I Joined Heritage Auctions, anything I need to know???

Ok, I just signed up to Heritage Auctions. Is there anything I should know before I do any bidding??? Im wondering about the buyers fees. I saw somewhere that theres a minimum $9 buyers fee. I was thinking about buying something cheap just to get a feel for the site. Now if I buy something thats woth like $5 are they going to charge me another $9 ontop of the $5???? Anyhow, Im just asking if anyone has anything they can point out that I should know???
Thanks,
Dan

 

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Yes, pay attention to the stated buyer's fee, which is 15% or the stated minimum, whichever is greater.

 

Buyer's fee is 15%, $9 minimum. (I.e., if you buy something for less than $60 the buyer's fee is $9.)

Their search engine is a bit difficult to use.

They have great photos of coins. You can zoom in very tight. But you cannot save the images.

 

Alright great. Thank you. I thought thats what I read but was unclear. Ive been browsing and have seen some nice looking coins. One more thing Im not clear on, are these coins that people have listed or are all coins sent to Heritage and then Heritage lists the coins???

 

The coins are consigned to Heritage by their owners.

 

Actually, Heritage auctions their own coins as well.

 

I learn something every day.

(And I learned this while on hold with Heritage.)

 

Dan,

I used to purchase coins via Heritage, but none recently. My opinion - lots of "bid quality" (i.e. low-end) material on their normal weekly auctions. It's also easy to end up paying too much, especially with the "buyer's premium".

Some very nice material on their major auctions, but the price tends to go very high for the good stuff.

As far as the service and company goes, very prompt shipment and I have never had a problem with a return.

 

Thanks for all the info. So far Im thinking of trying my luck with some currency. I dont have much for currency, almost everything I have is US Coins. Anyhow, Im thinking about looking for either a CU funnyback or a CU $5 Silver cert. But Im deff going to follow a few auctions before doing any bidding. Anyhow, thanks for the info.

 

This is not good.

Tuesday night I went to Heritage's web site and made an offer on a coin that did not sell at the FUN auction. My offer was for over $4,000. When I made my offer there was over 6 hours remaining in which to make an offer. I clicked on the "Make An Offer" button, entered my offer and clicked on the "Submit Bid" button. A confirmation window popped up and I confirmed my offer.

I patiently awaited a confirmation e-mail but it never came. So I called Heritage today to find out the status of my offer. They have no record of my offer. It simply vanished. "Sorry, end of story. Nothing we can do about it. You can make an offer on another coin. Etc."

I would not have made my offer if I were not serious about buying the coin. This is a bad experience for my first attempt to buy a coin through Heritage.

I am not happy about this and I will have to think about whether I want to do business with them in the future.

 

Hobo,
Huh, I wonder how that could have happened. Do you think the problem could have been on your end??? Maybe your computer froze??? What was the coin anyhow ????

 

I agree. I have had excellent service, both when buying and selling.

In addition to auctions, they have a "virtual bourse" in which the coin's owner (i.e. seller) keeps the coin but sends in pictures and a verbal description. Heritage posts that, and brokers the deal.

That's how I understood it, anyway... I personally have never tried that.

 

man heritage is the best auction house IMHO period. they go out of their way to make things right for you. Did you get confirmation that your offer was submitted if you didnt you should have called them up. theur site does take getting some used to. i am sure if you give them a want list they will get you a better coin than you lost. Sorry to hear about your bad experience

 

I spent 30 minutes on the phone with a young woman who tried to help. They have no record of my offer. I walked her through the steps I took - up to confirming my offer - and she said that I had done everything correctly. She also said nothing like this has ever happened as far as she knows. (Why am I always the one that something like this happens to?)

The odd thing is that she could not even find the coin I made the offer on. I did not write down the lot number (I assumed I would get that in my e-mail confirmation).

I cannot prove I made the offer. And that's the end of that. I think it sucks big time and I will think long and hard before trying to do business with Heritage again.

 

No, when I confirmed my offer I got a new window telling me the seller would consider my offer and I would receive an e-mail in 24 to 48 hours letting me know if my offer was accepted.

No, my computer did not freeze.

The coin I tried to buy was a Proof-65 Ultra Cameo 1882 Seated Liberty Half Dollar.

 

At heritage this I think is a common mistake because it has happened to me and nobody was able to help me. I just did not go back to them for coins.
I think they change things around when not happy. There were many excuses from thir side that's for sure.
Rigo A.

 

So this was NOT the first time this has happened. That's interesting.

My offer was more than $40 higher than the lower end of their "suggested" price range. There should be no reason they would be unhappy with that offer. They just threw away $523 in buyer fees plus whatever the seller fees were. Plus the buyer's fees on my future business they may have lost.

 

I assume the woman you spoke with was Kim Ross, if not that may be part of the issue as Make An Offers are her realm. I would like to help you though, so please call me after 1PM tomorrow (Friday 1/18) and I will do what I can to help you.

Please see your PM