Another demise ?

Nemo · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 5

The comments about the MAX show are interesting, hope it doesn't disappear. On a similar note, I've been hearing rumors about another possible demise but don't know if it's true or not. Maybe someone out there knows and will share some information with us.

It seems the Manion's Auction is in financial trouble. I've heard that they are having problems paying their sellers and some people have even threatened to sue. It this true? If they go under I won't cry. They've been rapeing and pillageing the collecting community long enough!

flak88 · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

I sold some things through Manion's a few years ago. It took me over a year to get paid. That was it for me!

corvette · Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 4

I understand that Manion's has been taken over by a relative of his and the new owner is trying to get things back on track. The payout time has been reduced to about 6 months. Only time will tell if they can whip it into shape again. We should all give the new guy a chance. Anyone out there had a recent experience with them? I don't know how they're doing because I'm not a menber.

torino · Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 10

I bought a Heer helmet decal just to put in my display. I paid fifty dollars 7.50 commission and $20 Postage & handling for a total of $77.50 and it came in a regular envelope. That will be my last purchase I felt like I was ripped off, even with the envelope to mail it was less than a buck.

The Thicket · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Right Here.

It seems that many folks overcharge for postage. Its rather crazy, as it only causes ill fellings. Kind of like shooting yourself in the foot.
I recall years ago, early 1970's I could have bought a box full of these dacals for $70.00 as in many hundreds of them.

whizzer · Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Torino, who did you buy them from? I would like to avoid them. Thanks.

andrewt · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

Hey Guys.

Andrew here, from Manion's. Thought I'd jump on here and introduce myself...thanks for the opportunity.

I used to work here in the old regime; but quit due to reasons I won't go into...

The new owner, Jody Tucker, asked me to come back about a year ago, and after a bit of thought, I decided to take him up on the offer - I love being around all the stuff!

I can honestly say that the company is totally different than it used to be - and I'm saying that not only as an employee, but as a consignor and bidder as well.

We're working hard to turn this place around; it definitely had some trouble in the past. Since Jody has been here he has payed off a significant amount of debt incurred by the former management (in the millions of $).

We have come a long way, but realize we still have a climb ahead of us. Our payoff times are getting a lot better (it used to take about a year and a half, and now it is closer to 120 days), we're getting great consignment in all the time, and we're honestly listening to what the collecting community has to say (that NEVER happened with the former owner).

I'm not sure why things ran the way they did before, and we are still in the process of sweeping out some of those cobwebs, but we promise we are working hard to improve our position in the collecting community.

Please let me know if I can help resolve any specific issues you may have with the company. If I can, I will.

Andrew Turner
866.626.4661 - ext. 1018

Combat Relics · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 149

I wonder if the evolving situation of the global internet, and the instant information age, has not begun to make the traditional auction business model obsolete.

Many traditional businesses are going belly up just as buggy whip companies did when the car was invented.

It took a while, but Record stores are closing in record (pun intended) numbers. Why buy music when you can get the songs for free? The music industry is DYING!

What other businesses do you know of that are slipping away because there is no profit in it to pay the bills of the owners? There must be a good reason to patronize a place of business and pay the cost to do so.

Some barriers which helped local collectible businesses to flourish, were long distance fees, the time to send information between buyer and seller, lack of real time interaction, and costs to produce and transmit visual media of the items for sale.

In other words many steps of the process were just old and slow. I remember having to take photos wait up to a week for the processing, and paying to make paper prints, to mail by snail mail. Then having to wait for another week, before the interested buyer had gotten a look at the item!

Many of these things are now a non-issue. Phone rates are throw away cheap ,and even international calls are not going to break anyone's bank.

Even completion of payment, can be rapidly accomplished through many methods for both domestic and foreign transactions.

If a site like this can give you access to updated offers and include color photos and text, why does anyone need pay any middleman or auctioneer to get in the middle of their deals?

Are we such mindless consumers that we think everything we do must have an overseer in charge and taking a cut?

If people can email and call each other and work out the details, the main remaining impediment is the time to transport the sale item to the new owner.

Maybe I am missing something here, but I see no need for most of the organizations that feed off the collecting hobby.

The Thicket · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Right Here.

Great questions #1..

Bob Treend · Site Admin Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 80

I've received 3 emails asking if I've seen one of the above posts. Seems they wonered if I was going to allow it to remain on the site. This forum (unlike another I can think of) is not here to serve the owner's interests. It's here to serve the members. As long as a posting is honest and civil and falls within our rules... it stays. If it provides information to the collectors that is of value, good.

Combat Relics · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 149

I am not sure which posting Bob is referring to.

I do not see any that are offensive or unfair above. Nobody is being crucified here, and we are not forced to be so politically correct that we cannot offer an opinion.

Manion's has all the right in the world to sell any legal consignments they have to offer. They have the right to charge any commissions they can under the law. They offer a service for a fee or fees. There are many things to consider when deciding to sell or to buy.

My position as a potential bidder/buyer is pragmatic.
a. Am I willing to pay any fee which I consider exorbitant (Even if it may not be actually be exorbitant) to access relics and buy them?
b. Do I feel I am getting good value for money invested?
c. Do I have confidence in the expertise, and the guaranty of authenticity they offer?
d. Is transacting there a good experience?

For me as a buyer, I see no lack of relics available to me through other fee free sources. I don't personally need Manion's for acquisitions.

Sellers have differing concerns. they might likely be:
a. WILL I BE PAID, IN FULL, AS PROMISED, AND IN A TIMELY MANNER?
b. Will this company be in business when it is time to send me my payment and the balance of my unsold goods?
c. Are the fees acceptable, fair and affordable within the framework of the total transaction?
d. What services, results and advantages are there for me if I use this service?

So if the results a seller or buyer Decides the rewards are worth the costs he bears, it may well be a good choice for him.

Since I long ago decided the service was not of benefit to me, I cannot advise anybody from recent experience. I also cannot relate previous discontent. The company was managed by completely different management then, and the new owners had nothing to do with fiascos that took place a decade ago.

However, I will state that recently a very well know and universally respected pillar of the collecting community, a person I consider to be of sterling character, informed me he has waited for 2 years to be paid a large amount due to him. These funds are from sales of long closed auctions of his consigned property.

I hope he is paid whatever he is due, and that he gets any unsold lots back. I also hope he gets satisfaction soon on this issue.

On another note!...

I wonder how many viewers realize what an asset this website is.

After all we have everything here that is badly needed. We get web traffic and a system to do listings and sales as well as buying.

We have a great little forum (Wish more guys would participate) and the blog is full of useful info and growing.

In time as it develops we could see a thriving and expanding community that is THE first destination daily for relics and information. It is also my lest check at night to see what I might have missed!

I have found a lot of great items at affordable prices here. I also have met a lot of great guys and had satisfactory experiences with everybody.

I am willing to pay a reasonable fee per month or year to support this site. The cost of designing, building, maintaining, hosting, and evolving a site like this one is high. I see no advertising littering our pages, so the cost is being born solely by the site owner. I thank Bob for creating this valuable resource for all collectors.

If we were all to build our own sites, it would not only be costly in money, but in time. Monthly hosting with adequate bandwidth allowances would likely be $50 or more alone! We would likely never get the traffic, exposure or interaction we can gain here. Of course sharing the site may seem like competition to some. I feel personally it is more comradeship, or a club. Personally I do not wish to be chained to a personal website any more than I wish to be chained to eBan.

The site had only 11 pages of items in July, and currently has 58 pages. (58 x 25 items) of listings for sale. I am guessing that at lease 300-400 more listed items must have also been sold in that time. That, my friends, is called 'growing by leaps and bounds.

What is the selection like on the many sites you have found online? Many sites I see have 'SOLD' on 50% to 80% of the items they still display.

So I ask you, what other sites are out there to help an individual sell his items, or to buy items without restriction and Big Brother rules?

eindhoven · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 9

For myself Manions is a collector venue only. I cant understand having someone else sell your items. Others I guess need that type of service but if ease of sale is your goal and your okay with giving a percentage of your profits away in order to make a sale then, well Manions is but one of many auction houses that will do it for you. The market for auction houses of all types is there for a reason.

I managed to find some very nice items from Manions prior to it's sale and they do still get nice items in. The Eva Braun and Hitler presentation items being just some of the good stuff that passed this month alone.

sturm · Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

Looks like Bob T isn't going to say who he was talking about, but I suspect Nr1seller is right. I'm pretty sure he was talking about the blatant advertisement that Manion's stooge posted. They have some nerve! First they jurk the collectors around and then use this site to say that they've changed their ways and are really good guys now. Please! Give us some credit for a little smarts. I've looked at their site recently and it's the same old thing, designed solely to suck as much money as possible out of the collectors. For the life of me, I can't understand how they have been able to get away with it for so long. They've contributed nothing to the hobby and have just gotten rich jurking us around. I would like nothing better than to see them go the way of the dodo. I also find it interesting they 'lowered' themselves so much as to even pay any attention to this new site. Do they smell serious competition?

Combat Relics · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 149

I have nothing against Manions, and if I ever need a dress that Hitler's main whore once wore, I will surely look there.

I just don't see a need in 2007 to repeat old methodology and cling to old techniques. I am finding a steady stream of fairly priced , fine condition and desirable relics constantly. There seems to be no shortage of investment grade items of wide interest that will be fun to have and easy to disburse if I need to.

I will not be paying fees to middlemen for items they do not own. Total the fees and the postage on a purchase and see what it costs you!

If this site has fees, I will pay to remain active here simply because it is a good home base. Virtually any spot you settle on the web will cost you something. Why not be where there are new items in a broad range of interests each day?

Again I ask this question,

Where else on the web is there a site like this one?

You can buy, you can sell, you can communicate, and there is a lot of information on the blog! No nasty drama and one main rule...No Fake Crap.

Just watch as this site gets huge!

I shed no tears about eBay not selling 3Rd Reich, I don't waste time wading through that garbage

The Thicket · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Right Here.

Here we have yet a very interesting thread that I feel leaves many doors open for the obvious issues at hand.
I have seen the rise and fall of new fads, I don't think it will ever change, but we learn as we go.
One such fad is the Max show. I recall the early Max shows, they were truly something. At that point in time, it was the best of the best there were no questions about it.
Saddly the max show has dropped to the level of a ho hum gun show at best.
Lets face it, if the show is really over by Friday afternoon, as in 50% of the dealers are gone. Saturday by noon its spits down to 1/2 of whats left leaving. Most would submit its a waste of time, money and effort.

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