Negative Dealings w/ Bonhams or Dragone

-Bonhams is fine, just very British: that is neither a a compliment or a criticism, just different, I have many friends there and enjoy them but you know they are rather British, I say old chap...

In all my years of living in 8 countries and dealing with people from all over Europe, north America and Japan the biggest misunderstandings were always between Brits and Americans: separated by a common language as they say.

Dragone however were just plain lousy and second rate the two or three times I asked them for information in a qualified manner I received zero response.

 

Now what fun is that?

 

Ahhh.....

I predict this thread will get rather interesting...

 

I will declare an interest here. I have grown up with Brooks/Bonhams as an independent consultant. I worked with Robert Brooks and the boys as a consultant when we were the Christie's Motor Car Department in the 1980s. We launched the now-annual Monaco auctions together. RB founded Brooks Auctioneers in 1989 - and we all stayed with him. Eventually the company became sufficiently successful to absorb Bonhams - taking that name for the overall group - then Phillips in the UK, followed by Butterfields on the West Coast of the US, and Goodmans in Australia. Bonhams has for some years been the world's fastest-growing auction group, operating in some 70 categories quite apart from cars, motorcycles, automobilia, automotive collectibles, etc.

If there's a problem, the Bonhams department boys will want to know about it - and if a gripe is justified it will be corrected. They built their International reputation by taking the long-term view. They would rather foster a customer who comes back for repeat business than sting one on a one-hit short-term deal and never see him again. But any such relationship is a two-way trade. Being 'British' has perhaps become an impediment in America. From my vantage point on the touchline - feeling like 'family' yet independent as my journalistic experience dictates - I frankly doubt either side really understands why.

DCN

 

Doug: Yes in fact the former Bonhams man I worked with on a contract for almost a year until completion in April (you know who I mean) was telling me earlier this month that he just no longer deals with a certain segment of the US population.

To other posters: don't ask me who it was or just whom he spoke of but what I will say is that he was more than fair with me.

Whart: quoting me in court will take 17 million non Wall street Dollars and 7 leggy blondes sunny side up to go