RBerman Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 (edited) As a newbie here, I'm intrigued to see that other members are variously buyers, sellers, or both in online auctions. The nature of a basic art sale is somewhat competitive, since buyer and seller have different ideas of what personally benefits them the most. But it's also somewhat collaborative, since both buyer and seller have some incentive to reach an agreement. An auction, however, seems more competitive: A sale is certain (barring reserve issues), so all that's left is competition between potential buyers. So my question is: Do long-time members find that this forum makes them more or less aggressive at auctions, given that you know some of the people against whom you are bidding, and maybe know which pieces they're trying to acquire? Do you bid less, or on fewer pieces? Have you ever had a private conversation divvying up potential auction items so as not to run up the price on pieces of mutual interest? Edited February 3, 2020 by RBerman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodou Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 22 minutes ago, RBerman said: Have you ever had a private conversation divvying up potential auction items so as not to run up the price on pieces of mutual interest? No way there has ever been any collusion in this hobby drdroom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 8 minutes ago, vodou said: No way there has ever been any collusion in this hobby There’s also no such thing as punishment bid taxes either. zhamlau and Unstoppablejayd 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick2you2 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 If I wasn’t really, really interested in a piece, and I knew someone else was, I would personally back away, but that has never happened to me. I also don’t engage in punishment bidding. I consider it malicious and offensive to deliberately cause harm to another with no benefit to myself (fighting vigorously to win the same piece is different). alxjhnsn and Taylor G 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumbydarnit Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 I agree with Rick2you2 well UNLESS the punishment bids are happening on a piece I'm selling, then it's less frowned upon. Pieces I'm interested in - NO PUNISHMENT BIDS Pieces I'm selling - PUNISH THOSE BUYERS - but not on my behalf - shilling is ALWAYS BAD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjonahjameson11 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Barracuda? Nah, I’m just a guppy in a teeny, tiny fishbowl grapeape 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delekkerste Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ESeffinga Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Sweep the leg, Gene! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comix4fun Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 3 hours ago, delekkerste said: Maybe 20 years ago....but now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alxjhnsn Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 I figure what I want to pay and bid it. That's it. davidtere 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipB2k17 Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 (edited) I don’t know who owns what, who’s selling what, or who’s buying what. Also...even if I did, I’m a guppy in a kiddie pool compared to the sharks you’re talking about. Edited February 5, 2020 by PhilipB2k17 davidtere and grapeape 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 On 2/4/2020 at 5:29 AM, gumbydarnit said: I agree with Rick2you2 well UNLESS the punishment bids are happening on a piece I'm selling, then it's less frowned upon. Pieces I'm interested in - NO PUNISHMENT BIDS Pieces I'm selling - PUNISH THOSE BUYERS - but not on my behalf - shilling is ALWAYS BAD! Refreshing honesty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 15 hours ago, alxjhnsn said: I figure what I want to pay and bid it. That's it. Alex is 100% right. Bid what you’re willing to pay and you should have no regrets win or lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapeape Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 On 2/4/2020 at 2:34 AM, Rick2you2 said: If I wasn’t really, really interested in a piece, and I knew someone else was, I would personally back away, but that has never happened to me. I also don’t engage in punishment bidding. I consider it malicious and offensive to deliberately cause harm to another with no benefit to myself (fighting vigorously to win the same piece is different). That’s honorable. Rick2you2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JadeGiant Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 As primarily a Hulk collector, I am aware of several collectors (many who are now friends) who have similar tastes (some, VERY similar tastes). Early on there was a somewhat uneasy tension going down the wire on an auction wondering who would bid, how much, etc. If you don't talk about it, it's easy as you don't know for sure if they are bidding so you throw your best bid down and see what happens. You win some, you lose some, and along the way you might make a friend pay up a little more for a piece unintentionally - that's how it goes. I have a few friends that I converse with now about auctions and we can actually talk it out and see who wants it most and how hard they will go for it and pretty much always defer to one another on an item. So, I guess you can say that some friendships made in the hobby do suppress that "barracuda instinct" ... sometimes. RBerman, Twanj, Rick2you2 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will_K Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 The Hulk abides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjonahjameson11 Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 1 hour ago, JadeGiant said: As primarily a Hulk collector, I am aware of several collectors (many who are now friends) who have similar tastes (some, VERY similar tastes). Early on there was a somewhat uneasy tension going down the wire on an auction wondering who would bid, how much, etc. If you don't talk about it, it's easy as you don't know for sure if they are bidding so you throw your best bid down and see what happens. You win some, you lose some, and along the way you might make a friend pay up a little more for a piece unintentionally - that's how it goes. I have a few friends that I converse with now about auctions and we can actually talk it out and see who wants it most and how hard they will go for it and pretty much always defer to one another on an item. So, I guess you can say that some friendships made in the hobby do suppress that "barracuda instinct" ... sometimes. Friends? Bah, Hulk want to be alone!!! Hulk smash friends!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JadeGiant Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 56 minutes ago, jjonahjameson11 said: Friends? Bah, Hulk want to be alone!!! Hulk smash friends!! Good thing you don't collect Hulk any more ... or you'd only get the barracuda instinct on all auctions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjonahjameson11 Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 Oh, so? when did I stop collecting Hulk? This is news to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...