Paris Live Auction s.v.v.artcurial

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#61
Just to give some feedback of Artcurial from someone who did get something from their last Hermes auction...

I, too, asked for more detailed information from Cyril (the head guy for the Hermes auctions) and didn't receive any more information than what was listed in their on-line catalog. I didn't bid, but my husband did over the phone, and it was a really easy transaction. I picked up the bag in Paris, and was a bit skeptical as the only information I got was that the bag was in "tres bon etat". The bag I picked up was brand new, perfect condition with the plastic still on the hardware! It (kelly) came with a dustbag and clochette but no box. From what my husband was able to glean, they have a minimum standard for items they accept to sell which is pretty high, and they undersell the items, rather than oversell them. In all the auctions I have seen (all 2 previous ones), the estimates are ridiculously low for key bags, and often sell much higher than the high end of the estimate.

Not sure exactly what the qualifications of Cyril are, but I would really trust his expertise as Princess Stephanie used Artcurial to sell her special edition Kelly with Grace Kelly and Jane Birkin has sold some of her bags through them (I believe the last one she sold was a year ago, and it went for over 70k euro!).

Hope this helps.
 
#62
creme fraiche said:
Just to give some feedback of Artcurial from someone who did get something from their last Hermes auction...

I, too, asked for more detailed information from Cyril (the head guy for the Hermes auctions) and didn't receive any more information than what was listed in their on-line catalog. I didn't bid, but my husband did over the phone, and it was a really easy transaction. I picked up the bag in Paris, and was a bit skeptical as the only information I got was that the bag was in "tres bon etat". The bag I picked up was brand new, perfect condition with the plastic still on the hardware! It (kelly) came with a dustbag and clochette but no box. From what my husband was able to glean, they have a minimum standard for items they accept to sell which is pretty high, and they undersell the items, rather than oversell them. In all the auctions I have seen (all 2 previous ones), the estimates are ridiculously low for key bags, and often sell much higher than the high end of the estimate.

Not sure exactly what the qualifications of Cyril are, but I would really trust his expertise as Princess Stephanie used Artcurial to sell her special edition Kelly with Grace Kelly and Jane Birkin has sold some of her bags through them (I believe the last one she sold was a year ago, and it went for over 70k euro!).

Hope this helps.
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Very helpful and reassuring, thank you! although i am a bit sad since i was hoping for a great deal...:crybaby:
 
#63
doloresmia said:
Very helpful and reassuring, thank you! although i am a bit sad since i was hoping for a great deal...:crybaby:
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yeah, looking at what the kelly and birkin bags sold for in their last auction convinced me that they often go for over the high end estimate. still, if you've precalculated the maximum you'd be willing to pay, there's no harm in diving in to try for the deal you'd make :graucho:

creme fraiche: thanks so much for your input. i wanted to pick up in Paris too but the VAT refund would expire by the time I could get there.
 
#64
is anyone as disappointed as i am? first of all, ebay mixes up the time of the auction, it was only by chance that i decided to take another look - imagine my surprise when i realise the auction is already one hour underway!! I missed out on a couple items that went early in the bidding because of that!!! AND if you think bidding up to the maximum will win you the item, don't bother as everything so far has gone from 2-5 times the maximum price! *sob*
 
#65
^ yes, the times are not accurate on eBay, unfortunately. i did give that info at first, but easy to confuse.
here are my newses:
via fax, i placed max bids on 3 items (that would sell too early for me to take a call) and requested 2 telephone bids on items that came in this a.m.
1) an item that should have gone in the first hour appears not to have sold yet, so i don't know what happened on that one
2) another item sold over my max, OK, that's to be expected as a possibility.
3) the 3rd item sold for LESS than my max bid, so i have an email into them to ask why they didn't record my bid.
4) my telephone bid for the prune chevre birkin: started at 2000 euros (under the 2250 starting bid listed) and went up to 4700 euros -- which just wasn't worth it for me cuz when the 23% premium gets added and the VAT on the premium, that's about 6000 euros, and then the conversion to USD -- it would have cost me about $7800 before shipping and having to deal with the customs (which would have been covered by the VAT refund most probably)
5) i did win the last thing though -- http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws...parms=tab=Watching&item=260304371270&viewitem=
for 470 euros hammer price. It's described as a medor bracelet, but it looks like the CDC to me (must call in xiaoxiao, resident CDC fan/expert) so let's see, i spent 470, plus premium that's 578, plus VAT that's 599, converted to USD (at 1/$1.30) that's about $780. well, there's one problem. i don't know how hard it will be to receive it due to its being ostrich. maybe i should forgo the VAT refund (since it's so little) and ask a friend in Paris to pick it up for me. Next time I'm there I'll just get it from him and wear it home???
Anyone else have anything to report?
 
#66
From what I see here (from their web site) , the auction is already ended.... I am confused...


Date:
7 Nov 2008 10:30
Comments Sessions
7 November 10:30am: Lots 1-250
7 November 2:30pm: Lots 251-End

Paris time.... and it's now 6.30 Pm so I think it ended...
 
#67
since i was sleepless, i watched most of the auction live. things went pretty quickly - a number of times the auctioneer started bids below the ebay bid price, and then were quickly bid up. most things seemed to stay within range of the estimated price. the best deals seemed to be on the exotic kellies - croc, alligator... i think this is interesting since last auction went well above the stated price - probably a sad testament to our times.

i tried bidding a couple bags, but ultimately was not aggressive. even though the winning bids were good deals, when you add all the extra fees, prices were on par with a sandiaexchange or kaleidoplace. and with those two lovely resellers you know exactly what you are getting without having the hassle of dealing with organizing a shipper yourself or in my case since i am from the US, customs.
 
#68
update to my outcome:
at about 8:00 p.m. Paris time (I'm in California) I received a call from artcurial informing me that I was the winning bidder on 2 of the 3 items I placed a faxed maximum bid on (a caleche bangle and a scarf). So I actually won 3 items altogether. I'm waiting for them to fax the invoice so I can pay and then figure out shipping... I'll post when all's said and done, for the info of future bidders with this auction house. by the way, the person who called was not aware that i had also won the telephone bid on the other item -- seems they delegate and may not have one person who knows everything about one customer...
 
#69
i did win the blue chevre mysore passport holder, at a good price, but i'm just not sure when i would use it! oh well, it looks cute and im sure ill find some use for it...
 
#71
classicsgirl said:
i did win the blue chevre mysore passport holder, at a good price, but i'm just not sure when i would use it! oh well, it looks cute and im sure ill find some use for it...
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congrats classicsgirl! i just bought a chevre passport cover this week at my local boutique! i've carried my passport in a bright cover for many years and find it helps me stay organized/on top of my things when I travel. well that may just be the excuse i give myself to have a special looking thing :rolleyes:
anyway, i'm sure you'll use it. mine lasted many years (and it wasn't even Hermes) and i think the new one will last "forever"
 
#72
Congrats to classicsgirl and LailaT! I also participated in this auction, but did not bid on any bags but am kicking myself as they went for less than what I anticipated. Oh well...guess it can wait until their spring auction.

I bid and won on: orange box CDC w/PHW, Axis Mundi GM Shawl, and 2 beach towels with boat motifs (DH collects maritime themed Hermes items). Just waiting for the bill to decide if I ship it here to London or pick up in Paris.
 
#73
I'm an auction newbie...what happens to the items that don't get sold? I just went to their site and noticed that there were no winning prices listed for some of the items, does this mean they did not sell? Are they kept for the next auction or could one, say, inquire about them?
 
#74
creme fraiche said:
Congrats to classicsgirl and LailaT! I also participated in this auction, but did not bid on any bags but am kicking myself as they went for less than what I anticipated. Oh well...guess it can wait until their spring auction.

I bid and won on: orange box CDC w/PHW, Axis Mundi GM Shawl, and 2 beach towels with boat motifs (DH collects maritime themed Hermes items). Just waiting for the bill to decide if I ship it here to London or pick up in Paris.
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congrats to you too creme fraiche! you emboldened us by posting your prior experience -- so thanks again! all your items sound lovely. i won a towel (and other items) from another overseas auction a couple of months back, and because those beauties are somewhat weighty, you may have more fun spending the money on a jaunt down to Paris rather than giving it to the shipper! of course i am not in a position to actually know the prices, so as usual, i'm simply spouting off...

regarding leftover items debwonger (btw, i always think of debra winger when i see your id!), they seem to show up in future auctions. but i don't see the harm in enquiring at the auction house about something you want...
 
#75
Hee hee, LailaT, told DH this morning that I thought that it would probably be better that I picked the items up...and, oh, did he think they would hold the items until January (so I would have a definite excuse to hit the H sale). DH just looked at me, then buried his face in his newspaper!

debwonger: it wouldn't hurt to contact Artcurial with interest on some of the unsold items. DH has done this in the past with success, as long as the price you offer is reasonable (ie, just below the low estimate).
 
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