The Auswine Forum

Apart from Langtons, which other Australian auctions houses do people use and what have been your general experiences, general approach, quality of wine, freight and buyer's premiums. I tried using Empire but they want to charge freight on a per bottle cases. When I contacted them and said the projected freight on a mixed case was getting up around $150 for the case, they said there was nothing they could do about it. So now I am interested in what other venues people use?

Hi Rooman

check out oddbins, have used them a few times, cant remember the exact freight or purchase premium, but I've been happy with the purchases/bargains so far.

Sterling before the financial crises (ironically enough ) used to be great in terms of prices/bargains. Now within the last few months or so it is very difficult to find any non or reasonable reserves (don’t us Perthites know the mining boom is over ). Oddbins were quite good, though you don’t know what you’ve got till the very end. Sometimes this is a great bonus when you find some gems you’ve successfully won. So think more bargains to be had on Oddbins (though haven’t been there for a little while).

http://wineauction.wickman.net/wineauction/

Wickmans fine wine auctions.

I have used a few times. Mark (auswine forumite) is always happy to answer any questions. No sign up fees and only 11% buyers commission. Great Service.

I'll second Mark Wickman's auctions, great service, nice guy.

Cheers,

Mark (not Wickman!)

I third that its a good auction site so please dont visit

Regards Dazza

Had a look at the Oddbins site but have to admit, charging a yearly fee just to access the site and see if they have anything of interest is the most insane business model I have ever seen. I have checked out a few sites recently and am amazed at the stupidity of some site operators

I'm pretty happy with Oddbins, having sold and bought a number of times. Being local is a happy bonus too, for ease of pick up and delivery. Oddbins tend to have a pretty good range of stuff, often quite varied and lots of odds and ends.

redstuff wrote:http://wineauction.wickman.net/wineauction/

Wickmans fine wine auctions.

I have used a few times. Mark (auswine forumite) is always happy to answer any questions. No sign up fees and only 11% buyers commission. Great Service.

Mark has my vote. A pleasure to deal with.

rooman wrote:Had a look at the Oddbins site but have to admit, charging a yearly fee just to access the site and see if they have anything of interest is the most insane business model I have ever seen. I have checked out a few sites recently and am amazed at the stupidity of some site operators

Hey Roo

I felt the same and sent them an innocent email:
"Hi there

I have been to check out your site, but am uncertain how your auctions work in practice. Are they online or held somewhere? Are the lots sold all at once or in sequence? How does the bidding work for someone online? I am loathe to sign up and pay for a subscription when I can’t see how it works in practice."

They replied and offered me a free 12 month subscription to try it out.

Just an idea.

Cheers

Michael

I have to lob in a vote for Mark too on all fronts - no registration fee, the live bidding online system is very reliable, he has the lowest buyer and seller's commission in the wine auction business, not to mention he's a pleasure to deal with.
(disclaimer - he is a mate & forum regular, but the above is all true anyway).

I've only been a buyer at Oddbins, and while the silent bid system can be rather 'adventurous' (you never really know what you will wind up with) often it can work out in the buyer's favour (which can be dangerous if all your bids hit paydirt). That said, it probably happens a lot less now people have twigged what's potentially available there and the eBay scalpers from interstate have been buying fairly regularly for a quick profit. Graham, Merrilyn & co are friendly and informative, and on the rare occasion I feel a bottle isn't what was listed when I pick it up (ie. showing significant signs of leakage, etc) they've taken the bottle back and given me a full refund.

In both cases they're local for me, so I can't comment on freight charges and reliability which have always been my biggest gripe with Langtons.

Cheers,
Ian