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

From: actionshooting at carolina.rr.com <actionshooting_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 13:28:43 -0500
Message-ID: <20110208182843.R9B5C.10883.root_at_hrndva-web26-z02>

I thought the same thing too. I have never seen an auctioneer close bid so fast. Almost like they were in a hurry.

---- Richard Montgomery <rickmont at earthlink.net> wrote:
> I watched the auction ffrom California via Ruben's broadcast...which was
> awesome!...the only thing I noticed that struck me as a bit odd was how fast
> Michael closed the items, and I kept wondering if more time was taken that
> bids would have increased substantially. (I don't think this was on
> purpose...please don't mis-understand!) There were some real low wins on
> some pretty amazing pieces (like the TFL thin-section)...
>
> Hat's off to Greg H. for a fantastic donation to a great auction!
>
> Even though I haven't personally met any of you, after watching, reading all
> the posts and pictures and videos this year I feel as if I have. Thanks
> everyone.
>
> Richard Montgomery
> Goldierocks
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Linton Rohr" <lintonius at earthlink.net>
> To: "mike oatman" <mkoatman at gmail.com>
> Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 10:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] TUCSON AUCTION ETIQUETTE/ AN APOLOGY IN ORDER?
>
>
> Good grief!
> All this post-auction bickering reminds me of the old adage, "No good deed
> goes unpunished". I had a great time at the auction, in spite of not winning
> a single item, and I appreciate the efforts of all those who make it happen.
> I don't go expecting the tightly run ship of a world-class auction house,
> but to have fun with friends in the meteorite community - some old, some
> new, and some I've yet to meet.
> Is everything perfect? Of course not! We're all human and we live on planet
> Earth. But we should be celebrating our common interest, not quibbling over
> petty problems. I can understand the differing points of view, but I don't
> understand the point of complaining about it all. I assure you, we'll all
> have bigger things on our minds on our deathbeds.
> So hats off to Michael, Ruben, Leigh Anne, Suzanne, Lisa Marie, Twink, John,
> and anyone else involved. We'll have even more fun next year!
> Linton
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "mike oatman" <mkoatman at gmail.com>
> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 7:14 PM
> Subject: [meteorite-list] TUCSON AUCTION ETIQUETTE/ AN APOLOGY IN ORDER?
>
>
> 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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--
Stuart McDaniel
Lawndale, NC

Received on Tue 08 Feb 2011 01:28:43 PM PST