DW31S |
05-30-2017 01:59 PM |
I doubt they will lower their prices. I'm guessing the idea of getting in the transport business is to make money, not be a nice guy. As another member mentioned above, Mecum moved a car from auction to auction, and in doing so, Mecum has a little more of a captive audience. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, I'm just reinforcing that Mecum, by being in the transport business, is adding to the bottom line he/they are profiting on that particular car. Promoting an auction isn't cheap and the house is there to capture/recoup the investment in any way possible. Auction fees that are assessed to each unit start with the registration, and buyer's/seller's fees are next, but only if that unit sells. If the house can keep that car in their "possession" by transporting it for both buyer and seller, then the house's "piece of the pie" is that much larger.
Auction's being in the transportation business is nothing new. My daily auctions each have their own transport division that is ultimately owned by the auction house. The auctions advertise and promote the "total package" although I don't participate. The "total package" consists of picking the car/truck/SUV up from the dealership, recondition/clean (another part of the "total package"..."captive audience" idea), register, represent on the auction block with a predetermined "floor price"/reserve, sell the unit, process the title, receive the seller's check, and then deliver the check to the dealership.
This is what I do for the dealership on each wholesale unit, but I control each part of this process, and I save the dealership money on each intricate part of the process.
I wouldn't be surprised if the collector car auctions go in this direction (some may already do this, again when I sell one of my collector cars, I control each part of the process) and advertise a "worry free" process wherein the seller does nothing from start to finish except to receive a check when the sale is over. I'm just spitballing here, but the transportation by the auction house might just be the start.
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