How Do You Feel About Public Auctions Without Live Viewing?

I noticed Siegel has suspended live viewing and bidding, and I wonder what Kelleher is going to do? For bidders on singles and postal history this might not be a problem but I only buy collections and I don't see how I can continue to buy unless auction houses give me a lot more pictures. What are your thoughts?

I just heard the Governor of Florida is going to insist on a 14 day quarantine for all arrivals from NYS so I guess I won't be flying up to White Plains for Kelleher in the near future.

Trying to buy this way would be like buying a used car and not test driving it and/or not having a mechanic to inspect the car. Sure the album could be loaded but with 500 copies each of very common stamps x 500 different stamps.

I would ask David or Max about looking at the material via Facetime or similar. As far as the travel quarentine have you thought about flying into Hartford (BDL)?

Not knowing what I'm getting is my main issue with buying collections from a distance as well. Because I have toddler aged kids and a full time job I can not attend auctions in person or inspect the lots. This is why I used buy from Fusco Auctions without fail, because they always had enough pictures to give me a good idea of what I would get and I was always happy with what I got in terms of both quality and value. Unfortunately they went out of business and since then I have bought from 5 or so other auction houses with their minimalist descriptions and pictures of binders. What I got was of OK value but sometimes included a lot of junk (to me) which would have made me pass if I'd known it was there. I would love if there was an auction house with more pictures. I don't need to see every page like ebay sellers show, but a good representation would be welcome.

This topic is a good example of how our hobby should be rethinking about how it uses online technologies. It is not rocket science nor does it take a massive investment to improve online technologies for philatelic organizations and companies.
Don

Harmer Schau started promoting the use of Facetime to view lots not long ago.

https://goscf.com/t/65095

One gripe I have with Michael Aldrich (ABC Auctions -- Not MEA) is there are plenty of pictures but they're so small you can barely make out what you're bidding on.
Anyone else agree?

This may all be a moot point as certain parts of the country shut down to essential workers only. As much a stamps are essential to all of us they are not an essential part of getting thru the pandemic.

Todays dose of reality from Rich60 - LOL

Typesetter - I laughed when you mentioned ABC pics. It drives me nuts!

@rogdcam: seriously? How about not traveling at all? Why would you recommend that someone risk everyone's health by getting on an airplane? Are you aware of the ongoing plague?

Phil - Cool your jets. Nobody is recommending traveling. Read the op's question. Jeez

This is your quote @rogdcam: " As far as the travel quarentine have you thought about flying into Hartford (BDL)?" I have no trouble with reading comprehension.

That does not mean that travel is recommended right now, does it? The Kelleher collection auction will not be until May or June/July at best. Do you know what things will be like in May, June or July? Everybody needs to take a deep breath and calm down.

Cheers

Ken

When the Wuhan Virus smoke clears, you should consider Stewart Airport for your trips to Danbury. Straight shot east on I84...equidistant to the White Plains/Danbury drive and much closer than Hartford. Also flights to White Plains are at a premium as Fairfield flyers don't want to deal with the hassle and traffic of LaGuardia, JFK or Newark.

Bob(from CT)

Fair enough @rodgcam. . . It is going to be several months before air travel is okay again. I'll bet my stamp collection that we won't be flying regularly by May.

I would love to see auction houses support remote viewing of lots, along with fuller pictures online. The idea of having to show up in person just to view lots beforehand so you know what you're actually bidding on is frankly ridiculous.