Balinese, and the secondary market. Can we *avoid* having a round 2 of this?

[Khea Karas]

(06-19-2012 09:20 AM)Chelle Zimmer Wrote:  

(06-18-2012 12:00 PM)Nenya Eun Wrote:  

(06-18-2012 09:06 AM)anna acanthus Wrote:  I'd like to say also that the fact of having way too many auctions per week is causing plenty of damage to the market in itself. I won't go into the reasons as this ought to be pretty obvious.

I so agree with all you said, especially that sentence about auctions, Anna !

As a successful Auctioneer, I have to jump in on this. I've been auctioning for a year now. I have seen auctioneers come and go. Auctioneers have a great responsibility to the community and to the market itself. In order to sustain the market, you have to know what you are doing. Auctioneers should be well trained and knowledgeable about the kitties they are selling.

Auction kitties should be well bred, and have something that make them special. Not some things you can see everyday. They should be unique in some way. Not something you can find everywhere else. If we, as auctioneers do not know backwards and forwards about the cats, or set standards and monitor what goes on the panels, that is what hurts the market.

It is erroneous to say that auctions hurt the market. There are auctioneers at NUMEROUS markets (and I'm NOT just talking about where I am at. I'd name names but I don't want to leave anyone out.) that get OUTSTANDING prices for the kitties they are auctioning. But with all the auctions popping up, there are unfortunately auctions that are struggling for many reasons.

I have to agree with RAYNE and say, if we as members of this community attend auctions where prices are well below where they should be just to get the steal, then we are hurting the market ourselves. He is right, we need to value the work and breeding that the breeder has worked so long and so hard to get where they are at. Those are the kitties that you see on these auctioneers panels that are getting results. (AND YES, I am talking about auctioneers at other markets, not just my own.)

I try to go and support every auction I can, but its just impossible to hit them all. I seldom see other auctioneers attending mine. Thank you to those few of you, that do come. Please invite me to your next one.

I think this is a great community and let's all work together!

I agree with Chelle. Experience and knowledge of an auctioneer goes a long way. Whether it be the selection of cats on offer, or enough breeding knowledge to be able to "sell" the cat to the audience at its rightful market price. Auctioneers need to know their stuff.

Are there too may auctions? Yes. Auctions used to be a 3 time a week event that everyone looked forward too, and as such would only showcase their best cats, and the buyers would come knowing they have a chance to get a special cat and the chance of a bargain. Now with them happening 3 times a day almost, sellers will put up a cat just to fill a panel without care of the quality and set lower opening bids in hope of selling it. Buyers will come yes, but the fact that there will be one tomorrow or next day gives a feeling of..."I can wait a bit longer for the price to drop", or knowing that Tuesdays auctions may not be as popular as Fridays so will therefore save my lindens and get a better deal. All this drives down prices and its a vicious cycle.

In particular, one thing that pisses me off more, are sellers who set starting bids so low, or even at open prices. This does more damage to the market than anything else. Just because your starting price is low does not mean you will get a bid war or even a bid at all. All it does is gives the impression that the cat is pretty much worthless, or it will go for the opening bid of 500L and you are helping to push down prices further.

For example, if you know you cat is worth 5K... try to set it for 3K start bid...its still an attractive bargain! Dont be trapped into thinking you cat will only sell if you have a lower opening bid. This is where we go wrong and screw ourselves and the market completely.