Icollector tips or other auctions.

unstableryan

unstableryan

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I know that the last thing some of you want is more competition in an auction, but can I please ask for some basic starting advice? I haven't online auctioned since the old early days of collecting straight razors, etc. on ebay.

Mostly I am wondering what the fees and stuff are.

If I buy something for example, $100, what will it end up costing me in the end? $120? $140? Shipping on top of course.

Thanks for your advice. I'm not super looking to purchase a lot of guns, but I am thinking of selling 5-10 out of the safes and getting one or two that I really want. I hate when they are crowded in there and when some of them don't get loved and shot often enough.

Put it down here if you want, PM me if you want,

Ryan
 
General rule of thumb, figure to add 25% to your hammer price to cover tax and auction fees. Some auction houses may be a few percent more, some a few percent less.
 
Look up Maynards Auction in Richmond BC.
They are having a 1 day firearms auction on November 23 or 30th iirc , but the web site has All of the Information you seek.
Then again maybe all auction houses have different fee structures.
I prolly shouldnt have dropped business names as they the company mentioned is not a site sponsor.
My Bad :(
Rob
 
Buyer's premium ( auctioneer's tax ) is usually 15%, plus sales tax ( 13% in Ontario ) plus shipping. Set a limit of what you think it's worth, bid that, and don't go over your limit. Be realistic about it. Don't waste time with low-ball bids, because somebody's always willing to pay more. Quite often there are bidders willing to overpay. Have a good look at the photos, study the description, and if anything seems off, pass on it.
 
Know what you are bidding on. Do your research. If it is a serious item, ask for more photos. Not last minute, ask early, give them time to respond. Call, ask questions.
If it is a really serious item, travel for a hands on inspection.
If the thing has to be shipped, factor that cost into the total. Hammer price, plus commission, plus delivery, plus tax on everything. Runs up the total substantially.
Selling can be a bit of a crap shoot. On auction day, will someone really want your stuff?
Auctions can be a really good way of liquidating a quantity of guns. Certainly faster and easier than advertising in the EE. It can also be a way of dumping dogs you wouldn't sell to a friend. This is why a buyer must exercise caution.
 
If it looks bad, it is rotten. PASS! Yes I will over pay for something I want and is no longer avaible or just easier cause it local auction. Stay clear of reloaded ammo. Bought a batch for the brass and found 44 cal loaded with 45 cal bullets, NICE job. Will pick up box lots if cheap just for fun, sometimes get great stuff but most time scrap.
Buyer fees and seller fees are getting different as one is 5 percent and the next 15 percent and 35 percent for seller. READ and ask or you eat the results.
Also if you get junk do not expect the auction house to be a money back , even if the description is off. TRUE buyer BEWARE.
 
The last auction i went to i stopped going when they went live online was 13% tax 10% vig in person 15% vig online. Ive seen guys pay 650 for a new stevens 200 that were 349 new at epps when in production. Always look at what you bid on. Dont take a distraction. Case in point i took my wife to one. I love her. Sitting for 5 hours quietly is not something shes good at. A savage 22/410 came up she wants it because it was case colored with beautiful figured walnut. Since it wasnt on my list i didnt look at it. I bought it for her. Overpaid because she wanted it and i figure i like case colors and nice walnut. It was tenite. Plastic swirling painted to look like nice walnut.

Some auctions dont allow this but if in person stand next to ther other bidder. Intimidation of deeper pockets works in person. The internet wrecked that technique.
Know your prices and values and your limit. If theres several things you want place a value on each item and pass if you have to. The extra fees plus shipping really add up. Ive seen a polar bear mount bought by a guy with a dodge neon. He was happy till he had to get it home. I heard he had called a toe truck company to move it. A uhaul truck would have been cheaper
Really check out pics and read discribtions and question any measurements given
Best of luck. If you get into auctions you will get some great deals and you will think you got some great deals other times you will have to lie to yourself about the deal you made lol. Good luck
 
Intimidation of deeper pockets works in person.

I'd just tell you to get the F out of my space. :) Besides , you're usually seated in a room, most of the time you can't even see all the bidders.

Grizz
 
Grizzly Adams said:
Intimidation of deeper pockets works in person.

I'd just tell you to get the F out of my space. :) Besides , you're usually seated in a room, most of the time you can't even see all the bidders.

Grizz
Click to expand...

Not even necessarily deeper. I was at one auction with a guy who buys for one of the shops. He was dressed like a normal joe. This other guy was wandering around in head to toe branded gear for the shop he buys for. The guy doesn’t work there. He would throw in a few early bids, then back out and mutter some comment about this or that. Right at the end he would ‘reluctantly’ pop back in and do his best ‘that was a stupid bid’. It didn’t work all the time, but he managed to score a couple of good buys where you could see he dissuaded the other bidder(s).
 
The way it works for Icollector is they charge 15% on top of the purchase price + taxes. Shipping is on top of that figure. Once you know the formula pick your top price and stick to it. The good thing with online bidding is you can set your max price ahead of time and then just forget about it. Either you'll get the item or not but at least you won't over pay. People bidding in auctions,particularly online are crazy. I work in a gun shop and I can't tell you how many times I've seen an item, firearm or not, sell for more than you can buy it in store and then the person has to pay shipping on top. TC
 
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