I watch and learn! (most times)

These last few years have seen a number of antique related reality shows hit the air waves, and for the most part, I think they have been beneficial to the auction/antique business. Here are some of my thoughts on the shows that I am sure you have seen as well. Antiques Roadshow: This show hit the airwaves long before the other shows I am going to comment on.  I am not a hard core devotee of the show, but I do watch it when I can and I do like it. It may lead you to believe that $50,000 Tiffany lamps and $100,000 paintings pop up all over the place, and that really is not the case.  In my 30 years in the business I have never even seen a true Tiffany lamp, and if I did see a $100,000 painting I may have walked right by it! Keep in mind that 99% of the stuff people bring in to the show has very little value and of course doesn’t make it to air except at the end of the show in the feedback section.  However they do always uncover some true gems and the appraisals can be jaw dropping, but it does make for interesting television. American Pickers: This is a must see show for me. It is realistic and you can learn by watching the show. Mike and Frank for the most part pick the kind of items you might actually see and have a chance to buy sometime. The old signs, the rusty cast iron pieces, the industrial stuff. It shows the ups and downs of picking, and every time I see the show, I want to hop into my Sprinter van(similar to the one they drive, but I had to pay for mine), and hit the open road and start knocking on doors. However, I could not take the rejection they go through, so I am content to let people come to me with the items they want to sell! Canadian Pickers: The same can be said for the Canadian version, although it did take me a little while to warm up to Scott and Sheldon.  At first I found Scott a little whiney and obnoxious, and it used to annoy me when they would go to a dealer or antique show and complain about not being able to buy.  What kind of picker goes to dealers to buy?  Why would they think dealers are obligated to supply them with merchandise at a price they can turn around and make money on? However, they seemed to get past that,, and now I do enjoy the show. Sheldon can seem a little “wooden” and forced with his on-camera delivery, but overall the show is another good learning experience. Auction Kings: This show is based out of Atlanta Georgia, and I think it is the most realistic auction show I have seen.  It really gives you a good idea of how an auction hall is run, and they do show the ups and downs of the auction business.  Some sellers win big, and unfortunately others lose, and that of course is very true of the auction business.  They don’t seem to shoot a lot of episodes, and it doesn’t seem to have a regular night on the TV schedule.  I catch it now and again, and more often than not, it is a re-run, so I am hoping they have a batch of new shows coming down the pipe soon.  I noticed in the second season they have a new opening and they actually feature the two auctioneers in the opening sequence…about time! Wish they would do a Canadian version of the show. Hmmm…I know an auctioneer who would be interested! Pawn Stars: I really don’t know much about the pawn business,, but I do like this show. Interesting personalities, and very informative. The shop is in Las Vegas, and it has become one of the major tourist attractions in the area!  They now have 1000’s a people a day coming through the store, and they say it is now more of a gift shop than an actual pawn shop.  I know several people who have been to the store, and they say it looks much better and bigger on TV! Storage Wars: Probably the biggest hit show of the buy and sell reality shows, and I do watch it occasionally, but I am not a huge fan. It seems far too staged, and too much emphasis on the personalities involved, but that also is what makes it such a big hit!  They do show them scoring big and of course taking a beating as well, and that again is true to the reality of buying lockers.  I haven’t really been involved in locker auctions, but I do know a few people who are, and they say the show is making it tough for them to buy now.  Locker auctions used to only attract a handful of hard core buyers, but now some of them are packed with “wannabe” storage warriors, and that makes it tough for the people who buy them for a living.  There is a Canadian version of Storage Wars now being shot, and I do know one of the regular participants in the show, and I did have a chance to talk to him about it.  Sounds like it would be great fun being a regular on the show and I look forward to watching it when it hits the Canadian airwaves.

a little tonque in cheek!

Barrie Man A Throw Back To Another Era. Rob Sage, 56, currently living outside of Barrie Ont., surprised many people in the local area, by openly admitting, he still uses a flip top cell phone, with a $10 a month plan. Sage admits he has been using the antiquated technology for over 5 years now. He went on to explain how he can drive without using a cell phone, can shop without it, run a business without it constantly in his hand, can still keep in contact with family and friends. He also admitted he has never sent or received a text message, has never checked his email from a mobile device, in fact at times has gone 7 or 8 hours in a row without checking email. He still updates his facebook page from a desk top computer! Sage still prefers one on one conversation…face to face.  He can go through an entire meal in a restaurant without technological interruptions, and will often maintain a one on one conversation for hours on end. He does have a website that he admits is a very important part of his business, and he will spend many hours a month working on it.  However, he can also walk away from it, and still lead a full and productive life. Perhaps even more shockingly, Sage also admitted he has never played a video game. Never. And may never. Despite his technology handicap, Sage still believes he lives a full and productive lifestyle. He somehow sees and enjoys a world around him that is somewhat larger than a palm sized video screen. He still moves forward, despite also living backward in a by gone era… from almost 5 years ago.

…March is always a good month and this was no exception!

I am a little late in writing this, but it has been extremely busy since last weekends auction. Beginning of the week I was helping friends set up at the “One Of A Kind Show” in Toronto, and then several pickups, plus over 12 hours of paperwork, but it is all done now! First I would like to thank everyone who attended the March 23 auction, and once again a very large crowd! 235 registered bidders, and that make it one of the largest crowds we have had…second only to the auction in Feb! (243 bidders) January auction was over 200 bidders as well, so it has been a very good first three months of the year. There are some challenges when you have crowds that large, and I do appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.  We do our very best to keep the sales moving quickly and believe it or not, with some semblance of planning and order.  It may seem somewhat chaotic, but we really are following a plan! The crowds are always largest during the winter months, but they do taper off somewhat for the rest of the year.  We still have large, well attended auctions, but probably 20% fewer registered bidders for the rest of the auctions this year, so that gives everyone a little more breathing room. A big part of my business  involves dealing with people who are settling estates. I find it very interesting what some people put great value on, and then I have to unfortunately tell them their mothers prized possession really isn’t worth that much.  One such case I am dealing with, the late mother told her children about the value of these two very old, painted chairs.  The daughters told me they were  not allowed to even stand on them, because mother told them they were very old and valuable.  I had to break the news to them that indeed the chairs are very old, but as far as value…less than $5 each. The same with the jug and basin set (basin cracked), the child’s chair with the missing rung, assorted plates, the collector spoons and the silver plate casserole stand. However, when we went to the top floor I spotted a very nice hall tree, told them what I thought it might bring, and they looked at me in amazement.  One sister told me she was going to throw it out! So then we check out the basement for crocks, sealers, old wooden boxes…the stuff that brings decent money now, yet these were the items held in very low regard. There is a generation that placed a great deal of value on some types of antiques, but many of those items just do not bring the money they would have 30 years ago.  Of course if you own these types of items, but are not actively following the antique market, it can be quite disappointing when you find out what they are currently selling for. Many people will then assume there is no value to antiques anymore, and that is where I have to explain that we are getting record crowds to our auctions, and in some cases record prices for some items. The demand for antiques is still there, but the market is changing.  Remember, about 80% of the antique market is decor driven.  Some items are hot for decorating with, and then in a year or two, the demand changes.  There are not many young couples looking to fill their homes with Victorian parlour furniture, large spinning wheels, wash basin sets etc.  However, when you offer a good piece of advertising, art deco lighting, teak furniture, original artwork, cast iron and primitive items…it is a different story! I do not have an auction booked in April, because I could not get a hall booking, but I will be back May 11, and then every month until December.  That gives me a little time off, and I must admit I have been looking forward to it.  There are still pickups to do, photos to work on, and everything else that goes with putting together our auctions, but it also gives me some time to do some renovation work around the house.  I don’t do the renovations personally, but it gives me time to hire people, and watch them do the renovations! So to summarize, we have had a good first quarter of the year. Crowds large, prices of course up and down, but the good and unusual still selling very well. The quality of the items coming our way just keeps getting better and better. I have a few “adjustments” and issues I have to deal with concerning our business, but overall it looks like 2013 is going to be another great year! Rob

this year is getting off to a very good start!

A big thank you to everyone who turned out for our Feb 23 auction… a record crowd!  It was the largest crowd we have ever had at one of our  antique consignment auctions.  This was a split sale between David Beasley and myself, and will likely become an annual event for us.  Feb is a good time of year to put on an extra special auction. It was wall to wall people, and for the first hour and a half we ran in two rings, and finally sold the last items at 6:00.  A large enthusiastic crowd, and even though there are challenges to doing a sale with a very large crowd, it all went off pretty smoothly. We had some good quality, unique pieces, and the bidding was strong on most of those items.  It has become very clear that there is still strong money on good pieces.  Primitives, tin toys, good artwork, good furniture…it still is selling well. As an auctioneer my goal is to show people we can get a fair price for those items, and then of course more will come our way.  So far, so good! Technology is playing such a big part in the auction business right now.  I have this website of course, and the Facebook page, email list, and several on-line sites I use to promote the auctions, and they are all valuable tools in bringing new buyers out to the sales. Once people are at the auction, technology comes into play as well.  We had a rare, 1920’s tin toy, and ours was missing several parts, but was still a very good piece. I was telling a few people before the auction, that complete versions of this toy, had sold from $2500 to $5000.  A young guy beside me took out his iphone, does some quick research, and there is a picture of the complete model listed on ebay with a “buy it now price” of $2999.00  I have seen people emailing photos of pieces at our auctions to friends, and if the friend likes it, they try and bid on it.  I know people who research artwork that was not advertised, and they can get results right at the auction.  The technology is changing the auction business and it is a change for the good. However, there is one part of the changing business that I am not ready to embrace right now, and that is advance on-line bidding.  Every auction I get emails from people expecting to leave advance bids.  I usually do not know who the person is, if they have every been to our auctions, etc.  We do not accept credit cards, so I have no way of ensuring that I will be paid if I do bid on their behalf. Then I would have to transport the items back to my house, contact the bidder, set up a time and place to meet etc.  I had someone last auction who wanted to leave an advance bid on the largest piece of furniture we had in the sale! That didn’t happen. My other concern with advance bidding, involves the people who actually do come out to the sale.  Some have driven one or two hours to get there. They have the expense of gas, food, plus the time they spend at the auction.  Is it fair for them to go to that effort, perhaps wait two or three or more hours at an auction for the piece they want, and then lose out to someone who placed an advance bid on-line? I don’t think so. I do occasionally take an advance bid from regular customers who have shown up for the preview, but cannot stay for the auction. I do not do it often, but there are times I will do it, because they have made the effort to come to the auction hall, inspect the merchandise and then make a decision. The point is, I want people to attend the auction.  I want them to have the experience of an “old fashioned country auction”.  The crowds, the noise, the energy, the anticipation, the social aspect…these are the important ingredients in an auction.  That is something I don’t want to change.  If you want to bid on-line there is always e-bay, but for now I am going to stick with the traditional auction method. So now it is time to get back to work.  I have consignors to pay, appointments to setup, and much work to do for our March 23 sale. Have fun on the auction trail! Rob

it really is the best policy.

I just came back from looking at some very nice furniture and sterling silver, and I won’t be getting any of it for my auctions….and I am fine with that. There are times when the auctions are not the route to go for some sellers. I was looking at a very good dining suite that was appraised at $10,000 several years ago, and then reappraised at $5000 just a couple of years ago, and my appraisal of it now, was much less than that .  Likely not even half. They are a very nice elderly couple, and I told them up front I would not be comfortable trying to sell it for them.  I simply do not believe they would be happy with the results. They also had a collection of sterling silver, and they have another option of selling it. They will probably realize more money than I can get for them, and I can’t stand there and honestly tell them they would be better off dealing with me. After we all agreed the auction would not likely work for them, they told me about their dealings with another auction company about 15 years ago.  They were not pleased with the selling price, and then to make matters worse, they did not understand all the additional fees.  (fees that I don’t charge). They just did not understand what they were getting into. So 15 years later they are still telling that story, and including the auctioneer’s name, and I have to wonder how many people they have told that story to over the last 15 years? I make a point of being very upfront with people who are thinking of selling, and I have to get a feel for the seller.  If it is not right for them, there are usually red flags I pick up on during the course of the conversation.  That’s when I have to be honest, and sometimes I am telling them something they don’t want to hear, but in nearly all cases, they do thank me for my honesty. I leave them a business card, and walk away on good terms. I am picking up a very nice load of items this week from one consignor, and I already told them, they were not likely to get what they paid for their items. They bought some very nice pieces, but through their own admission, they purchased most of it through retail outlets in the last few years.  They went on a buying binge, filled their home with these very nice items, but now they are drastically downsizing and want them to go.  They are selling an expensive piece of real estate, and they want to “declutter” the house for staging purposes. These are motivated sellers with realistic expectations, and chances are they are going to be pleased with the results.  My kind of consignor. Last night I got a phone call from a consignor in the January auction, and she could not believe what her items sold for….total sales about three times higher than she expected!  I must admit some her items sold very well…I was even surprised with a few pieces.  However, she had the right pieces in the right sale, and it worked well for her. The auction method can be a very good way of selling your antiques and collectables, but it all depends on the seller’s expectations.  It doesn’t work for everyone, even though I wish it would.  We have had 100’s of satisfied consignors over the years, and then of course we have had disappointed consignors.  There are times when I scratch my head and wonder why some items just don’t bring the money. The point is, I feel obligated to make sure people understand the auction process, the up side and the down side.  I will suggest a conservative selling price, but I strongly stress there is no guarantee, and they must be willing to take a chance. That’s what an auction is all about.

off to another good start!

Thanks to everyone who attended our Jan 19 2013 auction…a great way to start off another new year! Over 200 registered bidders and over 600 lots sold, with a few record prices (at least for us), thrown in for good measure! January auctions are always some of our best.  In the last 17 years I don’t recall ever having a bad January auction. When I am preparing this auction, back in December, I sometimes encounter some slight concern from consignors about putting their items in a January auction.  Some people think there is no money around after Christmas, people are not interested in buying etc.  I tell them to trust me. This is the sale you want your items in.  There is never a guarantee, but judging from my experience, the results are likely to be good. In the winter months, many people have time on their hands, and they can spend a full day at an auction.  That’s what we need. As we get closer to the spring months, the crowds drop off a little until we start with our Saturday night auctions in June. Doesn’t mean you won’t get fair prices for your items in May or early June, but there will be smaller crowds at the auctions. I did mention we had a couple of record prices, but I won’t mention them here, simply because it may mislead some people as to the value of their items.  There are simply times when two people want something very badly, and the price can go through the roof.  However, that does not mean we have set a new benchmark for the value of that particular item, because that price may never be realized again.   There are auctions when you just have to realize you got lucky, and it may not happen again on that type of item.  Now, if they consistently sell for that price, that’s another story! On the other side, we had a new low price.  A pretty decent Victorian sofa, nicely refinished woodwork with clean upholstery, and it sold on one bid for only $50. Great for the buyer, but not good for the consignor and not good for me. I drove for 45 minutes to pick up that piece (along with the other pieces they consigned), loaded it, unloaded it in the storage, did the photos, loaded it for the auction and then of course unloaded again. After all expenses for the auction are factored in…I made $8.50. I turned down two other similar sofas for this auction, and I think it is going to be tough to get me to take any more for upcoming auctions! The market is always changing and as an auctioneer I am always learning. Case in point.  Back in September one of my regular consignors wanted me to take two very heavy, chrome and leather lounge chairs, with split and damaged upholstery.  I turned them down because I just did not see the value in them. Later in December he asked me to take them again, as he had to close out his locker.  He told me they were valuable chairs,, and with a great deal of reluctance, I loaded them into my van.  He emailed me the name of the chairs designer, Nicos Zographos, and I did a little research. Completely reupholstered in leather, they were asking $2800 a piece for them on-line! So the next question in my mind was…is anyone going to realize the potential value of them?  I pushed them in my advertising, explained what they were when we sold them,, and they finally sold for $425 a piece.  A great deal for the buyer and considering the condition, a good price for the seller as well.  The two items I originally turned down, brought some of the top money in the sale!  I don’t mind admitting, I don’t know it all, and always will have something to learn. So now, with the January sale under my belt, I start working on the Feb 23 auction.  Already lined up some good stuff this week, and looking forward to more great stuff coming my way next week.  This business is always changing, always interesting, and I always look forward to the next auction!

looking back and looking forward!

Another year gone by and once again I sit down to write my year end “News and Views”.  It is a little clichéd to say “I can’t believe how fast the year has gone by”, but it is true! It has been another interesting year in the auction business, but fortunately for me, they are all interesting years! Certainly the most discussed issue this part year, has been the falling prices on some antique items. Wherever I go I hear about falling prices on furniture, glass, china, coal oil lighting etc.  It is true.  I am selling some furniture pieces for the same money or less than they sold for in the 1980’s.  Some of the coal oil lamps have been selling for less money than they did when I started collecting them back in the 1970’s.  Pressed glass is generally lower than I have ever seen, and there are even some  furniture items I will no longer take into the auctions, because it is no longer practical for me to pickup, store and transport them to the auction. Many people are quick to blame the economy, but I don’t agree with that.  I think it is a matter of changing tastes and changing demographics. For the last thirty years the baby boom generation and their parents generation, have been buying up and collecting antiques.  Now many people are in a situation where they must down-size, or settle an estate, and there are a lot of antique items coming onto the market. We had two generations buying antiques, and now there is a generation of new buyers coming into the marketplace, but they are not buying the same way their parents and grandparents did.  Look around at any auction and you will not see many people under age 40.  When they do buy, they usually are buying accent pieces, rather than furnishing their homes with antiques.  Not many are building collections the way their parents did, and probably most do not want to decorate their homes the way the parents and grandparents did.  To me that seems natural. Younger buyers usually are looking for primitives, advertising, toys and industrial type antiques.  What I call “antiques with an edge”.  The sort of stuff you see them buying on American and Canadian Pickers.  Watch those shows and you will not see them buying much furniture or glass and china.  They look for the unique items. Most of the Victorian antiques appealed to an older buyer.  The ornate furniture, parlor sets, rocking chairs, ruffled glass and nic knacks.  Those buyers are now selling, but their taste in antiques was much different than the young buyers of today.  So many of the “hot” items that sold for big money in the 1980’s and 90’s, have definitely cooled off.  I think it is going to be a long time before that turns around. If ever. However, it is not all doom and gloom.  On the up side it is a great time to buy antiques, especially if you do prefer the “older style” Victorian era pieces.  Also if you are selling items you bought 20 or 30 years ago, have used and enjoyed them, and now can realize a reasonable price when you sell them, that’s not a bad thing.  Even if you don’t get the money you paid 20 years ago, if you had purchased a new piece of furniture 20 years ago for the same price, you would get nothing for it now!  Antiques are still a good deal. Auction prices certainly fluctuate, but auctions in general have become very trendy again.  Many TV shows involve buying at auction, and I think the general public is now more aware of auctions.  Our average attendance figures have gone up 20% over the last year. We are having bigger crowds and bigger auctions than we have ever had.  Proves to me that people enjoy coming to auctions, so you just have to make sure you have what they want! So, for 2013, I once again am planning some adjustments to our business.  I have said this before (probably last year and the year before), but I would like to make our auctions smaller, and concentrate on the quality items.  As you probably know, we do get our share of good quality pieces, and those pieces usually do well, but we also get bogged down with low end items as well. Primitives in our back corner do very well, and rarely do we ever have to pack any unsold pieces up after the auction.  However, low end glass, china and low end art, is another story.  It is getting to the point where I can no longer sell a lot of that stuff, and we never empty the hall. So we pack it up again, move it back to storage, unload it, and then the following month, repeat the process over again. Obviously this is where I want to make the changes, and I am going to do it.  I may ruffle a few feathers and lose some consignments, but I am simply going to have to say no. I will not eliminate the low end items entirely, because there are times when they are part of a large consignment and have to be disposed of.  Also I don’t mind selling a reasonable number of $2 items, and if they sell quickly, it’s not a problem.  However, when I waste valuable time begging for bids, that’s another story! Basically I want the focus for 2013 to be filling the auctions with what people want. Quality items. Unique items. Primitives and country items…those are what we do best with, and that is what I want to concentrate on. I want to make the sales smaller.  Currently I am selling 700 items to get the same dollar value we used to get out of 500 items, however it requires two auction rings, more staff and as a result higher costs to sell those 700 items. Better off to have 500 decent quality, saleable pieces, and eliminate 200 pieces of low end “stuff”.  At least, that’s the plan. So I am looking forward to the upcoming year.  I am optimistic about our auction business and the antique business in general.  It’s just a matter of making adjustments, changing with the times, and like any business, giving your customers what they want and need. Happy New Year! Rob

sorry, but some things are just not for sale.

I have been in the business of buying and selling antiques for almost thirty years now.  I find it hard to believe I am now one of the “old timers”.  Not as “old time” as the “old timers” I knew before I was an “old timer”, but I am getting there. Almost everything has a price sooner or later.  Most people will eventually sell something if the price is right, and I  am no exception. However, I do own one piece I will never sell, regardless of price.  It is not the most valuable piece I have every owned, but to me it is priceless.  Let me digress. My late father was born in 1927.  When he came home from the hospital, my grandfather had purchased a very nice German mantel clock as a gift for my grandmother.  In it’s day it was an expensive gift….and a cherished piece by my grandmother.  Westminster chimes, striking on the quarter hour.  A quality clock. When I was very young, visiting my grandmother (my grandfather died in 1941, long before I was born), I would run into the living room to hear the clock strike the full chimes on the hour.  Even as a kid, I loved to hear that clock chime. In 1969 my grandmother’s second husband died, so she moved in with our family.  Of course the clock came with her. However, when the clock struck on the hour, it struck with a dull thud marking the hour, rather than the mesmerizing chime I remembered.  My grandmother told me she had taken it to a jeweller, and he could not figure out what was wrong with it. So we lived with it making a dull thud every time it signalled the hour. One day I decided to open the back of the clock and have a look.  I was about 14, and of course didn’t know anything about clocks, but I did notice that the chime bar was resting on the wooden base of the clock.   I adjusted the chime bar, moving it away from the wooden base, and when the hammers struck the bar….the chime was back!  I solved the problem the jeweller couldn’t figure out, and I was pretty proud of myself!  The clock was back to the way I remembered it, and my grandmother was pretty pleased as well. On Nov 19 1971, my grandmother passed away suddenly at our home.  After the doctor left, the funeral directors arrived.  I was in the kitchen as they wheeled her body out on the gurney.  As they were taking her out of the house, the clock started to chime and strike midnight.  To me it seemed like a fitting farewell. The clock stayed at my parents home until I graduated college, and then it was passed on to me.  I have had the clock ever since. I moved to Barrie in 1999, and not long after, the main spring in the clock broke.  I had a very expensive repair made, but not long after that, the other two springs went.  The clock still ran, but without the chimes. For over 10 years it sat on the shelf, and only occasionally did I wind it just to make sure it did not seize up.  Just wasn’t the same without the chimes. Finally, in the summer of this year, I took the clock to a good customer of mine, and he made all the necessary repairs, cleaned the case and the brass trimming, and the clock looks and sounds great! It has chimed twice in the time it has taken me to write this. I sometimes lie in bed at night and listen to the chimes before I fall asleep.  I hear it first thing in the morning. It is there every 15 minutes.  I don’t hear it chime every time, because you get used to a clock chiming.  As my grandmother used to say, sometimes you don’t even notice it until it stops. The clock has survived my grandfather, grandmother, father and hopefully one day me.  I will pass it on to a nephew or niece,  and hope it is with our family for generations more. Some things you can put a price on.  Some things you can’t. Some things just won’t ever be for sale.  Not in my lifetime. They are called family heirlooms, and I hope every family has at least one.