Surprised by Astons

[chris_aston]

Hi there,
We did ask UKG to grade the Jawa but they fobbed us off!

The reply I got when asking to speak to the boss their was:

"Good Morning Chris

I have spoken to Steve and he is really busy at the moment

He said please put your order through the website when you are ready

Thanks Matt "

Chris Aston

 

[lejackal]

That's not fobbing off, that's asking you to place an order.

What is bad practice though is lumping together items in a haphazard fashion that will cost the vendor thousands of pounds in bids.

 

[welshwookie]

Hi there,
We did ask UKG to grade the Jawa but they fobbed us off!

The reply I got when asking to speak to the boss their was:

"Good Morning Chris

I have spoken to Steve and he is really busy at the moment

He said please put your order through the website when you are ready

Thanks Matt "

Chris Aston

That`s gutting for you Chris. It probably would have been different if you had spoke to him in person.
I appreciate you might have been que jumping with regards to this, but who would have really known.
And the publicity and satisfaction of grading a VCJ for your business, it goes without saying.
But I suppose you are either a believer or non believer on these as existing, and nobody wants to get it wrong either ?

 

[chris_aston]

That's not fobbing off, that's asking you to place an order.

What is bad practice though is lumping together items in a haphazard fashion that will cost the vendor thousands of pounds in bids.

That was the final email after a series of 8 emails since 11th September where they were repeatedly refusing to speak to me on the phone. I even offered to get the camera crew round and film the items at their premises or mine and made it clear we were prepared to pay a premium for a quick service. They told me my only option was to put an order through the website and wait at least 12 weeks. The boss refused to speak to me at all.

Not sure if you've seen our auctions before but we specialise in offering fresh-to-the-market collections with little or no reserves and mainly sell "as seen" to the trade. This is the sector of the market we operate in and I feel that the auction is catalogued appropriately. We are one of the few companies offering regular genuine auctions where the lots are all sold to the highest bidder unlike most auction houses who specialise in bidding the prices up to retail value/reserve prices.

 

[lejackal]

That's not fobbing off, that's asking you to place an order.

What is bad practice though is lumping together items in a haphazard fashion that will cost the vendor thousands of pounds in bids.

That was the final email after a series of 8 emails since 11th September where they were repeatedly refusing to speak to me on the phone. I even offered to get the camera crew round and film the items at their premises or mine and made it clear we were prepared to pay a premium for a quick service. They told me my only option was to put an order through the website and wait at least 12 weeks. The boss refused to speak to me at all.

Not sure if you've seen our auctions before but we specialise in offering fresh-to-the-market collections with little or no reserves and mainly sell "as seen" to the trade. This is the sector of the market we operate in and I feel that the auction is catalogued appropriately. We are one of the few companies offering regular genuine auctions where the lots are all sold to the highest bidder unlike most auction houses who specialise in bidding the prices up to retail value/reserve prices.

Which leaves traders a profit but does not help the vendor, also known as your customer

 

[welshwookie]

I imagine being graded might have pushed the price up Carl ?
But to most it would have reassured bidders of authenticity. I can see the reasoning behind it.
As these are super rare, and this guy has a cut name plate one too. Wtf.! :shock:
I myself would have liked that to have been graded also, with the low card grade as expected.
However a bit more description on the boxed vehicles would be good Chris, like unused stickers, inserts etc and pictures all around, as most of us will have to judge condition from the Internet due to restrictions.

 

[chris_aston]

I imagine being graded might have pushed the price up Carl ?
But to most it would have reassured bidders of authenticity. I can see the reasoning behind it.
As these are super rare, and this guy has a cut name plate one too. Wtf.! :shock:
I myself would have liked that to have been graded also, with the low card grade as expected.
However a bit more description on the boxed vehicles would be good Chris, like unused stickers, inserts etc and pictures all around, as most of us will have to judge condition from the Internet due to restrictions.

Email us for any lots you want extra pictures or condition reports of - [email protected] , we're adding more info and pics every day by request.
We also still have plenty of viewing appointments available, call us on 01384 931001 to book.

Happy bidding everyone

 

[Nick_IoW]

You after the Jawa Emiel?? :lol:

Yep! :lol:

I thought I would try bidding in one of these UK auctions, but this one might not be the one most suitable to start with.

Let the battle commence

 

[Nick_IoW]

I still don't understand the 6% premium for online bidding, especially when it is an online only auction.

6% is a hefty addition, especially when the 24% is on the higher end of commission already.

Charging for online, in this day in age, is a bit of robbery.

 

[theforceuk]

Agreed especially during a Pandemic when online auction is the only Viable way for them to function.

 

[newswseller]

Hello, is anyone going to attend this auction in person and willing to post items out? Interested in a few items but none of the postage people are replying to emails

 

[Palifan]

Out of interest (as I'm a little confused about delivery for anything won from the auction lol), do you have to contact one of the 3 delivery companies they've mentioned to arrange them to pack and pick up your items? I'm guessing they've dealt with these delivery companies before so they will know what to do but I'm not sure I've got that right.

It's a shame that someone isn't going who can help out with this but I can imagine it might end up being a lot of work for someone to do this if there's a lot to send off. If it's straight forward to get shipped then it might new worth bidding but I don't really understand why Astons don't do this like Vectis?!

Ian

 

[welshwookie]

Out of interest (as I'm a little confused about delivery for anything won from the auction lol), do you have to contact one of the 3 delivery companies they've mentioned to arrange them to pack and pick up your items? I'm guessing they've dealt with these delivery companies before so they will know what to do but I'm not sure I've got that right.

It's a shame that someone isn't going who can help out with this but I can imagine it might end up being a lot of work for someone to do this if there's a lot to send off. If it's straight forward to get shipped then it might new worth bidding but I don't really understand why Astons don't do this like Vectis?!

Ian

I think the big issue is that they are selling the company on Ian. Ideally grace could have been given, especially if paid for, but I imagine that creates problems for new owners and responsibility.
My wife has a business and I am really tempted to bid, but I can`t guarantee I would get there to collect with lock down restrictions.
As I`m no different travelling to a courier company. I should set up a vintage toy company :lol:

 

[Palifan]

Out of interest (as I'm a little confused about delivery for anything won from the auction lol), do you have to contact one of the 3 delivery companies they've mentioned to arrange them to pack and pick up your items? I'm guessing they've dealt with these delivery companies before so they will know what to do but I'm not sure I've got that right.

It's a shame that someone isn't going who can help out with this but I can imagine it might end up being a lot of work for someone to do this if there's a lot to send off. If it's straight forward to get shipped then it might new worth bidding but I don't really understand why Astons don't do this like Vectis?!

Ian

I think the big issue is that they are selling the company on Ian. Ideally grace could have been given, especially if paid for, but I imagine that creates problems for new owners and responsibility.
My wife has a business and I am really tempted to bid, but I can`t guarantee I would get there to collect with lock down restrictions.
As I`m no different travelling to a courier company. I should set up a vintage toy company :lol:

Looks like now's the right time to set up that vintage toy company

The thing I was interested in has already gone higher that I wanted to pay so I won't be going for anything now anyway. It's a real put off having to sort out getting the items delivered and I'm thinking that people who can get there might end up with some good deals (although looking at some of the bids already I'm feeling that this will be another high priced auction).

Ian

 

[welshwookie]

Exactly Ian.
The way things are going with lockdowns we could bid on Thursday and be stopped travelling on weekend. It would be awful to not be able to collect something bought. And really all auction houses should offer in house posting at the moment .
We in Wales are really having a crap time at the moment.

 

[Palifan]

Exactly Ian.
The way things are going with lockdowns we could bid on Thursday and be stopped travelling on weekend. It would be awful to not be able to collect something bought. And really all auction houses should offer in house posting at the moment .
We in Wales are really having a crap time at the moment.

I feel for you brother over in Wales. I'm not far in Bristol and work was shutdown for at least the rest of the week due to a COVID scare so I can see how this whole thing is getting worse. Let's just hope this wave passes quickly without causing as much tradigy as last time.

Ian

 

[palitoyjunky]

That's not fobbing off, that's asking you to place an order.

What is bad practice though is lumping together items in a haphazard fashion that will cost the vendor thousands of pounds in bids.

That was the final email after a series of 8 emails since 11th September where they were repeatedly refusing to speak to me on the phone. I even offered to get the camera crew round and film the items at their premises or mine and made it clear we were prepared to pay a premium for a quick service. They told me my only option was to put an order through the website and wait at least 12 weeks. The boss refused to speak to me at all.

Not sure if you've seen our auctions before but we specialise in offering fresh-to-the-market collections with little or no reserves and mainly sell "as seen" to the trade. This is the sector of the market we operate in and I feel that the auction is catalogued appropriately. We are one of the few companies offering regular genuine auctions where the lots are all sold to the highest bidder unlike most auction houses who specialise in bidding the prices up to retail value/reserve prices.

It certainly is a sale packed full of fresh to the market v exciting SW stuff Chris and all will agree that this sale tomorrow is one of the most exciting sale of Vintage SW toys for a long long time :!:

However I gotta say that u & your old man have wrecked it :!: :!: I like many others have read your story about calling it a day etc and congrats to you & your dad for a great and successful run over the years but it's like you guys have retired already because it looks like a total utter novice to vintage SW toys has set up the grouped lots for this sale :!: :!: :!: You have SW pieces in this sale that make your star lot; the intact Palitoy 12 back VCJ look common :!: We are talking about an item where currently there is one of one known-yours :!: That has been slung into a multiple lot of other desirable MOCs, extremely rare early Empire carded figures slung in with other early v desirable Empire carded figures. Multiple unused boxed items all thrown in together, the list goes on :!:

So like many I am very disappointed with this set up Chris, worst auction set up for vintage SW I have ever seen :?

 

[Cazza]

Totally agree- it's really bizarre. Mailaway Dengar is one of the last things I need to complete my childhood focus, but there's no way I can afford to buy that job lot. Might've had a chance with one if they had been split

 

[Palifan]

Well it's a fun listen but I am surprised at the 30 back DSC lot going for £25K plus fees, that's some VCJ price right there (I know it's rarer but I wonder if it's as desirable).

Ian

 

[Grant_C]

That's not fobbing off, that's asking you to place an order.

What is bad practice though is lumping together items in a haphazard fashion that will cost the vendor thousands of pounds in bids.

That was the final email after a series of 8 emails since 11th September where they were repeatedly refusing to speak to me on the phone. I even offered to get the camera crew round and film the items at their premises or mine and made it clear we were prepared to pay a premium for a quick service. They told me my only option was to put an order through the website and wait at least 12 weeks. The boss refused to speak to me at all.

Not sure if you've seen our auctions before but we specialise in offering fresh-to-the-market collections with little or no reserves and mainly sell "as seen" to the trade. This is the sector of the market we operate in and I feel that the auction is catalogued appropriately. We are one of the few companies offering regular genuine auctions where the lots are all sold to the highest bidder unlike most auction houses who specialise in bidding the prices up to retail value/reserve prices.

It certainly is a sale packed full of fresh to the market v exciting SW stuff Chris and all will agree that this sale tomorrow is one of the most exciting sale of Vintage SW toys for a long long time :!:

However I gotta say that u & your old man have wrecked it :!: :!: I like many others have read your story about calling it a day etc and congrats to you & your dad for a great and successful run over the years but it's like you guys have retired already because it looks like a total utter novice to vintage SW toys has set up the grouped lots for this sale :!: :!: :!: You have SW pieces in this sale that make your star lot; the intact Palitoy 12 back VCJ look common :!: We are talking about an item where currently there is one of one known-yours :!: That has been slung into a multiple lot of other desirable MOCs, extremely rare early Empire carded figures slung in with other early v desirable Empire carded figures. Multiple unused boxed items all thrown in together, the list goes on :!:

So like many I am very disappointed with this set up Chris, worst auction set up for vintage SW I have ever seen :?

Saved me writing it. What a bizarre choice of lots. Left a lot of money on the table