doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Polins or Amoskeag Auction Companies

Polins or Amoskeag Auction Companies. Has anybody use either of these companies to sell their guns with. Not asking about your buying experience. I have purchased from both. I am speaking about if you had them sell items for you

Your input

Thank you

JOhn
Arrieta

I sold several guns through Amoskeag about 4-5 years ago. The firearms sold well I thought. They use(d) a staggered fee system based on what level of value the gun falls into. Guns that bring less have a higher fee. I also sold several lots of ammunition and related equipment. I was not impressed that they broke up what I had brought as lots. So instead of selling, say, 10 boxes of DWM ammo as a lot they broke it up into individual boxes or smaller lots. Thus increasing their take on lower priced lots. It also took them 3-4 auctions to finally sell everything off. If there is a next time I will likely try Poulin's, though all the auction houses operate the same way with minor differences. Poulin's is just closer now.

The one advantage is the bidding war phenomenon. One of the rifles I sent to auction was realistically worth right around $2k. It sold for $4k. Two people really wanted that gun. That's nice to have happen but you shouldn't count on it.

Auctions in general don't really offer any other reliable advantage. I can realize 60% of a gun's value by selling it to a friend or acquaintance, have an enjoyable transaction, and generate some good will. And get the money then and there. Same with selling to any number of dealers or at a gun show. All you're really getting at auction is convenience. Plus, if you sell to people you know you can always get the gun back if you realize you made a huge mistake.

I had Poulsn sell a custom .257 Roberts single shot for me about 8 years ago. Gave it to them at the NE sxs and filled out the required paperwork. I believe they kept 20 percent from me and the BP was 22 percent. They estimated it would sell for between 5 and 7 K. It sold for 5 K. I had 5K in it, and got 4K out of it. It was in their fancy glossy catalog with great pictures. You win some and you loose some.

For collectable guns I have had good luck with John Lowenstein. I think he runs a great auction and has a great facility in Maryland to run an auction. Just my 2 cents.

My father sold some guns and ammo through Amoskeag and his experience pretty much matched NTaxiarchis without the bidding war. Not a criticism of Amoskeag, just how things work.

When I disposed of my father's estate through a more local auction I ran into the same basic experience. In general an auction house is a good way to sell a gun or collection quickly, but you may not get what the guns are really worth. I really didn't have the space, time or inclination to bring all of my father's guns back home and spend a year or so trying to sell them for what they were really worth. I got about $35,000 for them and probably could have gotten maybe $45,000 if I had done it myself.

Thanks guys, appreciate the replies


JOhn
Arrieta

I really like your thinking. You amass all this junk not thinking about disposal as we think we are going to live forever. Your kids or your significant other doesn't fancy it nor want it & someone has to liquidate it.


Serbus,

Raimey
rse

you need to contact me via PM and I will tell you my recent experience with both Rock Island auction (550 guns) and Poulin auction (292 guns)

I will tell you why Not to use either auction house until you make sure what to ask for in negotiating your terms.

I just gave you a call.

Why so coy, Buckstix?

Come on out and just tell us ...

OWD

Hey Tut do you know what Josh Lowenstein charges for his services? Have a Parker reproduction 16/20 I’m thinking of selling. Will put some of the money to my custom Fox build (c:

Check your PMs.

I sold about 20 Smith & Wesson collectable revolvers with Amoskeag in the past November auction. They came through Montana to pick them up and all dealings with the company were hassle free and smooth in transaction. We settled on 12% . They wanted 15% I wanted 10%. There estimates were in line with my valuation with beginning prices lower that I might have liked. I did not participate in setting any prices or estimates. The auction did not bring out the bidders I had hoped for. Some of the rarest, highest estimate guns did very well. My more common guns sold low, several just making the low start price and 2 not selling. There descriptions were by an large accurate but one of my nicer guns the description was quite picky in my view and it didn't bring minimum.
I got one fat check for all the sales. I'm sure I could have done better by brokering individual sales myself but was also have health issues at the time.
Net result: less than hoped for final $, smooth dealings, all one batch. Nice single transaction payoff at the end.
Having returned to health I would sell individually myself. Would advise my widow to do Amoskeag upon my demise.
I would shop around the auction houses more if considering auctions again.

Well, glad to hear you are doing better, regardless of auction outcome.

Best,
Ted

Thanks Ted. Covid19 really beat me up ~ twice.

In this litigious world, I don't post anything on an open forum.

Buckstix-

OK. Fair enough. What did going through the entire process with two different auction houses teach you, overall?

What advise would you have to other people?

OWD

Glad to hear you have recovered, Steve. Hope all goes well in the future.