MADAM – I write to ask whether any other dealers feel the same frustration and disappointment as me in respect of thesaleroom.com [sister brand to the Antiques Trade Gazette] operating more like eBay through the numerous ‘upgrades’ that have been made in the last few months.
Examples of this would be: 1. Showing the number of ‘watchers’ on a particular lot 2. Commission bids being recorded as a pre-sale bid for all viewers to be able to see. To what benefit does this functionality serve apart from making it feel like an eBay auction?
There’s also a killjoy element. In the past you spot the ‘sleeper’ of the sale and you had no idea until the lot comes up if anyone else has spotted it. Now though, knowing that numerous other people are also watching the item ruins the fun and anticipation. In some ways it is a good thing, as it means I don’t have to stay in all day any more waiting for a lot to come up for sale, only to find it soars miles above estimate.