zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

: Ever hear of sales tax? It's not listed as part of the price, but
: it sure doesn't "shock" you. Sales taxes can add 10%
: or more to the cost of an item -- 15% or more if it is a VAT.
: It's part of the freight you have to pay to purchase most
: things. Sales tax is different from county to county and city to
: city. Some items are free of sales taxes in many jurisdictions.
: So you shop to minimize sales taxes or you just calculate how
: much it is and include it in your thinking.

: Auction houses and their fees are no different. All you have to do
: is read or ask, and all is revealed. The costs are different per
: location and item purchased. The additional costs above the
: hammer price are not secret. Either the item is worth the total
: price that you pay or you shouldn't bid.

: To bring this discussion back to the original point Jeff raised,
: why would anyone buy a commonly available new watch from an
: auction house and pay the additional costs associated with
: purchasing at an auction? They probably shouldn't, and I won't
: be doing it.

: I have purchased a total of nine watches from Antiquorum, with full
: awareness of the costs and Antiquorum's shortcomings.

: -- All were at least 10 years old, and all but one more than 25
: years old and ranged up to over 60 years old.
: -- If I tried to find any of these watches to purchase today, most
: I couldn't find at all and if found, would not be in the same
: condition as the examples I purchased.
: -- I handled or handled and opened 7 of the 9 watches (and the two
: I didn't may be the best bargains of the purchases -- but I took
: a chance). Don't buy from Antiquorum unless you can see it and
: handle it.
: -- I overpaid for 5 of the watches, knowingly, as it was during the
: Omegamania auction. Even so, I could get my money out of two of
: those pieces easily . . . .

: Would I buy at an auction again? Yes, but I would do so with
: increased caution. I think auctioneers questionable ethics
: within their business model have been stretched by current
: conditions, and my sensitivity to fraud is thus increased.

: Lately, I haven't found anything in the auctions that meet my
: criteria -- interesting, rare and in good condition, and in a
: price range I can afford. The pickings are slim, frankly.

: Any other thoughts?

: Sam aka Hewybaby

In the theme of: "What the big print giveth, the small print taketh away", that premium is somewhat different than the sales tax, and, I've not seen any sales
tax to the tune of 20%, not even close. VAT, we don't have that...............YET, but soon will probably will according to the fearless leading moron from
California known as Speaker of the House, that'll make it even more painful.
I believe the auction houses charge what they charge as commission because they can. And, I see no problems with rare pieces and really unusual pieces,
you gotta pay to play. Way too much funny business going on for me to play, that and lack of funds.
I'll beg to differ on the thought you overpaid on some of your purchases. The watch is worth that to you, so its not an overpayment.
I'll agree with the general consensus that the lesser everyday pieces are used as filler. It makes the catalog thicker and makes for good press.
Why anyone would buy a Glycine through an auction house with all the related charges is beyond me. Some people will go to lengths to get out
of sales tax. Hell, I'm one of them.
jim