Kalamazoo, MI SuperAuctions 4/17/04

[wakerlet]

Just wondering if I should go or not.

-Todd

[Random24]

Info? Links?  I might go if I know where and when it is.

[menace]

there's a starburst auction in toronto in 2 weeks as well--strange..coincidence or mistaken info?

[wakerlet]

Info? Links?  I might go if I know where and when it is.

Sorry.  Here you go.  4/17/2004

http://www.superauctions.com/dates.html

[SkateDetroit]

I was talking to Jim and Ed about going a few weeks ago. I'll mention it again.

[Yander]

Wish I could but I will be out of town.  

[DarkKobold]

I'll be there. With a friend. I had some devious ideas to get those rat-bastages to practice legitimate auctioning techniques. But, those are best saved for inside my head.

[wakerlet]

I'll be there. With a friend. I had some devious ideas to get those rat-bastages to practice legitimate auctioning techniques. But, those are best saved for inside my head.

legitimate auctioning techniques???  Anyone want to give me the scoop on this comment

[OSCAR]

I was planning to go if I get the day free.  I was a little disappointed with the last one, not much there as far as "good" games, mostly converted and generic jamma games.

[DarkKobold]

Paige had a great page on his website about the auctioning practices of super auctions.

1st, they bring "Mr. Do Rag" To a ton of auctions in the midwest - he shill bids and then the items move on to the next auction - according to ebay - this is a FELONY in some states:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/shill-bidding.html
also:
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/Fetterman_indict.htm
2nd, The auctioneer will do fast talking - raise the bid with no one bidding - this causes confusion and misplaced bids. He can force a person to start a bidding war - with themself!

I can't remember any more.

[Gideon]

Wow.  Right in my hometown.  I was looking forward to Pinball at the 'Zoo, but I didn't know about this.  Thanks for mentioning it!

[Mr. Dude]

cool... I didn't even know that they had these kinda auctions here in Michigan!

[jimmyjet]

I will be the guy with the NY Jets hat on.  I'm very sure I'll be the only one with one on.

I am coming from Grand Rapids with room for only one additional game to go home with me.  Any one here from K-Zoo with additional storage to volunteer in case there are a few good deals?

Jimmyjet

[paigeoliver]

As far as Superauctions go, the younger auctioneer (Rob, also owns the company), is the more honest one. He might lie about machine condition, rarity, or ebay value, but he does not tend to pull fast ones when it comes to bidding.

The older auctioneer pulls every dishonest auctioneer trick in the book.

[wakerlet]

Thanks everyone for responding.  Now that we have the word out, who thinks they are going?  I may head there and meet up with Delta88, SkateDetroit, and Oscar...if they are going.

I'll also look for the lone guy in a Jet's hat.

Good luck all.

-Todd

[DarkKobold]

I'll be there - wearing an MSU t-shirt!

[Gideon]

jimmyjet, it'd have to be one hell of a deal, but I might be able to work it out so that a cab could be stored in my dorm room.

... Actually, that probably wouldn't work well.  Keeping a cab safe is a lot of responsibility and my dorm room is like a jungle--a very tiny jungle.  I wouldn't be able to hide it, and people from all over the place would be lining up at my door... Sorry.

[jimmyjet]

Gideon:  thanks anyways.  The weather looks 50/50 right now.  I might just have to strap cabinets to the back of the van and hope it doesn't rain.
jimmyjet

[wakerlet]

Okay, okay...so my entire family was sick on Saturday.  I know that is no reason to miss the auction but the idea of traveling 2 hours hacking and coughing in the car to possibly get another BYOACer sick didn't sit well.

So for those of you who went, we all need the scoop.  Please reply.

[jimmyjet]

This was my first Superauction.  I thought stuff was way overpriced (overbid?).  First off, the auction started an hour late.  The auction started with lots of skill slot machines which I know nothing about.  When they finally got to the games, they went high.  Seems like the first game was a ms pac for $1500.  The nonworking games that I saw auctioned were over $100 for nothing fabulous (previously converted crap).  Since the auction started late, I had to leave early, so stuff at the end of the auction could have been reasonable.

The Pins at the Zoo was great.  I had a great time playing both old (70's) pinballs and new (90's) pinballs.  I thought a few pinballs for sale were reasonable.  I found out that I like the old pins with the tumbler style scoreboards (pre digital).  These older games were less frenetic and generally more fun for me.  

There was someone at the auction writing all the prices games went for in a notebook.  I was hoping it was someone from here who would post "results."

jimmyjet

[flampoo]

The older auctioneer pulls every dishonest auctioneer trick in the book.

Typically Superauctions will allow sellers to purchase a reserve or buy-back for their auctioned item. This deters Auctioneers from frauding the novice bidder. I've seen auctioneers that shill and employ phantom bids.
A relative of mine passed and we had to move their entire estate so we hired an auctioneer. Just so happened they were dishonest and more concerned with making us a ton of money than being ethical. Typically I wouldn't care (I have a love affair with money) but this guy was bad. He sent out fake bids to entice people already bidding to raise their price. Then when the people in the audience quit bidding he was stuck with a fake bid and no one to back it up with.
He was fired because he was bad but the truth is that most of the people that have been doing it for a while are too good to get caught.