MADAM – Re: condition report charges at Moore Allen & Innocent for lower-value items.
I’m reminded of the time when I tried to arrange a telephone bid on a small piece of Tunbridge Ware. This was being offered at an established saleroom in the south of England. No estimate was listed.
The auction room considered the item to be rather insignificant. The receptionist greeted my request with as much lip-curling contempt as she could muster: “We don’t allow telephone bids for low-value items under £100.” How could I tell her that I’d sold the last one for £1800? What was I supposed to do? Leave a £1500 commission bid? Not likely.