Auction advice

[HSE2]

Need some advice. I think I know where I stand but would like to know what others think.


I have taken part in an auction by absentee form. In doing so you are registered with a number and everything so that the auction house can place bids on your behalf up until your maximum amount. It s like eBay but with people doing the bidding instead of the computer.

I was interested in two lots.

When I checked the results I found that I must have won both items as they sold for less than my maximum. When I rang to organise payment there was only a record of me being successful once.

It turns out that although I was prepared to go higher than the winning bid someone at the auction house stuffed up and never bid on my behalf.

Now supposedly this has never happened before so the auction house has to ring me tomorrow to let me know what will happen. I think I know what that will be. I mean if I didn’t check the lots myself does anyone seriously think they would have come clean and told me of the mistake.

I am pretty devastated about it. To be beaten fairly is one thing but to lose like this is hard to take.

Anyone have an opinion or advice on my situation.

Regards
Ian

[Sam]

Had a similar situation happen to me on a tender for a toolbox from a local council, it was advised to me that i won, and then didnt have the highest offer on the toolbox. I left it at first but curiosity got the better of me so later that day i rang the finance office to go through what had actually transpired. It appeared that someone at the depot wanted it for $50 so they had rung me to let me know that my $150 offer was not successful. Regardless, i picked it up that day and then sold it for $650 the next!!

In short Ian, I'd definitely speak to someone above the "auction floor" level to confirm what has happened.

[Buzz Box]

I suppose the obvious question is do you want both lots?

[HSE2]

Yes I want both lots, the one I missed out on was the more important one.

[Buzz Box]

So is there an update from during the week?

[HSE2]

Yes there is.

The auction was Shannon's, held last Monday. Basically they failed to call me back in a time frame that was acceptable to me, siting “they are a very busy” organisation.

In such a matter it’s up to the head auctioneer to decide the dispute. He was a very arrogant person who essentially came to the conclusion that the winning bidder (who was also an absentee) was higher than my maximum bid so it effectively there was a no issue. Never really an apology but I got a lecture on how a low bid doesn’t beat a higher bid. Who would have thought. I was more interested in who no bid worked.....
On face value, if their word is any good, the right person won and the only person hurt was the vendor, who, in the absence of my bids, lost a significant amount of money on the lot in question.

I have taken the matter up with the vendor (seeing as Shannon’s discloser on the issue was rather lacking) who isn't inclined to be using Shannon’s in the short term and not just because of what happened to me.
I certainly wouldn’t recommend absentee bidding to anyone but for me it was this option or not at all. Next time it will be not at all. In my case not even a phone bid would have worked because I wouldn’t have received the call either. A suspicions mind would conclude that I was excluded from this lot on purpose. Can’t and won’t be proving it but you certainly learn from one’s mistakes and move on.
I have my cars insured with Shannon’s and if this is any indication of the level of competency of said organisation, then god help me if I ever need to make a claim.

[Go baby Go]

Originally Posted by HSE2

Yes there is.

The auction was Shannon's, held last Monday. Basically they failed to call me back in a time frame that was acceptable to me, siting “they are a very busy” organisation.

In such a matter it’s up to the head auctioneer to decide the dispute. He was a very arrogant person who essentially came to the conclusion that the winning bidder (who was also an absentee) was higher than my maximum bid so it effectively there was a no issue. Never really an apology but I got a lecture on how a low bid doesn’t beat a higher bid. Who would have thought. I was more interested in who no bid worked.....
On face value, if their word is any good, the right person won and the only person hurt was the vendor, who, in the absence of my bids, lost a significant amount of money on the lot in question.

I have taken the matter up with the vendor (seeing as Shannon’s discloser on the issue was rather lacking) who isn't inclined to be using Shannon’s in the short term and not just because of what happened to me.
I certainly wouldn’t recommend absentee bidding to anyone but for me it was this option or not at all. Next time it will be not at all. In my case not even a phone bid would have worked because I wouldn’t have received the call either. A suspicions mind would conclude that I was excluded from this lot on purpose. Can’t and won’t be proving it but you certainly learn from one’s mistakes and move on.
I have my cars insured with Shannon’s and if this is any indication of the level of competency of said organisation, then god help me if I ever need to make a claim.

Most of those who have seen Bill Welwood and Chris in action more than likely wouldn't use the word arrogant to describe them. i have bought from there before (but admittedly not via phone) and had no problems. Why is it Murphy's law lets you miss out on the one you really want...?
I noted you also wrote "a time acceptable to me.."surely you werent wanting them to call 1 minute prior were you? have you been to one? It's not uncommon to have 12 shannons staff there with phone bids, and i have seen them 1st hand frantically trying to get through to people when a lot comes up. Now i am not on their payroll, but can see both sides. if there were a ton of phone bidders, then maybe they need to look at a system which will reduce any issues. But also as you said, it is the first time it has happened. So, I guess if someone else bid higher (actually i have the list here somewhere of all the items and what they went for - i wrote them down on the night) then that's the luck of the draw.

I don't suppose one of the items in question was a boat was it....... (we bought one there)

Cheers,

[HSE2]

On reading your reply for the 50th time there are issues you seem to have missed.

Its not what happened at the auction that I had a phone issue or contact issue with but rather the follow up during the week.

[Go baby Go]

i think more i was looking at from a different angle

[Buzz Box]

Well I suppose at least they gave you the facts and now you know.

From an outsiders perspective its easy to say yes what they said is probably right if he had a higher maximum than you the only loser is really the vendor but I understand your side its frustrating but like I said at least you got the facts and 1 car......... :-S

Looks like for their next auction you'll be coming to visit us on the mainland huh :-P

[cupic]

Bid with your head and not your heart


cheers