[meteorite-list] TUCSON AUCTION ETIQUETTE/ AN APOLOGY IN ORDER?

From: Jason Utas <meteoritekid_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 19:36:08 -0800
Message-ID: <AANLkTim8yb4ZvfaP6taD3XV5oV5tswsY_XOnu9ScKdc9_at_mail.gmail.com>

Michael, All,
I'd like to point out that the above articles do not shed any light on
the professional demeanor of our own Count (Robert Deiro). To quote
one of the articles:

"Robert Deiro, who started the auction business in 1976 and sold it to
his son in 1991, is estranged from his son. He's embarrassed his name
is involved even though he isn't. "This has really been hard on me,"
the retiree said."

I'm sorry if this brings any unwanted/unpleasant things up, but I felt
that this should be clarified, as the published articles were very
misleading if the above lines were not pointed out.
Regards,
Jason

On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 7:14 PM, mike oatman <mkoatman at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Meteorite List and Count Deiro,
>
> I read with interest the posts regarding the 2011 Tucson Auction. I
> have attended the Blood auction in past years and always enjoyed
> myself. The Count's post seems to indicate that Michael's auction was
> conducted poorly. I realize that you have emailed that it was not your intent to
> refer to the Blood Auction specifically, but you must agree that it
> seems you are directly insulting Mr. Blood and the girls working the ring.
>
>
> I had a chance to google your Auction Firm and it seems that the Deiro
> Auctioneer's have defrauded many well respected members of the
> community. Since you mentioned that you serve as counsel to the firms
> I assume that all of these individuals and charities have been paid the
> proceeds they had due and that your firms are conducting business in a
> reputable manner. Sometimes one needs to look in the mirror before
> offering unsolicited advice to another.
>
> In my opinion public apologies are in order.
>
>
> http://www.lvrj.com/news/claudine-williams-memory-deserves-better-than-this-81882842.html
>
> http://www.lvrj.com/news/you-win-some-and-lose-some-trying-to-help-readers-99743969.html
>
> http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices-regional-local/14198362-1.html
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Michael Oatman
>
>
>
> Count Deiro wrote the following
>
> I owned and have operated some of the largest auction firms in the
> nation since receiving my Certified Auctioneer Institute professional
> designation from Indiana University in 1985. Prior to that, I attended
> Missouri Auction School and served an apprenticeship at Sothebys in
> New York. I became licensed in eight states. I was the Charter
> President of the Nevada State Auctioneers Association. My firms have
> sold, and I have gaveled down, over a billion dollars in real and
> personal property, even some meteorites at this auction last year. I
> have sold my auction interests to family members and have been of
> counsel to our firms and other companies for the past 15 years.
>
> So the qualifying remarks having been made?here we go:
>
> SOME (NOT ALL) AUCTION POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES
>
> Auctioneers have a legal fiduciary obligation to Consignors.
>
> They should be knowledgeable of the items they sell and should be able
> to pronounce names and make accurate descriptions.
>
> An auctioneer has to know the retail value of every lot and have
> examples to quote to the audience, so that he can open the bid at a
> sum that encourages bidders to bid on the money. Opening a $500 item
> at $20 is incompetence. Getting an opening bid that is off the
> money...say $100 on a $500 item and then asking for $120 instead of
> $200 is something you learn not to do the first day at auction school.
>
> It is critical that auctioneers make the audience believe they know
> what they are selling, and what it?s worth, so that bidders will have
> confidence to bid what is being asked. Failing to answer legitimate
> questions from bidders ruins credibility.
>
> Never say ?I have $200?. Auctioneers don?t have anything. Better to
> say ?at $200?, or $200 is bid.?
>
> Taking a bid from an opening bidder, and then acquiring another bid
> and then not go immediately back to the opening bidder is insulting to
> him. Work the first to bidders dry?then take a competing bid. Saves
> time and respects the first bidders.
>
> All auctioneers should employ trained ring persons. They are
> invaluable in encouraging bidders, showing lots, and answering
> questions like ?where we at?? or ?what?s the bid??
>
> It is not accepted practice for an auctioneer to bid on his own
> behalf, even if he does not own the goods being sold. If he does, he
> should never announce the fact, as it tends to discourage bidding and
> hurts his consignors and credibility.
>
> He should have several house numbers to sell a passed lot to, or a lot
> that didn?t meet an undisclosed reserve, or a lot he has bought.
>
> Do not disclose reserves. Do not announce the mail in bids. Give the
> mail bidder a number and use it as if in the audience. If you disclose
> the mail in bid maximum before selling the lot you are in deep
> kimchee.
> Phone bids should be handled by staff, with a bidder number and the
> auctioneer should not say ?on the phone?. Merely acknowledge staff?s
> raised hand. You sell to a number?not a person.
>
> As a general rule do not identify bidders by calling out their name.
> It can do no good and may stop a bid because of a personal issue.
>
> Bid calling is an art form. One should develop a pleasing appearance
> and voice. Use rhythm chants on small amounts and walking chants on
> the big numbers. The audience gets comfortable in following you and
> entertained and the sale moves quickly.
>
> Start on time and be prepared. Inform the audience of the order of
> sale and the terms and conditions before calling for the first
> lot.Introduce your staff and mention who to see for check out and pick
> up.
>
> Arrange lots to develop and keep interest and drama. Don?t bunch
> smalls one after the other?bidders will get bored and not bid on these
> items hurting the consignor. Scatter smalls through the sale.
>
> Don?t place late entries at the end of a sale. Give them the respect
> they deserve and place them through the sale by saying ?additional lot
> number so and so?. Give a proper description. If you add undisclosed
> lots at the end of a sale you will have lost the bulk of the bidders
> and hurt the consignor. Tell the audience that there are late entries
> scattered through the sale and that they are on display at the front.
>
> It is absolutely necessary when selling small items such as meteorites
> to have as much of a preview period as possible and during the sale,
> either put them up on screen, or run them through the audience with
> ring persons.
>
> Ring persons should know to run the lot being bid on from bidder to
> bidder not to non participating audience members.
>
> Remember! An auctioneer is a third party intermediary between seller
> and buyer who has been paid to be knowledgeable in auction
> advertising, promotion and conduct, knows intimately the lot and its
> value and is beyond criticism of his business methods..
>
> We could go on and on?.but these are some of the absolute necessary
> policies and techniques. There have been books written.
>
> Count Deiro
> IMCA 3536 MetSoc
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Received on Mon 07 Feb 2011 10:36:08 PM PST