Barrett-Jackson auction question.

[6spdC6]

Barrett-Jackson question.

This is the second BJ event I have watched on TV in the last few months and I have noticed a couple differences.

For the record I have not watched every minute of every show but I did watch a lot.

#1 --I did not notice any (and I hope I spelled the name right) any Assiters at the last couple auctions. The main auctioneer was a Spanky Assiter and his decent looking wife Amy and a couple other familiar people.

#2-- Same for the “bidder assistants", many new faces.(one that looks a LOT like the above mentioned Amy, and she got a lot of air time)

#3—the cameras spent muck less time showing the auctioneers at work, like their trying to hide something. No auctioneers names were mentioned when I was watching.

Come on folks I know a lot on here watch this, does anyone have any input on what I wrote.

They did say at this auction next year they are going to have a NEW AUCTION only a few driving hours from where I live and best bet me and Mrs. 6spd are going. This NEW auction will be held at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut.

FWIW I find I like the Mecum auctions much better and prefer to watch them. Less commercials and bullch*t, less time being wasted with the charity stuff! Less of the big ego assholes strutting around and the prices are more real world!

[VatorMan]

Found this article :

https://news.classiccars.com/barrett...eplace-spanky/

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

Found this article :

https://news.classiccars.com/barrett...eplace-spanky/

THANK YOU!

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Barrett-Jackson question.

This is the second BJ event I have watched on TV in the last few months and I have noticed a couple differences.

For the record I have not watched every minute of every show but I did watch a lot.

#2-- Same for the “bidder assistants", many new faces.(one that looks a LOT like the above mentioned Amy, and she got a lot of Hair time)


FWIW I find I like the Mecum auctions much better and prefer to watch them. Less commercials and bullch*t, less time being wasted with the charity stuff! Less of the big ego assholes strutting around and the prices are more real world!

Yeah, BJ is all about the "Me" factor.

More $$ than brains in a lot of instances.
The early auctions are where the deals are, as the "Show-offs" only show up for Friday and Saturday evening overpriced auctions.

[boracayjohnny]

Originally Posted by Touringmike

Yeah, BJ is all about the "Me" factor.

More $$ than brains in a lot of instances.
The early auctions are where the deals are, as the "Show-offs" only show up for Friday and Saturday evening overpriced auctions.

I enjoy seeing the rare cars. The penis measuring contest of wealthy, seemingly, douches...not so much.

[96LT4]

I'd still love to go see the cars and the "spectacle". Those guys have to be raking it in.

[Mike Mercury]

another observation; Craig Jackson didn't get much camera time in 2014. Nor did we hear him belch out "C'mon !" in disgust into the microphone when a close friends car wasn't getting premium bids.

Rumor has it he now heavily medicated. This past broadcast - he has gotten more face time. I love those & Mecums auctions, but not liking Craig Jackson at all

Though, there has been very little problems reported at a BJ auction; so I give them credit for that.

Here is one of a small amount of issues reported in the past:

As a collector car journalist, I have been watching the Barrett-Jackson auction for years. For the last five or so years, it has been very apparent that the Scottsdale auction is at best a bastion of gross consumption…but now some hobbyists are claiming a worst: fraud.

Apparently, a well-known judge (legal, rather than concours) selling a vehicle at B-J this year has filed papers with the court, because B-J contracts specifically promise every car three minutes on the stand. Evidently, he was one of the sellers who had his car short-timed. He communicated the story, which got broadcasted via the Classic Thunderbirds List. According to the grapevine, this is already being discussed as translating into class-action status for the benefit of other sellers.

According to this judge and other sources, it appears Barrett-Jackson was operating a bit on the same level as an evangelical healing show. Allegedly they had assistants milling around asking what specific sellers thought their cars would bring. Armed with this information at the control desk, if a lot passed the value at which a seller indicated he’d be happy, the car would be rushed off and the gavel would fall – even if bidding was still very much alive.

Because the event was televised on live television via the Speed TV network, the plaintiff(s) now have video/audio proof that buyers were signaling increased bids before the three-minute marks, but were denied by a too-fast last call and hammer.


Also... It is no secret that Barrett-Jackson owns many cars that are run through the auction – it was something I suspected many, many years ago. This was proven when they started maintaining a showroom of cars in Arizona. This is not illegal, but stay with me.

Along with many collectors, I’ve always suspected that the cars owned by Craig Jackson and the B-J company were often driven up by shill bidders working for the company. Essentially, the strategy works in the sense that ever since the auction focus moved from classics like Packards and Duesenbergs to muscle cars, B-J has been able to shill, say a Hemi Cuda or mid-year Corvette 427 they own, which causes the value of the 10 other identical cars to increase. They wind up “buying” their own car back, but the others go on to regular buyers, who now are paying higher because of the perception the market has moved up.

This suspicion has been supported by at least one auction attendee that says he witnessed cars sold at auction headed in trailers back to B-J’s warehouse. The lawsuit allegedly points out that these cars also spent significantly more time on the block than others.

Barrett Jackson is the suck - CEG Forums

[Iron Chef]

I’ve gone to several Mecum and Barrett-Jackson Auctions mainly because next to something like GoodGuys, it’s the best car show in town. You can avoid rows of clapped-out Camaros and Rat Rods and see things you won’t see anywhere else. I’ve also participated in a few. Here’s some things many people don’t know.

First (if you weren't aware), auction companies do not buy cars. They are strictly a facilitator between a buyer and a seller. It is therefore in their best interest to sell as many cars as they can. Between consignment fees, commissions and buyer premiums...all which vary based on several factors, they will make...on average...15% on every car they sell. The auction companies do not lose money.

Second, there aren’t too many “average guys” selling an individual car at auction. Most cars auctioned are bought and sold by dealers and wholesalers and many times people acting as a buyer's rep. These guys will trailer in 5 to 10 cars or more, and many of the coveted spots on the final day of the auction are taken up long before consignment opens to the general public because these people are preferred customers. The guys that "show up" on Friday and Saturday do so because of the dollar value assigned to their cars weeks in advance. Rest assured they didn't just roll up to the staging area 10 minutes prior. I took my cars there because they were cars for a limited market and while I know I left some money on the table, I didn’t want to go through the hassle of selling them myself.

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

FWIW I find I like the Mecum auctions much better and prefer to watch them. Less commercials and bullch*t, less time being wasted with the charity stuff! Less of the big ego assholes strutting around and the prices are more real world!

I really don’t understand this comment...this is based on what? If you’ve never been to an auto auction you need to realize that it’s a highly charged environment. Things move at a lightning pace ESPECIALLY if you’re the seller and you really need to keep your wits about you. These people are conducting transactions that involve tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they have 2 to 5 minutes to do it. That’s usually all the time you get on the block. You also have to realize that this is big business and most of these guys go from auction to auction on a weekly or monthly basis. They have established relationships with people like Dana Mecum, Drew Alcazar, Craig Jackson and so on, so there’s going to be some back and forth and kidding around. I saw and experienced little in the way of ego...it's serious shit the second the car hits the block.

It should be also be noted that Mecum and B-J are FAR from the only games in town. Companies like R-M, Gooding and Bonhams sell many more higher priced vehicles. They move a bit more slowly (when you're selling a car for $1M-plus and you're not televised, you can afford to do that). Also...Mecum and B-J don’t have control over the commercials. That is controlled by NBCSN or Velocity. Unlike football, the auction doesn’t stop when you have a commercial break...it keeps right on rolling. Barrett-Jackson is truly an “event” as much as it is an auction, but it’s all designed to get people in the door to sell cars.

The only thing that can get annoying are the custom car builders who put $100,000 into the build of a car and then whine when it only brings $40,000 at the hammer. Most of them have done this before and they know that cars of this type that sell at auction bring 50 cents on the dollar or less. So unless you’re just putting on a show for the drama factor, either quit complaining or quit building cars.

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

Here is one of a small amount of issues reported in the past:

Meh...I wouldn't read very much into that. Nearly 10 year old thread that was lifted from some guy's car blog that hasn't had any changes since 2012. Sounds like a disgruntled blogger to me. If B-J was really crooked they wouldn't last long...too much competition.

[Aerovette]

On a smaller scale, I noticed some of the things Mike Mercury posted in Houston. Every year at the Autorama, there is an ongoing auction. Small time stuff but in consecutive years of going, I was noticing the same cars appearing. Seemed odd to me. I suspected it was to keep the flow and they were "pets" brought in to fill space and time.

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

Meh...I wouldn't read very much into that. Nearly 10 year old thread that was lifted from some guy's car blog that hasn't had any changes since 2012. Sounds like a disgruntled blogger to me. If B-J was really crooked they wouldn't last long...too much competition.

I hear ya. But, I dont' feel compelled to provide BJ some damage control; instead I was just forwarding someones comments.

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

I’ve gone to several Mecum and Barrett-Jackson Auctions mainly because next to something like GoodGuys, it’s the best car show in town. You can avoid rows of clapped-out Camaros and Rat Rods and see things you won’t see anywhere else. I’ve also participated in a few. Here’s some things many people don’t know.

First (if you weren't aware), auction companies do not buy cars. They are strictly a facilitator between a buyer and a seller. It is therefore in their best interest to sell as many cars as they can. Between consignment fees, commissions and buyer premiums...all which vary based on several factors, they will make...on average...15% on every car they sell. The auction companies do not lose money.

Second, there aren’t too many “average guys” selling an individual car at auction. Most cars auctioned are bought and sold by dealers and wholesalers and many times people acting as a buyer's rep. These guys will trailer in 5 to 10 cars or more, and many of the coveted spots on the final day of the auction are taken up long before consignment opens to the general public because these people are preferred customers. The guys that "show up" on Friday and Saturday do so because of the dollar value assigned to their cars weeks in advance. Rest assured they didn't just roll up to the staging area 10 minutes prior. I took my cars there because they were cars for a limited market and while I know I left some money on the table, I didn’t want to go through the hassle of selling them myself.



I really don’t understand this comment...this is based on what? If you’ve never been to an auto auction you need to realize that it’s a highly charged environment. Things move at a lightning pace ESPECIALLY if you’re the seller and you really need to keep your wits about you. These people are conducting transactions that involve tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they have 2 to 5 minutes to do it. That’s usually all the time you get on the block. You also have to realize that this is big business and most of these guys go from auction to auction on a weekly or monthly basis. They have established relationships with people like Dana Mecum, Drew Alcazar, Craig Jackson and so on, so there’s going to be some back and forth and kidding around. I saw and experienced little in the way of ego...it's serious shit the second the car hits the block.

It should be also be noted that Mecum and B-J are FAR from the only games in town. Companies like R-M, Gooding and Bonhams sell many more higher priced vehicles. They move a bit more slowly (when you're selling a car for $1M-plus and you're not televised, you can afford to do that). Also...Mecum and B-J don’t have control over the commercials. That is controlled by NBCSN or Velocity. Unlike football, the auction doesn’t stop when you have a commercial break...it keeps right on rolling. Barrett-Jackson is truly an “event” as much as it is an auction, but it’s all designed to get people in the door to sell cars.

The only thing that can get annoying are the custom car builders who put $100,000 into the build of a car and then whine when it only brings $40,000 at the hammer. Most of them have done this before and they know that cars of this type that sell at auction bring 50 cents on the dollar or less. So unless you’re just putting on a show for the drama factor, either quit complaining or quit building cars.



Meh...I wouldn't read very much into that. Nearly 10 year old thread that was lifted from some guy's car blog that hasn't had any changes since 2012. Sounds like a disgruntled blogger to me. If B-J was really crooked they wouldn't last long...too much competition.

My opinion of the SHOWS. To me BJ has more commercial space and interview bullshit eating up the valuable time. To me the way too many charity stuff fits the same waste time I mentioned! (Show the phucking cars) The less big egos and real world prices does not need a definition, Mecum is more real world.

You go to the auctions, so you can see things on a different plain, I’m sitting home and watching a car show, perhaps that is the difference in opinions.

Years back I went to a couple auctions at Carlisle but that as of now is my only real time experience. Thinking quite seriously of going to BJ when they do Mohegan Sons Casino next year, and if I see what I’m looking for might bid. I will keep as of now to myself what I’m interested in but I will tell you it’s not a Vette!

[Mike Mercury]

only the first time ever did I watch it live. Every year since I DVR'd the auctions; and play back - skipping the commercials and the
Mustangs.

[Steve Austin]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

My opinion of the SHOWS. To me BJ has more commercial space and interview bullshit eating up the valuable time. To me the way too many charity stuff fits the same waste time I mentioned! (Show the phucking cars) The less big egos and real world prices does not need a definition, Mecum is more real world.

You go to the auctions, so you can see things on a different plain, I’m sitting home and watching a car show, perhaps that is the difference in opinions.

Years back I went to a couple auctions at Carlisle but that as of now is my only real time experience. Thinking quite seriously of going to BJ when they do Mohegan Sons Casino next year, and if I see what I’m looking for might bid. I will keep as of now to myself what I’m interested in but I will tell you it’s not a Vette!

I too prefer Mecum. Less time spent with celebrity fatcats pumping up the audience and more time selling cars. I also like the fact that they tell you when a car does not make reserve or sells after it moves off stage.

[Iron Chef]

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

Every year since I DVR'd the auctions; and play back - skipping the commercials and the Mustangs.

This is the way to do it.

I like watching Mecum better. I think the hosts they have (Scott Hoke, John Kraman, Stephen Cox and Bill Stevens...all carryovers from their Velocity days) do a much better job overall. Velocity has a slightly larger announcing crew and they do spend more time doing “off-block” features. It should be noted that John Kraman is actually a Mecum employee. He is their Director of Consignments and is very knowledgeable.

Celebrities are at all the shows. Richard Petty was at Mecum Dallas auctioning off a car. Steve McQueen’s son was at Monterey auctioning off his dad's last Porsche 930 Turbo. Dan Gurney was at a prior auction, etc. They all do it, and most people like the humanitarian aspect of raising money for charity, so it’s no surprise that they schedule those auctions during peak viewing and attendance periods. Is it overdone? Probably. But the point is to raise money, so they’re doing what they have to. I just use it as time to go make a sandwich. The reality is that the amount of commercial time per hour is about the same...between 12 and 15 minutes.

I’m still not sure what is meant by “real world” prices. The auction houses don’t set the prices. Sellers do. Prices vary based on location, time of year, who is in attendance and previous sales. When I sold my ZR-1, I called the Mecum consignment office, told them what I had and what I wanted for the car. What they did do was go over with me the sales prices for the last 10 ZR-1’s sold at their auctions. So I had a reasonable expectation as to what I could sell for. But ultimately it was my choice as to whether to sell and for how much. You also “read the crowd” to see how the bidding is going. I did notice that at Barrett-Jackson, very few cars did not sell. Not sure why this happened.