Looks like there are indeed problems, but there are improvements too, like the addition of a watch list as well as a list of coins you've bid on. I will appreciate both of those changes!
A watch list is indeed a good thing. The old platform does have a list of coins you've bid on-- it's just not easy to find: Ooops, lookie there. I've revealed my current CNG bidder handle . I guess that will be my last public handle. Changing them for almost every auction was a fun game.
Interesting. I also just tried to place a bid on my phone, going to the website, not the ap. I did not get the scrolling preset bid levels, it did give me the next 3 levels, and it allowed me to type any number I wanted although it rounded down my bid. There was also no button to push to actually place your bid. Once I entered my number I hit a done button, expecting my keypad on my phone to close and give me a button to click to enter the bid. The keypad did close, but the bid registered at the same time. Not sure that’s a good set up. odd that their web version, phone version and ap version all work differently. Someone should have synchronized all that in my opinion. Barry Murphy
I would think that the newly introduced confusion would make this a bad time to be one of those who consigned for this sale. They need many bidders bidding with abandon and not wondering how. CNG will lose nothing losing my business but I doubt I am the only one not as computer saavy as Clio so he will have fewer people driving up his costs. After all, the important person in any auction is not the winner but the one who comes in second and sets the price. I doubt we will see a statistic on how many bids are received compared to the old way.
CNG has a video about how to use the new platform, along with screen captures. I'm really tired of change right now but based on this video and that page, I can see how the platform does have advantages. https://cngcoins.com/A+Guide+to+CNG's+New+Bidding+Platform.aspx
Victor (CNG's owner) once told me that if someone wants a coin bad enough they'll do what it takes to get it. A lovely little aphorism. Isn't it true though? Customers go to where the good stuff is and CNG has this down to a science. It's as if all good coins seem to eventually find their way to this tiny spot in the middle of Amish country If the new changes seem onerous one could probably still bid through biddr or sixbid, right? Rasiel
Victor sold it to Mike Gasvoda last year but is still involved at least for now. Regarding the website, I think it looks pretty slick. Some of the potential negative things mentioned on this thread will hopefully be tweaked in the future. My hope is that Mike will keep the things that work at CNG and update the things that might be improved. CNG has had a very good formula for their business and are one of my favorites.
He is a (wealthy) collector. Part of his collection was sold via CNG after he acquired them. I got some of his coins and I paid much less than he did so he is an honorable person who didn't set any hidden reserves nor did he engage into any shady tactics
I keep going back to the CNG site and looking out for this new bidding system you are discussing. I'm not seeing it. I see the standard old CNG page with two lots listed under the "Feature Auction" section and within those lots apparently the same format as always. I'm outside US so maybe there's some test site I'm not seeing. Screenshots?
Currently, this address: https://cngcoins.com/ still is the good old CNG page. Maybe this will change in the future? The new platform can be found following this, slightly different address: https://auctions.cngcoins.com/ .
Sometimes you have a better deal with CNG/ Numismatika Genevensis/ Kunker/ Gallery 51....all grade super conservative. Other auctions offer slabbed material only. I got a really nice "supberbe" =EF coin from N. Genevensis for 3K/ a similar ex. appeared in a US auction/ TPG as a MS-65, it went too 7.5K. The Genevensis coin is far better quality at less then half price. Second rule, German States coins are $$$ in Kunker auction, but you can get a steal in a Italian auction. Then, rule is not to get into a bidding war, I have seen coins go 20X estimate Auctions are a battle, you have to know how to win, and when to retreat, and fight another day. There are so many auctions on sixbid, billions of dollars in nice coins, so patience is a must. Also, the "unsold" lists can be a opportunity to pick up a treasure. I did today with this coin.
Andrew, click on the feature auction links. There are currently two, the pan-pac set and the “The Style Collection” Barry
Ok the last esale is now history. The Greek section was pretty weak which is not a big surprise as most of the coins were of lower quality than usual. I was the underbidder for a lot in which I got clioed by Clio himself what a surprise...Clio actually bid the starting price many hours before closure on a Spartan fraction and got outbid with the next step. I think he is trolling us...
Alternatively: Clio doesn't always bid a million dollars on every coin or have to win every coin. Sure, he could afford it but that doesn't mean he wants to pay a ridiculous price because someone sees "Clio" winning and decides to bid $999,999 and make him overpay.
I dont know what his strategy may be but I suspect it depends on how badly he wants something. I have successfully 'Clio'd' Clio a number of times which tells me his interest on those lots was low. He did get me today once again. Dang, and I really wanted that coin but my budget was dwindling and he got it one increment over me. He still got it cheap, about half average retail.
Probably a stupid question but just out of curiosity does anyone ever see coins purchased by Clio up for re-sale? Or do they all just disappear into infinity....