TOPIC:

I have a dozen or so examples of different Crested china to get rid of (space and another purchase), all ABW related. Is it permissible to offer on the forum?

Sorry, Kuksmith, but we do not support member sales via the forum.

thank you for advice - it was courtesy to ask anyway.

Although a member for a year or so, in common with many, I read rather than post so do not have enough posts to be a Senior Member.

Forum rationale understandable; it would be vexing for one to be bombarded with trade, but I was simply being opportunist had it been in some way allowable.

thank you all.

I am aware of the policy of this site not to allow for purchase/sale or trade of items. Nonetheless I think there are good grounds to consider creating a platform on or near this site where such commerce can occur. With the proliferation of for-profit auction houses and sales platforms combined with other cost increasing money-grab policies by e.g Ebay (their checkout system), the gap between the amount a buyer pays and what a seller receives has become ridiculously wide.

For example, I recently bought at a UK auction a folded antique map with a hammer price of Bpnd 60. The economics of that transaction turned out for Buyer and Seller respectively as follows:

For Buyer:
Hammer 60.00
Buyer’s commission + VAT 19.44
Online Bid commission + VAT 1.44
Packing/Shipping +VAT 68.00 (a padded envelop)
Import Duty 29.00 (duty applies to packing/shipping)
Landed cost to Buyer Bpnds 177.88

For Seller:
Hammer 60.00
Seller’s Commission 15.00
Shipping to Auction house (Est) 10.00
Net to Seller (approx.) Bpnds 35.00
Before photograph-, insurance, VAT on seller’s commission or other cost, if any.

So more than 80% of total payment ended up in other hands than the seller’s. Now If buyer and seller had been in direct contact, the buyer would have gladly paid 100 Bpnds plus 15 Bpnds postage. Import duty would not have been an issue as the item is well over 100 years old. Even with a modest fee for the accommodating platform, this type of transaction would have been much more attractive for the trade partners.

Any thoughts on the matter?

EFV,

I can see the transactional benefits from the scenario you outline. However, my perspective is different and concern the risk to the site and me from any litigation that might arise from a transaction that went wrong for example not being described correctly or never received etc. Trading platforms have processes, procedures and the resources to deal with all the eventualities that might arise whereas I have none of those.

I appreciate the risk of such a scenario happening is very slight but in this area I am very risk averse.

If it is medals for sale, the British Medal Forum has an area devoted to wants and sales. If it is not medals, I am not knowledgeable about the options available other than the big players.

They are my thoughts. I am sorry they are not more supportive of the issue you highlight.

Best wishes
David

EFV,
Can I draw attention to the little-used existing area
www.angloboerwar.com/forum/sales-and-wants
This is perhaps what you suggest: an area where senior members can list the things they seek or those they have available.
If better frequented, perhaps this area could be formalised to reduce the risks David mentions, e.g. no prices should be listed and perhaps members give their email address for enquiries (so the sale or swap is not transacted by messages on the forum)?
Should we attempt to make use of this area a bit more?
Rob