Page 1 of 1
Morphets auction
Posted: 00:51 Thu 01 Dec 2022
by nac
Considering bidding on a couple of lots at current Morphets auction, but am put off by their extreme unhelpfulness in regards to delivery.
Anyone have experience of buying from them and arranging delivery?
There’s always Benelux, but would prefer a slightly less financially ruinous alternative.
Re: Morphets auction
Posted: 10:59 Sun 04 Dec 2022
by uncle tom
It's an old school auction house mostly selling local stuff to local people - always been friendly when I've dealt with them.
Re: Morphets auction
Posted: 12:06 Sun 04 Dec 2022
by JacobH
I don’t know Morphets but dealing with some other auction houses, I am amazed at how difficult they can be, particularly with regards to delivery and collection. I emailed one about a small, light and non-fragile antique recently; didn’t receive a reply for weeks and their quote for postage was just laughable. I have no issues with them making a profit on postage but it was just out of all proportions. And of course, this was one that was charging a basic 25% buyers’ and a 25% sellers’ premium so their profit margin must have been astronomical...
Re: Morphets auction
Posted: 12:16 Sun 04 Dec 2022
by hadge
I have only collected from them before, I'm not in that area for a bit.
Re: Morphets auction
Posted: 19:55 Tue 06 Dec 2022
by Justin K
Maybe we need a section dedicated to Auction houses and problems and praises connected to them. When I started buying Port at auction, in the late 1980's, buyers commission was typically 8% in Ireland and vendors paid 10%. Nowadays it's common to pay up to 29% as a buyer and vendors up to 25%. Auctioneers are now, imo, just retailers with none of the hassle of having to stand over the goods they sell. Nice business as they say. My most recent unpleasant experience was with Brightwells. I couldn't say their Customer service was poor because it was non-exixtent; I will neither buy or even visit their website again (worst experience with an aucion house in 35 years).
Julian move this to a new subject if you think it's appropriate.
Re: Morphets auction
Posted: 23:21 Tue 06 Dec 2022
by winesecretary
At some point winebid is going to come in and eat their lunch, so they are just making hay while the sun shines. I reckon Strakers, Bonhams Sothebys and Christies will survive but the rest will be toast.
Re: Morphets auction
Posted: 08:16 Wed 07 Dec 2022
by flash_uk
Justin K wrote: ↑19:55 Tue 06 Dec 2022
Maybe we need a section dedicated to Auction houses and problems and praises connected to them. When I started buying Port at auction, in the late 1980's, buyers commission was typically 8% in Ireland and vendors paid 10%. Nowadays it's common to pay up to 29% as a buyer and vendors up to 25%. Auctioneers are now, imo, just retailers with none of the hassle of having to stand over the goods they sell. Nice business as they say. My most recent unpleasant experience was with Brightwells. I couldn't say their Customer service was poor because it was non-exixtent; I will neither buy or even visit their website again (worst experience with an aucion house in 35 years).
Julian move this to a new subject if you think it's appropriate.
Very surprised to hear about that Brightwells experience. I've bought there very frequently and usually get a very friendly and rapid response from them. I wonder if the regular wine guy was on holiday or something with your situation!
Re: Morphets auction
Posted: 22:09 Thu 08 Dec 2022
by Alex Bridgeman
I don't use Brightwells anything like the amount I used to, but back in the days when I did, they were always very approachable - although I found telephone the easiest way to get things done with them.