I have a pretty iconic Byrne piece that I am considering sending to auction. Real life stuff like kids college tuition, cars, etc. are here so it might be time. My reasoning isn't just because of the high auction prices (although thats the main reason lol)
Private sales can be an ordeal. They involve so much posturing and negotiations and I definitely don't want to go through all of that if its already hard enough to let my favorite piece go. The whole dance of me naming my asking price and providing comps and the interested party trying to dispute my valuation is tiresome, stressful, and at times insulting. So yeah, if I ever let my Byrne go, I would most likely send to auction to realize its full value. But if a legit buyer comes at me with an offer I can't refuse, then that works too lol. But it seems there are only a few serious collectors that do that any more these days.
Guys that know me, know the piece I'm referring to. I am just speaking re my viewpoint on the topic so please don't ask which piece. I won't confirm or deny