Re: [MOPO] BONHAM'S AUCTION ---- very disenchanted

[JR]

Michael,   I am shocked... shocked I tell you... to discover that there are less than honest, honorable or even fully-competent things being done by the live auction houses.   As for "how can I buy with confidence?" ... I think you have answered your own question, no?   The theory among far too many auctioneers -- both at the houses and on eBay -- is they figure that if they, um, fudge a description and the buyer gets the poster and isn't savvy enough to realize the condition isn't as advertised and he keeps the poster, then they've closed the deal and walk away cash-happy. If the buyer happens to be savvy enough to recognize the condition isn't as advertised, but still wants the poster bad enough, he may keep it as well. Another easy walk-away. Only if the buyer is savvy enough to recognize that the condition wasn't as advertised and is also ready and willing to return the poster do they have do deal with the fruits of their insincere grading -- and then just to the tune of a few dollars for the return shipping, since they can then turn around and sell the same poster again with the same description and hope they get a less discriminating buyer next time.   This is called "doing business as usual" for far too many people. That's why people like Bruce can draw in so many bidders to their auctions and regularly get higher prices for much of their stuff -- because they are consistently reliable in their descriptions (or rather in Bruce's case, his high-resolution pictures).   This is called "doing good business as usual"... unfortunately, it ain't so usual anymore these days.   -- JR   ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael B To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 13:00 Subject: [MOPO] BONHAM'S AUCTION ---- very disenchanted At the last Bonham's auction, i purchased a poster.  It was returned immediately, and BONHAM'S acted honorably for accepting the return, albeit, they acknowledged that the 3/4 major flaws were not disclosed in their description.    I just received their catalogue.  WOW......  the poster was re-listed without disclosing the unstated defects that caused me to return it.  AND AND AND AND they still list it as "A-" condition.  Moreover, their poor packaging caused damage to the poster due to their improper folding of it.  This, too, is undisclosed.   There are a few nice posters in their catalogue, but how can i buy with confidence?   (the poster i returned was STRANGERS ON A TRAIN insert.  I wrote about this on MOPO at the time.  In fact, when I opened the package, i couldnt't believe how faded it was.  it should be ORANGE in color.   Knowing that Bruce H. had the same poster on his auction at the time, i called Bruce, and asked...."Bruce, is it possible that Strangers On A Train was, also, printed in yellow?  He laughed!!!! )   michael  Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.