Originally posted by g-man: I'm always at a loss for words when people pay more for a non rare bottle at auction then it would be to pick it up with a respected retailer.
Do they not see the auction houses usually charge 20% fee + tax ???
I know. Perhaps it's the thrill of buying at auction? I always see this on Winebid. I was in a bid war for a bottle a couple of weeks ago and the price got to a point that it would have pushed the all-in cost well over retail. I just let it go. I am always quick to check the retail price and calculate the all-in cost before bidding.
Posts: 1609 | Location: NC | Registered: May 01, 2007
This happens all the time on ebay, and to some extent on WineCommune. I look at gift cards on ebay (as I'm always trying to scout out a deal) and it amazes me that some of these morons will pay up to, and in some cases over, the dollar amount on the card. Factor in shipping -and the uncertainty of dealing with someone you don't know- elements, and it just makes no sense to me at all.
*********** "I was thinking how nothing lasts. And what a shame that is." --Benjamin Button
Posts: 3712 | Location: Everett, WA | Registered: Mar 08, 2002
for some people in certain states - it can be cheaper than retail. Shipping is a huge problem and it can make sense to pay $90 for a bottle that can be found at retail for $80 if you can arrange the auction shipping all at once (versus buying one bottle and having to ship it twice from a retailer). That said - some people are paying $30-40 more than retail for widely available bottles which doesn't make any sense at all.
At an earlier auction here in Montreal, someone paid 100$(not including the 20% and taxes(12.5%) for a bottle of Caymus Conundrum white 1998.
*********************** "I have drunk not to the clouding of my reason, but just so much that I can still surely distinguish the syllables with my tongue." Athenaeus
Posts: 3386 | Location: montreal | Registered: Feb 21, 2004
Originally posted by Mimik: At an earlier auction here in Montreal, someone paid 100$(not including the 20% and taxes(12.5%) for a bottle of Caymus Conundrum white 1998.
Even more strange, it would take two fools bidding against each other to get it that high.
*********** "I was thinking how nothing lasts. And what a shame that is." --Benjamin Button
Posts: 3712 | Location: Everett, WA | Registered: Mar 08, 2002
Originally posted by Mimik: At an earlier auction here in Montreal, someone paid 100$(not including the 20% and taxes(12.5%) for a bottle of Caymus Conundrum white 1998.
Even more strange, it would take two fools bidding against each other to get it that high.
I don't know what is going on but I don't believe you can blame it all on the affluent Asian bidders. The September HDH auction had many bids considerably above high estimate which in checking was high compared to prices for wines available in the market. Some might be provenance related but surely not all.
Posts: 443 | Location: Plano, TX | Registered: Mar 01, 2008
