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Dear Phillip,
While I agree Ebay can be a pain, I don't think there is
anyone at this point that can match Bruce's auctions in many areas.
Most importantly I think his weekly auctions give "all collectors" the
chance to bid on items and win, not just collectors with money. Bruce's auctions
always offer a variety of merchandise from a $2.99 poster on up, something for
everybody. It is the working man's auction in my view and I respect him for
maintaining those auctions on a weekly basis. You have to know it is an enormous
amount of work. I don't think Bruce "needs" ebay for his Vintage Movie Poster
Auction that he holds. However, it just makes sense that since he is already set
up on ebay with a huge following to hold it there. Heritage uses ebay in a live
auction format, correct? Obviously, that has brought them exposure for the past
few years that they have been in the movie poster game. Whether accurate or not,
to many collectors, and I speak to a lot of them on a daily basis, Heritage is a
big company and Bruce is one guy. A lot of collectors connect with Bruce because
it's his name out there. Bruce puts so much effort into his business. The weekly
email club is just one aspect where the average collector can talk right to him
and he answers their questions personably and with a down to earth style. I
think that translates to collectors in a very positive way. In fact the only
negative stuff I have heard about Bruce over the years has typically come from
dealers. Some of it may be legit and some of it may be sour grapes. On the other
hand, while I think Grey is a great guy and has put together some really
wonderful auctions, many collectors see the auction as just one of Heritage's
many. I have said it many times, there are far more collectors out there than
our little isolated group. Thousands of them. Bruce is getting daily exposure on
ebay and many collectors I talk to on the phone that order from me have never
heard of Heritage. So, there is something to be said about being on ebay, no
matter how much of a pain it can be.
I have had several collectors that have had
negative experiences with not only Heritage, but Christies, Sotheby's,
Butterfield's and Last Moving Picture Shows auction, etc. over the years. I
don't know if they are afraid to say it in public or what, but I know it exists
yet no one on this group mentions it, except my good pal Dave Kusumoto, who I
see is back in action!! Perhaps they are afraid of burning bridges. Who
knows........Sometimes I just have to sit back and shake my head at all the
energy in this hobby that is wasted on idle gossip, chatter and back stabbing.
Obviously, there is room enough for all auctions no matter where or how they
appear. It seems to me that they are all making money if that's the
objective.
Sue Heim
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