Why you should consider consigning

Collectors have many options when it comes to selling a few items or an entire collection

We believe that we offer an outstanding venue for your items

We offer unique services. Nobody else in the hobby provides:

1.     Free online auction catalog that provides up to 10 color digital photographs per item

2.     Our free online catalog has over 1,000 color images and very detailed descriptions

3.     We will gladly sell your larger items that aren’t appropriate in a pure mail bid venue

4.     Scott is well known for being honest in describing items resulting in confident absentee bidders

a.      The first auction on April 2010 had over 60 serious absentee bidders

b.     The first auction had cumulative absentee bids in excess of $80,000

c.     Our 2nd auction in October of 2010 had even more absentee bidder participation

d.     All winning absentee bidders packages have been mailed within 2 days of payment

5.     The success of the first auction has resulted in several new consignors for the Oct 16, 2010 auction – several collectors and dealers noticed bargains in the first sale and they are now participating as absentee bidders.

6.     The October 2011 auction had even more absentee bidders with a cumulative total higher than the auction result

7.     We can find buyers both within the railroad hobby and we extend our advertising to the antique world

8.     We sold a single piece of telegraph equipment for $2,500

9.     Individual lanterns have sold in excess of $3,000

10. For buyers, there is no State sales tax in New Hampshire

11. We have high & dry bonded storage at the new Brookline Auction Gallery facility

If you don’t use an auction venue, you’ll always wonder forever if you made the right decision

We will pickup your larger consignments

We will ship internationally. We have 21 years experience shipping internationally

eBay no longer seems to be the venue of choice for buyers or sellers. Over time this has become an increasingly hostile environment for both buyers and sellers.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q1

What is a "Reserve"? Why do I care?

A1

Some antique auctions have used a semi-secret technique called a "reserve." It is a secret value below which an item will not be sold, and the item is returned to the consignor if no bidder reaches the secret minimum. This way of doing business is hard on bidders as well as the auction house. We are trying to make this auction a buyers' experience. Without reserves all items will be sold with no secret minimum values.

 

Q2

Is it too late to consign items?

A2

No, However this is a specialty sale and to properly catalog and advertise your items (maximum return) you should consign early.

 

Q3

I have attended some of the Brookline Railroad Auctions. Will this one have a catalog? When can I get one?

A3

There will be a free online catalog. We will also make available a more simple list that can be printed and there will be a simple list of items (one line per item) available at the auction hall on Friday and Saturday.

 

Q4

Why are there two web sites (www.TagTown.net and www.brooklineauctiongallery.com)?

A4

Scott Czaja is the Sales Manager and is responsible for: getting consignments, catalog, answer collector questions.
Brookline Auction Gallery LLC will supply the auction facility including auction staff. Ron Pellitier, a licensed New Hampshire auctioneer will sell the actual items. Both Scott Czaja and Brooklilne Auction Gallery have other business activities that do not include each other. We are partnering on specific, live railroad auctions.

 

Q5

Do I have to attend in person or can I call in or mail a bid?

A5

We will definitely accept "left" or absentee bids. All bids are held in strict confidence. You can leave bids with Scott Czaja or Brookline Auction Gallery. You will be responsible for shipping & insurance costs. There may be some items that cannot be shipped because of their large or awkward size. They will be flagged in the catalog.

 

Q6

Will there be internet bidding?

A6

There will not be” live”  internet bidding. This style of auction is a disservice to people that attend in person having to wait for someone sitting at a computer to actually determine when an item has sold and not the auctioneer. We had over $80,000 in cumulative absentee bids in the first auction. These bids were executed without a hitch. We do not need to use a 3rd party absentee bidding service. We have a staff dedicated to just processing absentee bids. You’ll need to register and agree to the terms of the auction.

 

Q7

Will there be phone bidding?

A7

Yes,  If you know that you will need to bid by phone, please schedule with us early. We will also need to "register" you so scheduling is even more important. We will also need to know what specific lot(s) you are interested in. There are a few exceptional lots in this auction and we don't want anyone to miss an opportunity because they try to schedule phone bidding too late. We may require a “minimum phone bid” to ensure that phone bids are serious.  

 

Q8

I am interested in consigning. What do I do?

A8

Contact Scott Czaja. I will ask for a list of what you have. We need to manage the material already consigned with new consignments so that everyone has a chance to have their items featured. We have many collecting categories that fill up fast.

 

Q9

What commission do you charge for consignments?

A9

This depends on: (1) how much you have, (2) the quality of what you have, (3) time to catalog
which can include cleaning, packaging or other preparation work.

 

Q10

I can’t wait to the auction to sell my things. Will you buy my collection?

A10

Yes. It helps if you have a list of what items you have. This way I can schedule a detailed evaluation.

 

Q11

Can I get on a list so I get updates on the auction?

A11

Yes, I will bring a "sign up" sheet to shows. In addition if you send me an eMail with "brookline auction" in the subject line I'll put your email address into a distribution list. When major milestones are met, I'll notify you regarding what we are up to and how to get access to new pictures and other information. We also all have non-internet friends. If you know of someone who is not online, please eMail me their mailing address and I'll send out notices when the catalog is available or other important milestones have been met.

 

Q12

Will you accept left bids from Canada?

A12

Yes. You would be responsible for paying in $US and you are responsible for any duty
fees. This is true of any country All customs forms will be filled out with an accurate accounting.

 

 

Q13

Who are you?

A13

I, Scott Czaja, bought a switch key at a train show in 1972. I collected off and on for years and then got serious about collecting Railroadiana in the 1980s. I have been the New England Regional Vice President of the "Railroadiana Collectors Association Inc." since the mid 1990s. I have been a member of Key Lock and Lantern since the 1990s. I have been a member of various railroad historical societies for years. I have attended major Railroadiana shows since the 1990s. I have been a fulltime Railroadiana dealer since 2001.  I did mail-order sales for years before there was an eBay. I have done detailed collection appraisals valued at $210,000 and $375,000. I use my name as my eBay ID: S*Czaja. I want collectors to find me and I have nothing to hide. It is my goal to make this an auction by a collector and for collectors.

 

Feel free to contact Scott Czaja at: sczaja@hotmail.com

Copyright 2011 Scott Czaja