Rod Bellars collection

[rob love]

I have had some of what you describe happen to me over the years at auctions Colin. At one auction, I bought a couple of airsoft M-72 launchers in their original packages. When I brought them back from the podium, I noticed one did not weigh what the other one did. Turns out it had a couple pieces of 2x4 lumber tossed into it. There was previewing going on for most of the previous day, and it likely happened then. I knew the guy who the auction was for, and when I showed him, he had the auctioneers fix it immediately.

I have also seen where, during the previews, people will move items from other lots into ones they desire, and bury them deep into the box. Sometimes it is items that belong to the set, other times it is just fraud. Problem with an auction like this is that the photos were taken months and months ago, and there could have been a lot of hands on the stuff since then. But I agree with you that if there are items missing when you go to pick it up, the auction house should make it right. But they, and not the family or owners, should take that loss, as the auction house had care and custody.
As to the max bid also being the wining bid, I have also seen some auction houses that will toss the entire max pre-bid into a live auction. I have also been at auctions where the auctioneer will have a list of pre-bids, and leaves it on the table for anyone in the front rows to see. But for an auction house to up-bid an online auction...if they got caught doing that, they would soon be out of business.

As near as I can see, the photos that were presented for this batch of auctions are still available to be viewed or saved. But once you have removed your goods from the auction house, it will be hard to prove that anything was missing. The time to do that is during pickup, and then the purchaser would have to decide if he is willing to walk away from the goods and seek a full refund.

I feel for you and others that feel they did not get what they paid for. Having been on that end of the stick myself, it doesn't feel good.

[colin jones]

Harry, yes I was basically asking that question but when you get no response at all then that could be taken as a sign of guilt. I was expecting an answer of "Integrity" or it's unlawful or at least a response.
Rob, I certainly agree but I know I'm not the only one who has issues with this Auction but unfortunately we, as bidders have very little recourse.
I do know auctioneers that have asked friends to stand in the crowd to through in bids but it is a dangerous practice, however, up bidding with online auctions are almost impossible to prove.

[rob love]

Any decent auction does not even allow the owner of the goods to bid them up....that is shill bidding. Any auctions that knowingly allow that are auctions I don't do business with.

[jack neville]

I don’t mind claiming ‘shananagins’ in these Lloyd’s auctions. I mistakenly put in a bid on a box of smoke projectiles of $565 (doesn’t worry me as they will go higher. I think I meant to put $50)
Next day I am notified that I am outbid and the winning bid is now $610.
There are 16 lots all the same. The lot after me is only at $18, the highest other is at $310. Others between $10-$50.
They are lots 130-145
Seems strange to me.

[rob love]

Guys naturally want an item if someone else wants it.....it's in their nature.



But yes, it does look odd that someone is putting what is more akin to a final bid that early.

[Harry Moon]

well i guess every auction, online or in person is vulnerable to that kind of thing. I don't like Dutch auctions but that might be why they exist that way.