(10-05-2014 08:57 AM)phoenixfire01 Resident Wrote: Try to find a way of how to say this and say it right without getting shot.
The sheer amount of Auctions is causing a vicious circle. Person A puts their kitty in Auction > Kitty goes Future Sale > Person A then doesn't have the Linden from that Sale to buy kitty from Person B, C, D etc. At each Auction you only get one shot at bring a kitty someone will need/want. In stores you have 10+ plus chances to offer that kitty. We need to move more of the market back into the market (stores) and out of the Auctions but I do think there is a place for Auctions, just not so many.
The Auctions provide a way to make a sale based on exposure and the ability of the auctioneer to sell. I know that in my auctions unless it is a very very very slow day 70 to 100% of the cats I auction sell. You are only required to pay for the panel usually 75L and under and to tip the auctioneer 10% of the proceeds. If the cat does not sell, its is 50% due to the starting price...people thinking they can ask more than the current 'value" of the cat, and due to the saturation of the market of that particular type of cat.
There are a lot of auctions out there but there are way more people and cats out there. I think the situation is that people are unaware of the auctions or unafraid to use them. It is a very very good way to bring attention to your cats and I have heard of many people selling cats to the people who were at the auction out of their cattery. The problem is not the amount of auctions its the exposure these auctions have. Only a certain percentage...and its very very small actually utilize this service as compared to the people actually selling their cats in the secondary market.
The other thing to consider is this. The secondary market is flooded with clones Many people have cats in their stores that look like every other cat in their store...same fur same traits...OLD traits...and expect to get a huge amount of cash from them. What one is not thinking of is that if you have 25 of that cat in your own cattery what is to say that others do not have the same amount of that cat. It is unrealistic to bring a standard cat to auction and expect it to sell for prices way over what one might charge in a store. And it is a waste of time and money for sure. Auctions over the ages have largely been due to supply and demand. There is a demand for a certain item...lets say antiques or expensive cars or even art and jewelry. These items are not run of the mill. They are exquisite and much sought after. If you want to put a cat in auction make sure it is exceptional.
I am not underrating the breeding out there but with as many traits as there are out there you are not going to see many cats that have myst tails eyes ears and whiskers sell as often as something that has a mixture of beautiful traits such as dreamy whiskers and a fantastic puff tail or and exotic breeze eye.
Chose your cats carefully for auction and you may find you sell them every time you participate.
There are not too many auctions...as I said before...just too few people using them and utilizing the opportunity in a way that benefits them the most.
KittyCatS! Market Improvement Suggestions
