SENDING MY COLLECTION TO AUCTION
 

info@jamesdjulia.com
contact Wes Dillon
James D. Julia, Inc.
203 Skowhegan Rd.
Fairfield, ME 04937
USA

I've been taking my stuff to Redding Auction in Gettysburg, PA. Low commission and NO BUYER'S PREMIUM. They give a nice itemized receipt, but no internet access to previous auctions that I know of. Their next gun auction is September 9. The list and pictures are on the website now. Check them out. I dropped off a load today and they asked me when the Parkers are coming.

George, I find that the Bigger Auction Houses stack the deck in their favor and do not have the sellers best interest at heart. This is only my observation but I would look for smaller auction houses with online bidding access and send small groups to them so as not to flood the market and depress prices for yourself and others. Good luck Jim

Jim's point is good advice.You don't want to drop 100 guns into an already diluted market. Breaking them down into small mixed groups will bring more money and will be much easier to manage.Keep us informed and good luck.

The good news is, you couldn't find too many better places to put your money over a 50 year period than in fine guns.

George you should consider posting the Parker's here for a few days before shipping them out. Btw ... tell Billy I said hi.

If it were my collection, I would talk to a few auction houses such as Julia, Amoskeag, Redding and the like, getting details on selling fees to receive the maximum return for all the work that was put in over the 50 years of collecting, but not on this site. Selling any of your guns here limits them only to members which you probably know many on a first name, or nickname, basis so you will probably feel obligated to give a 3 day return policy. You want to place them in an environment, whether the whole collection or part of it at a time, to reach as many eyes as possible with no connection at all between seller and buyer. You want to make money, not friends, as the saying goes. With an auction house they won't be coming back for any reason, which I believe is your goal. Just my 2 cents.

Bill

I have found dealing with Jason Devine at Amoskeag to be a pleasure and have 5 Parkers in their Nov auction(shameless plug) My experience with James Julia was problematic .
David

My two cents worth !!!

I have dealt with various auction houses over the years, each having their own way of doing business, some good and others bad . There is another way of disposing of collections or single items----a trustworthy dealer. I have used both with usual success---you can not expect to have the last buck end up in YOUR pocket. They have to make a profit and/or living.

The best results that I have received as of late is James Julia in Maine and my dealings have been with Wes Dillon. I have not dealt with Jos Loewensteiner for the simple reason of our association with the PGCA and being accused of a possible conflict of interest.

Allan

I respect Allan's comments as I respect him. However, the dealers are overwhelmed with Parker inventory and I'm not sure how fast they are turning over. Another thing to consider is that we all have gotten bargains from the best of auction houses. Buyers of some of your items will also get bargains.

Bill

I also respect your knowledge and wisdom ; however, one must trust someone------that comes with experience and faith in others.

Best to you
Allan

Allan, trusting is the hardest part of this gun selling business. I'm happy with those who have helped me so far. Selling to a friend is very satisfying.

I would consider Rock Island or James Devine for sending your collection to auction. I know several people who have had a bad experience with Julia's. My guns are going into a trust and in that trust it's specified that they are not to go there so that's my take on them.

The dealer consignment is a good idea as well. I have a couple of guns with Steve Barnett right now. He's fair and you might end up getting a better price as there isn't a timetable on the sale. he has sold a couple of Parkers and Winchester M70's for me in the past and I have no complaints.

I have had great experience with a small local auction (Hessney) for guns worth less than 1K, low commission 10% and pay in 10 days---market prices for all of my items. For the middle tier stuff I have had great luck with Amoskeag-----stuff I just wanted to go away and have been VERY happy with realized prices----beat my expectations on my Fox shotguns. For items that I wanted a set dollar amount without the auction risk I have used Tom Wyraz, Steve Barnett and Jay S, all are good depending on the item (Fox=Wyraz ( the best!), Winchester 21's= Tom Wyraz, Jay and Steve, Parkers=Jay or Steve). Tom will give you excellent personal service in my experience, Jay and Steve are great but more big volume dealers. I have purchased from RI and Julia's but have not consigned to them. Both are very good organizations in my opinion. But I have instructed my wife and son to call Julia's on my premature demise and ask for 0% commission to sell all my guns :cheers:. As eightbore said some guns will sell for strong prices some will falter, average condition guns are in a market downturn. And don't forget the for sale forums on the collector sites------I have sold three Parker on this forum this year--- realistic prices and good Parker guns sell FAST!! in my experience. George if you have a 20ga 32" Sterlingworth CALL ME!!!:rotf: Craig

For the generous of heart, there could be another option to the auction house.

The PGCA is a 501(c) 7 organization (thanks Allan). Thus, donations to the PGCA should be tax deductible and can be valued at present retail prices.

So... if one were to "donate" a Parker gun to the PGCA (for raffle/youth incentive, etc.) then the donor could potentially realize the gun's current value as a credit against his or her taxes.

Got a $1500 VHE that you're not sure will fetch $1500 at auction? Donate it. And write off $1500.

I could be wrong about this, but I'm just tossing it out there.

John

Great idea;however the PGCA is actually a 501(c) 7---the Parker Gun Foundation is in fact a 501(c)3 . The tax consequence is up to you and Uncle Sam.

Have a great day
Allan

And the contribution would not be a credit, it would be a deduction from adjusted gross income as an itemized deduction subject so certain limitations depending on several factors. Credits offset tax dollar for dollar. Deductions reduce taxable income, therefore, the tax savings is dependent on your tax bracket.

Yup, a deduction, not a credit. At my income level, my tax deduction for a donated A-1 Special 20 gauge would probably be about a tenth of the value of the gun.

God bless you George and your daughter. We will pray for her

What a tribute to the love a father feels for his daughter. From all of us dads of daughters, George, our hat is off to you, and we salute your decision. May these decisions go well.

All the best,
Dave

i hope your daughter gets well..your a better man than me i thought a few times of thinning my guns out but just cannotdo it...hope you do well in the selling...charlie

George, The Good Lord looks kindly on these selfless acts and answers prayers positively. Our prayers and best wishes are with you and your family. God Bless and good luck with the sale

George, it's a wonderful thing you are doing for your daughter's benefit. Prayers to your daughter and to you also

Thoughts and prayers for you and your daughter. May God give her doctors wisdom, and skills necessary to heal her.

George

Your acts of kindness are wonderful, daughters are special !! She will appreciate that .

As for contributions---a 501(c)7 is only formed as a non profit Corp. for tax purposes only. A 501(c)3 however has a clause where contributions are deductible as a non profit corp. I could be wrong, but that is one of the reasons the Parker Gun Foundation was formed .

Allan

George, what else can a Dad do? How better can a Dad express his perfect love for his child than to divest himself of his cherished possessions for the benefit of that child? And God will take care of the rest.

You have been a welcome presence here on the Forum and in the PGCA and we hope that continues even after you have no more Parkers. Friendships are made through the common interest in Parker guns but the thing that keeps us together as friends goes way beyond Parkers.

Best, Dean

Prayers sent.

Good on you George. Your daughter is at the right place for her issue. I had a friend with the same issue and going to Duke added, we think, 6 years onto his life.

Dave: My Dad was from Hopkinsville, Kentucky and many thanks for your kind words.

Best Regards, George

Thank You Dean. I will always have at least one Parker. The one that goes in my coffin.

Best Regards, George:bigbye:

George, I will pray for God's grace on your daughter and you.





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Gearge you and your family have my prayers. Eric

George, you have been in our prayers from the beginning. All we can do is beseech the Good Lord to be kind to you and your daughter. God Bless you George

Sorry to hear the news. Thinking about you, George.

George, your family has been in my prayers since page one of this topic.