Does anyone pay for auction catalogues?

Merc

I picked up a copy of Heritage's platinum night auction after the auction ended. It has some wonderful pictures of coins that I may never see. Then I looked on the back cover and saw a price of $50. I thought the major auction houses gave these catalogues out for free to get bids. Does anyone pay for these?

MFH

A few years ago, I paid for the priviledge of receiving auction catalogs from Bowers & Merena. I think I paid $79 for a years worth of catalogs. Once you become a regular bidder, the auction companies usually send them out to you at no charge. Register with any of the auction houses on line, some may require you to send them invoices from other auction houses, and they will be more than happy to accommodate your request. I believe most auction houses are looking for buyers who spend more than a minimum of $2,500 per year. If you don't fall into that category, you may have to purchase a subscription from them. Future subscriptions very well be at a no charge basis if you are an active bidder with them , though.

Good luck

seanq

I purchased a one-year subscription to Heritage, and they gave me a coupon for the same amount off my first auction win. I have also purchased individual catalogs in the past for use as references. Occassionally the auction houses will send a catalog for free, but only if I I've bid in their sales before.


Sean Reynolds

airplanenut

I get ANR's catalogs for free... and I can't even legally bid (and yes, they do know that )

Jeremy

oldcameoproofsguy

I get Heritage's auction catalogue mailed to me every time, but I buy and sell there regularly.

Robgetty

I've never paid; I'm on Heritage's and Superior's mailing list. Both of them
started sending me catatlogs after I started bidding on their auctions. B&M
sent for about a year after I bought a coin from them and then stopped when
I never found anything else I wanted from them (at least at a reasonable price!)

Conder101

I've never subscribed to them but I do sometimes buy them if I know the auction will be a special one in my field. (I just recently found out that my Noble Sale catalog of Conder tokens is now selling for $150 in the aftermarket! Cost me $25) I seem to be jinxed when it comes to buying catalogs. They never come until after the sale is over. Free ones that I have no interest in come two or three weeks early. One I pay for come a week to two months late. I bought the ANA Convention sale catalog last year, got it in October.

Shamika

I've never paid for auction catalogs, but that wouldn't preclude from doing so in the future.