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Rock Island

3K views 12 replies 10 participants last post by  sean4570 
#1 ·
#3 ·
Yeah, their buyers premium is high, but a 'normal' internet buyers premium is still 18% or so. Makes me cringe to think what they charge the sellers.
What I hate is that they bundle all the rifles I like with about 4-5 others and sell them as a group. So instead of spending $100-$300 I would need to spend $1000+ to get the one gun I want.
And there is always that one guy (the same one every time) who bids on every lot I'm interested in up to a ridiculous amount. Must be a retail guy from somewhere but I've never seen the stuff for sale again online.
 
#5 ·
And there is always that one guy (the same one every time) who bids on every lot I'm interested in up to a ridiculous amount. Must be a retail guy from somewhere but I've never seen the stuff for sale again online.
RIA does a LOT of consignment work. Who's to say its not the owner of a particular lot either driving up the bid or buying it back so as not to take what he might consider a loss?
 
#6 ·
Auctions have their place, but you really need to go look at the stuff. In my opinion they group bad stuff together as a way to get bids on it? I've bought good stuff from there before, but most of what I see photos of is bad. The kicker? NO RETURNS, so you are stuck with what you bought.
 
#9 ·
Photos and descriptions are way too vague for my liking. I'd rather hang on to my money if I can't be there to inspect the rifles first hand. Some great codes and "possible" variations that make the mouth water for sure. But I'd hate to dump a good chunk of my hard earned change just to suffer a very probable disappointment when they arrive.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I'll be damned but I just realized I have that CE '43, 2912dd. I got it in Sept. at the Syracuse, NY show. I have removed that hot blue from the butt plate and brought it back to its original issue condition.
I had posted on this rifle here on 09-15. When I saw the RIA pic of it with that blued butt plate I thought, jezz, that looks like mine did when I got it. Then I saw the serial number.
 
#11 ·
Basic rule is never fully trust what any auctioneer says in their catalog. Some have specialist catalogers who know their stuff but even so you can't beat a direct inspection.
The grouping business is a real nuisance. I think RIA started it; now Poulin (ME) is doing it.
There is an ongoing war of words between RIA and Julia's which is really amusing.
Unless you attend in person and carry off your purchases or pick them up later the auction house charges you for packing, shipping and insurance; the charges can be very high indeed.
Some of the European auction houses charge a 25% premium.
As far as the consignor's charges go, some houses will negotiate their charges based on their assessment of their likely profit on what is consigned.
 
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