HA AUGUST 27-29 SIGNATURE AUCTION

[Mmehdy]

Got my catalog today - even more tracking bids placed!

 

 

I would assume you are referring to the Heritage catalog?

 

Does CC ever send out catalogs for any of their auctions?

 

Just wondering since I have never ever received any from them, except for their "One Catalogue" way back in the 90's.

yes they do

 

but not the quality that the ha.com catalog...still better than CL

[G.A.tor]

I think the catalogs are great but really unnecessary if the cost could be reduced from buyers premium.

[Socratic Wonder]

I think the catalogs are great but really unnecessary if the cost could be reduced from buyers premium.

 

Agreed. It is more of a luxury/novelty at this point.

[Sqeggs]

I don't know. I would really hate to see HA stop the catalogs. They are impressive and I always find books that I've overlooked when going through the online listings. The CC catalogs are a couple of steps down and I can't say I would be heartbroken if they stopped doing them.

[mrmitchgro]

Aren't we a little biased too? People on the boards are at least somewhat internet savvy, but I would guess HA still has a decent percentage of their bidders that aren't as comfortable online. The significant number of phone/fax bidders they still have tells me that the catalog might still be a primary way to reach their client base

[nearmint]

They wouldn't print them if they hadn't determined it was a money maker for them.

[Sqeggs]

They wouldn't print them if they hadn't determined it was a money maker for them.

 

I think you are right, although I believe someone mentioned that comics bring in less than 3% of their revenue. They print catalogs for their other -- presumably more profitable -- auctions, so perhaps the comic auction catalogs are produced to maintain consistency with their general practice. They have got to be extraordinarily expensive when you take into account their bulk and that they ship them around the world.

[Socratic Wonder]

Aren't we a little biased too? People on the boards are at least somewhat internet savvy, but I would guess HA still has a decent percentage of their bidders that aren't as comfortable online. The significant number of phone/fax bidders they still have tells me that the catalog might still be a primary way to reach their client base

 

That is a very good point

[Socratic Wonder]

They wouldn't print them if they hadn't determined it was a money maker for them.

 

They might just view it as a nominal cost in the grand scheme of things. If killing printed catalogs causes them to even lose a handful of bidders, or consignors, I am sure it is not worth it.

[G.A.tor]

them maybe print them on demand, for what I am sure is a minority of bidders that are "not comfortable" bidding or viewing online...

 

nominal cost or not, they sell them for , what, $50?

 

you bid on and win a $300 item and you tack on the $60 in BP, wouldn't you rather pay $310 vs $360

 

or if their cost to produce is $20, or whatever, my point is, they are GREAT, don't get me wrong, but seems like a scaled back version (like CC) or elimination all together would save us buyers/bidders money, no matter how little...savings is a savings... just my

 

I know that the "better" books are not featured in sunday auctions, but compare results with the quarterly books that are similar, and many times, the sunday auctions realize a higher bid...without catalogs...

[Sqeggs]

them maybe print them on demand, for what I am sure is a minority of bidders that are "not comfortable" bidding or viewing online...

 

nominal cost or not, they sell them for , what, $50?

 

you bid on and win a $300 item and you tack on the $60 in BP, wouldn't you rather pay $310 vs $360

 

or if their cost to produce is $20, or whatever, my point is, they are GREAT, don't get me wrong, but seems like a scaled back version (like CC) or elimination all together would save us buyers/bidders money, no matter how little...savings is a savings... just my

 

I know that the "better" books are not featured in sunday auctions, but compare results with the quarterly books that are similar, and many times, the sunday auctions realize a higher bid...without catalogs...

 

I have a suspicion they wouldn't be receptive to this argument because the BP is (I think) the same across all the auction categories, so I don't think they would be likely to cut it just for comic auctions.

 

Each auction, I find books that I missed online and would probably not have bid on if not for the catalog. With the CL auctions, I'll sometimes see somebody post a book they've won and think "I didn't even know that book was in the auction."

 

Of course, maybe I'm just explaining how I'm a doofus!

[jaybuck43]

Wait, people actually PAY for the catalogs? I thought we all got them for free?

[Sqeggs]

Wait, people actually PAY for the catalogs? I thought we all got them for free?

 

The price is printed on the back cover, but I doubt many people pay it. I think it's a way of keeping control of their mailing list. If you ask for a catalog without having a bidding history, they can say "Sure. That'll be $50."

[MrBedrock]

them maybe print them on demand, for what I am sure is a minority of bidders that are "not comfortable" bidding or viewing online...

 

nominal cost or not, they sell them for , what, $50?

 

you bid on and win a $300 item and you tack on the $60 in BP, wouldn't you rather pay $310 vs $360

 

or if their cost to produce is $20, or whatever, my point is, they are GREAT, don't get me wrong, but seems like a scaled back version (like CC) or elimination all together would save us buyers/bidders money, no matter how little...savings is a savings... just my

 

I know that the "better" books are not featured in sunday auctions, but compare results with the quarterly books that are similar, and many times, the sunday auctions realize a higher bid...without catalogs...

 

I have a suspicion they wouldn't be receptive to this argument because the BP is (I think) the same across all the auction categories, so I don't think they would be likely to cut it just for comic auctions.

 

Each auction, I find books that I missed online and would probably not have bid on if not for the catalog. With the CL auctions, I'll sometimes see somebody post a book they've won and think "I didn't even know that book was in the auction."

 

Of course, maybe I'm just explaining how I'm a doofus!

I'm sure they own their own in house publishing service. The costs are simply shifted from one business (Heritage Auctions) to another (Ivy Press, Steve Ivy being one of the principles of both).

[Bronty]

I don't know. I would really hate to see HA stop the catalogs. They are impressive and I always find books that I've overlooked when going through the online listings. The CC catalogs are a couple of steps down and I can't say I would be heartbroken if they stopped doing them.

 

Agreed

[Johnny545]

I don't know. I would really hate to see HA stop the catalogs. They are impressive and I always find books that I've overlooked when going through the online listings. The CC catalogs are a couple of steps down and I can't say I would be heartbroken if they stopped doing them.

 

Agreed, I really enjoy the HA catalogs and I think it drives business. It certainly gets me to look outside my typical collecting box and bid on books I otherwise wouldn't.

 

 

[Bronty]

them maybe print them on demand, for what I am sure is a minority of bidders that are "not comfortable" bidding or viewing online...

 

nominal cost or not, they sell them for , what, $50?

 

you bid on and win a $300 item and you tack on the $60 in BP, wouldn't you rather pay $310 vs $360

 

or if their cost to produce is $20, or whatever, my point is, they are GREAT, don't get me wrong, but seems like a scaled back version (like CC) or elimination all together would save us buyers/bidders money, no matter how little...savings is a savings... just my

 

I know that the "better" books are not featured in sunday auctions, but compare results with the quarterly books that are similar, and many times, the sunday auctions realize a higher bid...without catalogs...

 

I have a suspicion they wouldn't be receptive to this argument because the BP is (I think) the same across all the auction categories, so I don't think they would be likely to cut it just for comic auctions.

 

Each auction, I find books that I missed online and would probably not have bid on if not for the catalog. With the CL auctions, I'll sometimes see somebody post a book they've won and think "I didn't even know that book was in the auction."

 

Of course, maybe I'm just explaining how I'm a doofus!

I'm sure they own their own in house publishing service. The costs are simply shifted from one business (Heritage Auctions) to another (Ivy Press, Steve Ivy being one of the principles of both).

 

Yes, but Ivy Press likely bills Heritage for its printing services. Which means Heritage still pays for the catalog, just via a single invoice from IP as opposed to bills from the paper people, the ink people, the printing staff, etc

[Silver Surfer]

I think if they stopped printing the catalogs it would be a big step back for Heritage. I flip through old catalogs on a regular basis as they are a great reference.

[Bronty]

yep. just not the same with an online catalog

[Chicago Boy]

I love getting the catalogues in the mail from them and CC. Get's my juices flowing for the upcoming auctions ...I don't think it effects my bidding though if I'm pretty amped up already to bid as I have my limits 'usually 'set ahead of time