auction houses, flea markets and malls 
3/14/00
on this page:
-
- auction warnings: inflated feedback; bogus pieces; shill bidding; scams
- local & international of Matchbox auctions next auction date listed below as known
- "on-Line" Auctions
- on-line flea markets; & "malls"
[information on past auctions generally left until new information is available]
BEWARE inflated eBay feedback !!! the seller in an auction for which I was not high bidder offered to "trade" positive feedback, explaining "I am building a reputation as a honest and friendly seller. If you would like to exchange positive feedbacks I would be happy to return the favor. Don't put in the item number though, it sometimes won't take." 
1/15/00
AUCTION WARNING: two very reliable sources told me a significant number of questionable & verified outright "bogus" pieces have & are passing through one of the "major" auction houses conducting regular scheduled in-person auctions, & the house failed to stand behind one bogus piece when the buyer sought to return it. 11/26/98
AUCTION WARNING: several sources told me a seller on one of the "largest" on-line web auction sites is shill bidding (using another ID to bid up prices on his own auctions). Reportedly he contacted the losing bidder to try & sell him the identical rare piece which his brother-in-law just happened to also have after the seller pushed it too far & ended up "buying" his own piece. 11/26/98
CAVEAT 1/1/99 A.I.M. newsletter, Vol. XXIX No. 8, January 1999, page 1, reports on a number of "scams" to be aware of on the internet [these apply to all dealings other than in person as well]:
- buy a terrific mint piece, get it, return a "sandbox" model, complain & demand a refund
- order something & claim you never got it
- tell the seller only part of your order was in the box & demand they send the rest
- put a reserve high enough to insure really high bids
[and, "pad" the shipping charge for extra profit. FCC]
Locally known & international auctioneers of Matchbox
- Diecast Toy Exchange 7/18/98
- <toys@diecasttoys.com> 1/21/00
- 405 Carlisle Ave.
York Pennsylvania 17404 - Phone: (717) 854-8026
- FAX: (717) 845-2640
- http://www.diecasttoys.com [store & auction info] 1/21/00
- preview photos http://www.diecasttoys.com/Preview.html 1/21/00 link appears broken 11/29/01
- Manager: Wayne Laughman
- Owner: Ron Slyder
- Auctioneer: Steve Dance
- Full color catalog $10.00/US; $15/overseas. Canada, etc.
has intermittent auctions [about once every 3 months] of an average 600-800 lots [1-20 pieces] of Matchbox, Dinky, etc., including "rare & unusual" items.
- <toys@diecasttoys.com>
- Vectis Auctions Ltd <admin@vectis.co.uk> 5/9/98
- Fleck Way
Thornaby, Stockton-on Tees, TS17 9JS
England - Tel: 44 1642 750616
- FAX: 44 1642 769478
"founded by Roger Mazillius [1989] & was originally based on The Isle of Wight, bought by Bryan Goodall, owner of The Hambleton Group, in 1996 & its head office relocated to the north east of England." - home http://www.vectis.co.uk
- Vectis Auctions Ltd auctioned the Ron Slyder collection on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, April 11, 12 & 13, 2007. Location: Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, England. "Probably the best Matchbox collection ever to come onto the market.... with many rare models." For information contact Andrew Reed, +44 (0)1642 750616 or admin@vectis.co.uk. Being held the same week as the 22nd MICA Convention. 3/3/07
- Roy Slyder Vectis Auction set records (including 22% fees): [MB USA nwsletter April 2007] 4/25/07
- PS-3 Presentation set containing boxed versions of regular wheels 17A through 24A, the rare part being the PS-3 outer box, at £6200 / $12,293.98
- 20C Taxi with gray wheels £6200 / $12,293.98
- 45A Vauxall Victor, red body at £3800 / $7,535.02
- 22C Pontiac Gran Prix, preproduction in green at £2800 / $5,552.12
- 72A Fordson Tractor, yellow hubs with gray tires at £2600 / $4,155.54
- M-5 Combine Harvester, silver hubs and gray tires at £2100 / $4,164.09
- 43C Pony trailer, preproduction in white at £2000 / $3,965.80
- Fleck Way
- Lloyd Ralston Galleries, Inc.
- 400 Long Beach Blvd.
Stratford, CT 06615 11/8/98 - Tel: (203) 386-9399
- FAX: (203) 386-9519
- e-mail: Irgallery@aol.com 5/23/99
- http://www.lloydralstontoys.com 2/13/00
- (several auctions a year with good Matchbox & many other vintage die cast. Purchase of auction catalog for $12 to $18 required to bid. Most items sold in lots rather than individually. List of winning bids supplied on request.)
- 400 Long Beach Blvd.
- Phillips International Auctioneers & Valuers
- <ealberta@pipeline.com>
- 406 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10021 - Tel: 800-825-2781
- FAX: 212-570-2207
- http://www.phillips-auctions.com/uk/ 1/10/99 link appears broken 11/29/01
- valuation service (Insurance, Probate, Overseas) free of charge if brought in for verbal estimates & advice, or preliminary estimate from photos. If a valuer calls at your home, usually no charge if subsequently sold through Phillips, otherwise a nominal fee. For Further Information contact +44-171 468 8348, or print out enquiry form from web page above & fax or post it.
On-Line Auctions
- eBay on line auction 1/6/98 1/6/99
- Items often go for more than offered from known sources without the greater confidence of getting what you expect in the condition indicated. Some sellers are "padding" shipping/ handling charges for extra profit. [1/21/99]
- search http://pages.ebay.com/search/items/search.html 1/30/00
- Matchbox category: 1/30/00 http://listings.ebay.com/aw/listings/endtoday/category761/index.html
- Lesney category: 1/30/00
http://listings.ebay.com/aw/listings/list/all/category1175/index.html - announcements/information [e.g., planned outages or current problems] 1/30/00 http://www2.ebay.com/aw/announce.shtml
bidding period is approximately 5-7 days (set by the seller) - few offerings seem to be truly MIB, mint or NM.
- condition is hard to determine from a "good" digital photos & some images on eBay are pretty bad.
- "snipping" [last second bidding so you don't have time to outbid them & they are assured of winning]
- Mobilia Toy And Model Supermarket 3/14/00
- Up4sale On-line Auction 7/29/98 purchased by eBay in 1998, "closed" 4/17/00
- Auction Universe [a Times Mirror Company] 7/18/98
- http://www.auctionuniverse.com
- "sponsored & supported by leading newspapers, antiques & collectibles trade papers & web sites"
- Michael E. Zucaro, Dealer Development
- <mzucaro@auctionuniverse.com>
- (203) 741-5138 [Only a handful of Matchbox hits on a search done 7/16/98, about 30 newer items on 4/18/99]
- Antiques & Collectibles Online Auction
- http://www.liveauctiononline.com
- <dave@liveauctiononline.com> 11/5/98
- "Antiques, Beanies, Barbies, Art, Animation, Cells, Dolls,Trading Cards, Hotwheels, Antique Toys, Diecast, Glass, Porcelain, Pottery, Ceramics, Advertising, Disney, Books, Music, Sci-Fi, Audio Equipment,Videos, Computer Hardware/ Software" [No separate Matchbox category & I did not find any Matchbox for sale when checked 3/14/99 or 4/17/00]
- Fainco Global internet Auction
- <webmaster@faincoauction.com> 12/15/98 [no Matchbox currently listed 12/15/98 or 3/14/99 or 4/17/00]
- http://www.faincoauction.com/
- <webmaster@faincoauction.com>
On-line flea markets & malls:
- Matchbox classified 12/31/97
- Toymart Pavilion 12/13/97
- toy shops, dealers, collectors, collecting Information etc.
- http://www.toymart.com/pavillion/pavillionhome.html link appears broken 11/29/01
- CRAFT UNIQUE
- http://www.craft.co.uk 5/31/97
- Philip Ashley
- <pashley@netcentral.co.uk>
- models are under "Collectable Models". Generally seem to be a few MB here but not lots
- http://www.craft.co.uk
- Pretty Good Toys 12/13/97
- International Model Collectors 9/2/97
- Dave Taylor
- extensive list of dealers & shops
- http://www.solnet.co.uk/modelcollector/ link appears broken 11/29/01
- Joyce's General Store 6/21/97
- Carter's Collectibles 8/10/97
- <gameday@game-day.com>
- toys & collectibles/cars/trucks; Hot Wheels Redlines '68-'77; Hot Wheels '77 to Present; original Johnny Lightning; Matchbox regular wheels & Superfast, with just a few regular wheels or Superfast
- http://www.game-day.com/toys/