Some auction houses rent space to run sales around the country – others operate from fixed bases. We consulted with market experts to explore the pros and cons of both approaches to sales
Many auction houses operate from fixed locations, whereas others move around throughout the year.
Each auction house has its reasons for operating as it does, so we investigated how they operate and what it means for those buying and selling at auction.
SWVA’s classic specialist Owen Shepherd makes a strong case for having a permanent base, saying: ‘The largest benefit of having our own premises is being able to store cars in the lead up to the auction. This allows us access to them for various marketing exercises and allows people to view whenever they wish.
‘By having auctions off-site there is never any guarantee that the cars you have consigned will be delivered as promised – this, among other logistics, could make it tricky.’
Manor Park Classics’ sales director James Murphy adds: ‘Operating from our 30,000sq ft premises allows a three-stage sales process, where, unlike auction houses that rent temporary sites for their sales, we can store the vehicle beforehand, allowing potential buyers ample time to view it ahead of the sale.
‘The car remains at our premises through the auction and if it doesn’t sell, the third stage means that the vehicle can stay with us for a further two weeks while we work to find a buyer. This entire process takes the stress out of buying and selling while also allowing our staff to be 100 per cent customer-focused and not distracted by the vagaries of sometimes less-than ideal temporary sites.’
Iconic Auctioneers, however, sees the benefits of using diff
