All is not well on the Roadshow the big houses

Hi all, have a look at this article regarding commissions at the big houses & shenanigans at the Antiques Roadshow

Hi Mike

Ah never mind, I read and speak English and still haven't a clue what this article is on about.

I am missing something here Mike ... fixing WHICH commissions???

Hi Patricia & Ronnie,

This story is still unfolding and all the evidence is still being sorted through, both big houses apparently have had an agreement ( with one another) on pegging the commissions they have been charging their clients and are using legal maneuvers to keep it out of the public eye. Christies is trying to get off the hook by providing evidence of of this 'Price fixing' to the State department first, blaming the fixing of commissions on their previous management ,while Sotheby's ponders what to do next

I like that - shenanigans at the Antiques Roadshow. What shenanigans are you referring to?

The Antiques Roadshow has appraisers (not on payroll might I add) by Christies and Sothebys - but they are nothing more than people that work for the different departments at the 2 houses. I had to laugh at this article as I don't know where the author pulled this information. Appraisers are not STAFF with the Roadshow. We don't get paid one red cent for our time, our expenses etc. The crew would be the producer and film crew, camera operators, directors etc.

Its amazing how the press will pull people from all different aspects to make a story. I guess because I consign to and buy at Christies and Sothebys makes me involved as well.

Unreal.

Reyne Haines Just Glass Auctions - http://www.JustGlass.com Vintage Glass - http://members.aol.com/VintGlass/index.htm Moderator, Art Glass Discussion Group - Ask me about it!

Hi Reyne, I just posted an article for discussion , it doesn't mean I totally agree with the content ;~) But I am curious about where you saw the line that states the appraisers were staff of the roadshow? I got the impression they were inferring that some appraisers were staff of the auction houses and not staff members of WGBH and that other appraisers have ties with the two houses ( who doesn't). One other thing that I am curious about, are the appraisers on the show permitted to offer to purchase items from the public and is there a code of ethics they have to follow?

Mike

The way I read it, it was incinuating that the appraisers are staff of the Antiques Roadshow, which is very far from the truth. No salaries, no airfare, no hotel expenses, nada - just simple exposure for me as Just Glass Auctions, or them as Christies/Sothebys - or the independent appraiser.

No, appraisers are not allowed to discuss purchase of items from the people bringing them in. If we did such a thing, we would be removed from the show. We have '1' business card taped to the table in front of us. If someone asks us about purchasing or consignment all we can say is This is what my business card looks like, they are at the table by the exit. You can take one and call me next week.

Thats it.

R

Reyne Haines Just Glass Auctions - http://www.JustGlass.com Vintage Glass - http://members.aol.com/VintGlass/index.htm Moderator, Art Glass Discussion Group - Ask me about it!

I like that - shenanigans at the Antiques Roadshow. What shenanigans are you referring to? The Antiques Roadshow has appraisers (not on payroll might I add) by Christies and Sothebys - but they are nothing more than people that work for the different departments at the 2 houses. I had to laugh at this article as I don't know where the author pulled this information. Appraisers are not STAFF with the Roadshow. We don't get paid one red cent for our time, our expenses etc. The crew would be the producer and film crew, camera operators, directors etc. Its amazing how the press will pull people from all different aspects to make a story. I guess because I consign to and buy at Christies and Sothebys makes me involved as well. Unreal. Reyne Haines Just Glass Auctions - http://www.JustGlass.com Vintage Glass - http://members.aol.com/VintGlass/index.htm Moderator, Art Glass Discussion Group - Ask me about it!

I was wondering if you got paid to give the appraisals, now I know. Thanks. It is wrong for the 'newsmedia' to give half truths and inuendo to write a story BUT they it all the time and I can't think of any way we can stop them. They can in one article ruin many peoples lives and they should be held accountable. But then we would need to grow some legislators with backbone. Genetic engineering Hmmm Doris

Do Roman paramedics refer to IV's as 4's?

But then we

Now don't start that again Doris! :~)))

Snip

Well that's better than some of the local roadshow type events I've been to, we have dealers taking a break from appraising to load the truck ;~)) I was curious about the Roadshow's ethics policy as most of the Appraisal associations do not allow the purchase of an item you have personally appraised unless you have a third party check your valuation, even if it's months later.

Ronnie

It has always been a sliding scale here in the New York Christies and Sothebys offices. I assumed that because they were reporting things frm the UK they were talking about this being the case over there. I have never know them to be a flat 10%. That's crazy!

They have a flat 15% buyers premium over here. But that is the only flat fee you see.

As far as the American Antiques Roadshow version - we have very little appraisals done live from the likes of Christies and Sothebys. Sometimes their presence is there in one or two categories but surely not them all or even close. Most are smaller auction sites like myself or Rago Auctions, or Cincinnati Galleries or independents. We don't have the corruption you talk about. What I did notice that was different between the UK version and the US version was

1) UK typically had the same 5 appraisers over and over

2) UK handles mostly antiquities as opposed to the heavy collectibles things we see here.

Reyne Haines Just Glass Auctions - http://www.JustGlass.com Vintage Glass - http://members.aol.com/VintGlass/index.htm Moderator, Art Glass Discussion Group - Ask me about it!