Heritage Auctions?

There are plenty of foreign bidders on our world coin auctions. Nobody (not even me) gets discounts on buyers' prices, although dealers with a resale certificate don't have to pay sales taxes.

 

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Just make sure you include the buyer's premium when you decide what you want to bid. We calculate it for you every step of the way -- unless you're on the auction floor.

 

in one way you are correct- on big dollar items you do well- on inexpensive items the buyers fee hurts a lot more because there is a minimum.

 

I've always done quite well with Heritage. I just wish they hadn't done away with the free catalogs.
Guy

 

I think you are correct. When I feel I really want to win a coin I bid up to retail for the coin - a couple of case more. I have seen a lot of coins go straight from Heritage to ebay at a considerable mark-up and get sold.

 

Yeah, if you look back at previous sales, most stuff has reasonable to low final selling prices I think. Despite the buyers fees. People just factor the fees into the price. A seller loses 12% selling on ebay after the fees so it's not too different if the seller can get the sellers fees waived. The buyers benefit from what I believe is likely a smaller pool of bidders. People can think what they want but I just don't think Heritage is quite the household name that ebay is.

I believe your more serious collectors are at Heritage and they are likely more knowledgeable. They're less likely to overpay than the ebay crowd, IMO. So prices can be reasonable over there. Although, that smaller pool of people is still relatively large. A lot of eyes on stuff and not much is going to be missed to the point of waltzing over there and getting a steal whenever you want. You still can do better than ebay I'd say.

 

Thanks, also another question how do you determine if the item is being shipped by Heritage or by the 3rd party seller because it doesn't say on the page. Ex

 

I have purchased many great items in their signature auctions, their weekly auctions etc. I appreciate getting my items quickly and not waiting sometimes weeks at a time like that particular NY based auction house.

 

Unfortunately the only thing I buy on Heritage are one of a kind items. I live in NY so they charge me tax on top of shipping and buyers premium. For those of you who think this is nothing, imagine paying an extra $14 plus 8.875% of the total price which they tack on into the shipping. It comes out to a lot.

 

Heritage runs two different types of Auctions. Internet Only and Internet/Live.

Until you get your buying feet, might I suggest participating on the Internet Only Auctions.

That way you'll get used to the:

a. Buyers Premiums.
b. Sales Taxes (where applicable)
c. Shipping Charges
d. Goofy Invoicing System

 

Some very fine coins comming up in the next auction. I do believe I will sit back and watch the fireworks.

 

In faq it says this

http://www.ha.com/common/contactus.php?ref=&txtTopicID=21#answer

 

You think that is bad, I bid in auctions in Britain and I am quite glad I don't live over there. First you have a 20% buyers fee. Shipping is quite expensive. My last purchase was three lots worth about $800 which were shipped in a 6X9 bubble mailer at a cost of $36 plus $7.50 for insurance. So I'm up to 25% right there. But if I lived in the EU there would have been an additional 15% Vat tax as well. So that is 40% of the hammer price in fees if you live in the EU. I start out with a 15% advantage.

The third party shipping is probably for large bulky items like say an antique dresser.

 

Yeah i never seen any item say 3rd party seller or 1st party seller so that is why i wasn't sure if there is some on item description page it clarified that.

Anyone following the auctions'?

 

This applies to art and some other unwieldy types of items that we auction -- basically anything where the shipping costs eat us alive. It does not apply to coins.

 

Thanks for info swhuck.

 

That sucks. I collect statues as well and I have heard horror stories of collectors in other countries paying high amounts of s/h, tax and custom fees. They end up paying about $200-300 extra for a $300 item.

But recently the art I won at Heritage was shipped via Fedex.

 

LOL, I knew somone would post this thread. I guess I'm not the only one looking at those halves.