On the contrary, if Christie's, Sotheby's or any auctioneer says your Georgian Ping Pong Table, with inlaid plastic ducks, could bring $2,000-3,000 at auction or should be insured for $5,000 there is nothing whatsoever to stop you telling the whole world. Trust me, I've done more appraisals then this man has had hot dinners, and he's totally lying. The standard reply states that appraisals/valuations/estimates what every you wish to call them, is a matter of opinion, and carries no guarantee. At the same time, there is no mention of it being confidential.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Walt" <[email protected]> To: "'Antique Phonograph List'" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 9:12 PM Subject: RE: [Phono-L] Why hasn't anyone bid? The auction estimate seems more to serve the auction house's [potential] interest and not the owner. That is, they want to see whether or not they might be interested in consigning an item. I believe that even "the 2 largest houses" will provide an auction estimate at no charge (it just takes a while - a long while). They do not say that you cannot state that you had an estimate from such and such an auction house, just that you cannot state what the value is that the estimate provides. It's all designed to serve the auction house. The reason the seller doesn't mention which "major NY auction house" gave the auction estimate is because there is no auction estimate. If, for example, I had an auction estimate prepared for, say, a Vernis-Martin (which is impossible because Bob Johnson has them all...but just pretend...) by Sotheby's I would crazy to not state that I had obtained an auction estimate from them and they would love their name mentioned. But, beyond the mention of the house I am obliged (probably by New York State Law - dunno for sure) to not reveal the estimated value. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of George Glastris, Edison Gallery Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 7:40 PM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Why hasn't anyone bid? For a laugh, I emailed him and asked which "major NY auction house" gave him that appraisal, and here is his reply..... "I would love to tell you, but I had to sign a confidentiallity agreement certifying I wouldn't disclose that information to any third party, or publish it. Just to be clear, it wasn't an appraisal. It was an auction estimate. The estimate is what they feel they would get for it, if they offered it for sale. An appraisal would be a written document, used for insurance purposes. I will say it is one of the 2 largest houses in the world. If you don't feel comfortable, please don't bid. I understand how you feel. If this doesn't work out, I am going to send it off to NYC, and pay the 35%, which I am trying to avoid. Thanks for your inquiry. Greg" Well, as someone who used to work for the major auction houses, I can tell you, they never make you sign anything of the sot. And while an appraisal and an auction estimate are not technically the same thing, you can appraise something for auction purposes or for insurance purposes. So, in other words, this guy is lying out the wazoo! If only he knew that he was giving so much entertainment to us. Best to all, George Glastris ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 5:59 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Why hasn't anyone bid? > My guess is that when there was a reserve, someone decided to yank his > chain > and place a bid knowing that there was no legal obligation. Once the > seller > relisted it without reserve no jokers are about to put their necks on the > line. > > I also suspect that the international inquiries he got were from the fake > check scam artists who plague high-ticket items on eBay. He may well end > up > "selling" it for $250K and getting a bogus check for $260K, with a request > to > refund the "overpayment" by Western Union. > > I almost feel like writing the guy a note but even if I bend over > backwards > to be polite I'm sure he'll just figure I'm trying to con him out of his > fortune. He'd be very lucky to get $250 for it in a truly open auction, > let alone > $250,000..... > > Best regards, > Rene Rondeau > > > > ************************************** See what's free at > http://www.aol.com. > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.8/800 - Release Date: 5/11/2007 7:34 PM _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
