Auction Houses

[flat6buster]

Alas our G Wagen has to go because my arthritic dog can't jump up & down from it any more.

I am thinking of putting her (EEDIT: the car not the dog) into one of the classic auctions and wonder if any members have any experience/recommendations/advise ?

TIA.

 

[boxbrownie]

Pet Gear Tri-Fold Pet Ramp

 

[Charles Morgan]

Check the fees for whichever one you choose - they don't half mount up (commissions, photography, online listing, quarter page, unsold fees and VAT) and remember that when auction houses publish the sale price it includes their buyer's commission which at about 20% plus Vat rather flatters the sale price (which you don't get!). You should negotiate on selling commission, many offer 6% rather than the standard double digits if asked. Check how long before they have to pay you as well, it should be a month but can be double that.

I doubt the G class is the right vehicle but every single person I have met in the classic car trade would rather sell a kidney than use Coys.

It's a nice car - why not try here and or car and classic? No fees

 

[flat6buster]

Pet Gear Tri-Fold Pet Ramp

Take the point and indeed have one but you try getting a large dog AND a ramp in the back of a SWB G wagen.....just never going to work :-(

 

[flat6buster]

Check the fees for whichever one you choose - they don't half mount up (commissions, photography, online listing, quarter page, unsold fees and VAT) and remember that when auction houses publish the sale price it includes their buyer's commission which at about 20% plus Vat rather flatters the sale price (which you don't get!). You should negotiate on selling commission, many offer 6% rather than the standard double digits if asked. Check how long before they have to pay you as well, it should be a month but can be double that.

I doubt the G class is the right vehicle but every single person I have met in the classic car trade would rather sell a kidney than use Coys.

It's a nice car - why not try here and or car and classic? No fees

Yes, I have thought about private sale but I just get impatient with the process, although I have been super-duper fortunate before. I just think our G is a left-of-field choice and I can imagine sitting on it for ages before it goes. I know I'll never see anywhere near the £18,000 I have in it and seeing it in my warehouse every day is rubbing it in.....I thought an auction might be a swift & painless solution.

I had thought about Silverstone or Brooklands or the new Silverstone offshoot Classic Car Auctions for cars under £25,000.

I suppose I should learn the art of patience. Off for a yoga lesson now.....

 

[Charles Morgan]

If you want a stress-free sale, auctions are no better than private sales. My experience in the antiques business is entirely negative - one house agreed a reserve of £4-6k on a piece of furniture then listed it at £800 - 1200, which meant I had to pull it (it sold for £8k at another house), they then deducted the full sales commission on other lots despite agreeing a lower one, at other sales auction houses regularly agree reserves that they then try to lower on the day citing lack of demand, or send the payment to the wrong person, one sold a carpet by private treaty and the cash was snaffled by the auctioneer to whom the house owed money - I'm still waiting, and one house smashed a piece of furniture and have not made good. Add in lousy write ups and if you are inclined to perfection, it's not an enjoyable process.

Then you have the lack of demand on the day and suddenly if unsold they want it gone that minute, so you re-list it elsewhere etc and have to drag it around.

I have numerous other stories of some seriously poor things going on which I won't list. Be assertive, don't let them push you around on reserves and remember they are taking between a third and a half of the value.

New auctioneers are best avoided - they don't generate the viewing needed and of those, I think all are going to be targeted at more showy vehicles. Silverstone started only a year or so ago and results were pretty poor.

 

[neilrr]

Thieves in suits?

 

[flat6buster]

So I am now almost completely put off auctions.

May take some piccies and try here first to see what pans out.

 

[boxbrownie]

Take the point and indeed have one but you try getting a large dog AND a ramp in the back of a SWB G wagen.....just never going to work :-(

Just a thought.............

 

[Giantvanman]

Dog steps that need little storage:-

Pet Loader - Noshers Natural Dog Treats

Easy Auto Dog Car Step | ThisNext

Dog Car Step / TwiStep® Vehicle Step -- Orvis

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WQ823E/

Master Equipment Non Skid 4 Step Pet Stair & Reviews | Wayfair

None of them would be especially difficult to make if you didn't want to order from the US but there are several versions that fold very flat and would be easily stored. Hope this helps/gives a viable alternative.

 

[bob6600]

Post an ad here?

 

[Palfrem]

Did I hear G Wagen? Please - tell me more....

 

[flat6buster]

Just a thought.............

my reply was not meant to sound terse, sorry if offence caused.

 

[boxbrownie]

my reply was not meant to sound terse, sorry if offence caused.

No it didn't........just thought the ramp solution might be a way to keep the G wagon if you really want to of course........that ramp I linked folds into a briefcase sized case for easy storage........apparently