kissakai Posted October 26, 2022 Report Posted October 26, 2022 I thought I'd watch the current Bonhams nihonto auction. I can see the live auction but no sound and in other auctions you can scroll forward and backwards in this one I can only see the item being auctioned in real time. Is this normal I have a password login but didn't register to bid as these are well beyond my price range Quote
kissakai Posted October 27, 2022 Author Report Posted October 27, 2022 Did anyone watch the auction live? Were there any surprises? Quote
Toryu2020 Posted October 27, 2022 Report Posted October 27, 2022 Biggest surprise for me was I bought a pair of tsuba with a bid I figured would get easily surpassed but then premiums and shipping added more than three hundred dollars to the price!! -t (guess I shouldn't have been surprised...) 1 4 Quote
Matsunoki Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 Just had a quick look at the results of that sale. I’d say it was an unmitigated disaster for Bonhmas. Vast swathes of “unsolds” especially in armour/Kabuto but also in the sword section. A few really good items made really good money but that’s about it. Some nice fittings went fairly cheaply. The perils of estimates that are too optimistic in these difficult times? Whats everyone’s opinion? Quote
kissakai Posted October 28, 2022 Author Report Posted October 28, 2022 I thought some of the fittings were a reasonable buy but as Thomas said add in the buyers premium and shipping to outside the states and import duty it would add so much more 1 Quote
zanilu Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 I do not want to steal the thread but I have a small question about auction like this one. Reading the bidding instruction I stumble in a sentence that I understood as that the buyer have to arrange for the shipment of the items he bought. I understood correctly? It is not handled by the auc5ion house? Do ayou have any experience in this? How did you manage? Since I am in Europe I would like to understand Thank you Luca Quote
Matsunoki Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 In the UK It varies a lot from auctioneer to auctioneer. Probably the same the world over including the EU. You must always check their “conditions for buyers” or “shipping info”. Some provide excellent in-house shipping services, others are less helpful. However even if they say they don’t it’s worth phoning them just to check especially if it’s a small item easily posted. If you require overseas shipping it gets far more complicated with customs forms and rules etc and more often you will need to use a professional shipper . The auctioneer will (or should) provide you with contact details for local shippers….and then you deal direct with them. They will collect, pack and send the item. Always check the insurance situation as well. Very often you can pay for enhanced cover but good luck trying to make a claim!!!! From personal experience you can expect anything from total chaos and incompetence to truly excellent service. Good luck! All the best. Colin 1 1 Quote
kissakai Posted October 28, 2022 Author Report Posted October 28, 2022 I bought an item from Germany and the shipping was horrendous. Luckily a NMB member offered to pick them up and post them too me which was absolutely brilliant You do need to check all the extra costs Quote
zanilu Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 Thank you you guys for the info. This is exactly the chaotic and uncertain situation I was afraid of. Regards Luca Quote
kissakai Posted October 31, 2022 Author Report Posted October 31, 2022 I had a chat with Bob Haynes yesterday and he thought the low sales was due to the current value of the yen He currently buys direct from Japan via an agent, and he's bought a lot of stuff lately Quote
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