutes as they lost the connection to the internet platform. Considering that this is an auctioneer who can barely sell about 40 lots/hour, it made things even more intolerable.
As alluded to above, I find that the internet bidding platforms generally significantly jack up prices. I do much better at the little auctions that may still allow phone and left bids. The pace is much better. Less competition and fewer people who might realize what something is. Good for the buyer, may be not for the seller.
All that said, there are things I like. I can look at a lot of stuff on-line. Also good for research as the on-line catalogs are generally searchable and illustrated.
I have used liveauctioneers and bidsquare. Overall, it's been okay. Has permitted me to acquire few things that I would otherwise have not been able to. Also bought some real clunkers that I thought looked good. No bargains for me. Generally, when I go to auctions or bid on-line, I get thoroughly stomped. I have participated in auctions, live and on-line, where just about everything requires begging from the auctioneer to open. When it comes to the lot or few lots I have been waiting for patiently, there are then typically multiple left bids and multiple phone bidders! I actually do better picking shops and flea markets. Then there's the higher premium charged to on-line bidders and the shipping costs not to mention the risks of shipping.
Yes, the mundane and average is moribund, price wise. Sometimes you can't even sell it. Good stuff at least sells. Not always for what it once brought, sometimes for more.
In this modern age, accept on-line auction services. They are a tool like a hammer. Use them wisely, they are a useful basic necessary tool in your tool box. If not, you might wind up with a sore and bruised thumb.
RM.
Some auction houses put time and effort into their photos/condition reports and answering questions in a timely manner. Some don't. With the additional fee, it's not uncommon to see Buyer's Premiums over 25% on the Platform now
