I follow the auctions of the major US companies … sometimes bidding, occasionally winning a coin. A day or so after the auction ends, some advertise post-auction buying opportunities at a fixed price of coins that didn’t sell in the auction. The prices on these coins always seem too high compared with previous auction prices realized. In many cases, I’ve noticed the asking price is the starting price or reserve in the just completed auction. Given the huge number of folks who follow these auctions, the coin was rejected at that price by the collector and dealer communities. So, has anyone found one of these coins to be a good buy? If so, why … unusual variety, under-graded, or? Cal
You can occasionally find a good deal when Stacks Bowers offers coins post-auction. Unfortunately, I guess because the traffic those auctions get, they are few and far between.
I have only bought one item post auction. It was one of those rhombus shaped, Newark, English Revolution pieces that was made for King Charles I on an emergency basis. That was an exception. Most of the time, the reserves on the unsold items are too high. Too often they are over graded or problem pieces.
I think their target market is people who forgot or were unable to bid for various reasons. For lots that genuinely went unsold because the reserve was too high, there are no bargains...
I get quite a few offers to buy an item I had only viewed on eBay, and it didn't sell. The dealer offers a fixed lower price. If I really want the coin, I'll counter offer and have had several take my up on it. I figure if it didn't sell and the dealer is "pushing it," they really want to get rid of it and will accept almost any reasonable price.
