What are some of your pet peeves about sales

Gillies-Fillies · Postby **Gillies-Fillies** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 6:09 pm

As a seller who's gone through some of the bigger sales acting as my own consignor, I dislike the disadvantage of being a small player. My horses have been in the very last barn and are only seen by the most diehard auction-goers who are willing to spend the time to see all hips. (Granted, these weren't $100,000 horses, but if the sales company wants my $500 entry fee and 5% commission, I don't expect to be relegated to the hinterlands!)

As a buyer, I dislike the large number of outs and RNAs. Outs should occur only if the horse is ill or injured. (Please, sellers, if you plan to keep the horse or sell it privately, don't enter it in the sale.) RNAs are reasonable at 5% or so, but come on, folks--if your colt RNAs at KEESEP in book 3, it's probably because you have an unrealistic concept of his worth. Seeing RNAs creep up to 40% at some sales is discouraging.

As an industry observer, I dislike the behind-the-scenes deals that occur (horseracing doesn't need to perpetuate negative stereotypes, and shady back-room deals do just that). I also don't like to see the unnecessarily frequent scoping of high-end horses. Some farms do it right: they have a dozen scheduled showings of the hip, they make available the results of three scopings from independent vets, and they don't overstress their horses.

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 6:52 pm

very interesting read. thanks

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:03 pm

Having to pay for a Coke or a Pepsi in the sales cafeteria is ridiculous. Any one with a credit line should get drinks on the house!

winds · Postby **winds** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:05 pm

Agree with everything I've read so far..........

winds

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:17 pm

wwhat about the sales process itself? any peeves there? anything you would like to see im proved?

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 12:29 am

When you get to the end of Keeneland and the $4,000 type yearlings go through the ring, the announcer will spend 10 minutes trying to squeeze an extra $100 for a horse. In books 1 and 2, the $500,000 yearlings sell in much less time. I hate when there's a bidding war over some cheap $4,000 horse and two guys are raising bids by $100 for 10 minutes!

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 12:48 am

Okay another question.

If you had to rate going to sales would you consider them for the most part to be 1) Exciting and enjoyable, 2)Not bad, but would rather be doing someting else or 3) I hate it but it's a necessary evil

KAL · Postby **KAL** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 1:45 am

Exciting and enjoyable. No question about it.

Perhaps not so much when selling... that is incredibly stressful... and can be sheer torture. Being on the buying end is the best... followed closely by just watching or consulting.

Anyone who loves horses or who is interested in this sport should take in a Keeneland sale (or, if that is not possible, a Fasig-Tipton sale).

Of all things I miss... it might be the evaluating of stock and the atmosphere of the sales I miss most.

Hmm... I might have just talked myself into going to Keeneland January... or maybe F-T.

dray33 · Postby **dray33** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 8:44 am

Exciting and enjoyable, all day long, regardless of what side of the fence I am on. I could sit there for hours, walk the barns looking at horses, hang out. I like the cadence, the backround chatter, the talk, the din of the auction. Almost hypnotic.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:00 am

Exciting to the point of addictive. Hyponotic. Rubbing shoulders with the rich, famous and powerful. The other day I was a foot away from Princess Haya.

And oh, the HORSES.

Sock Monkey · Postby **Sock Monkey** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 6:14 pm

You know, I used to really enjoy going to the sales, but anymore, not so much. I'm also starting to like the smaller sales. Getting older, I guess.

My pet peeves are the some of the obnoxious attitudes you find at the bigger sales - and usually from the wanna be types. But, a rep from a well known consignor did yell at my employee when he picked up a hip that I got cheap - just ridiculous, if you don't like what a horse sells for, you should have bid it up yourself.

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:20 pm

Love the horses, so exciting. Hate the fact that I've got no money to buy any.

KAL · Postby **KAL** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:20 am

Sock Monkey, there was probably something else going on that caused his disdain. Chances are they had some type of "scam" going and your employee ruined it by bidding (or at least carrying the bid a step past their plans).

My guess... they had it pegged to go to one of their "friends" at a certain price, (or RNA so they could sell it to one of their "friends" out back), and were caught off guard with not enough time to respond when your employee jumped in. I've seen it a few times, heard about it a bunch and am pretty sure I was victim to it.

dray, you hit many of the things I like... I love the action... of course, I absolutely love all the critters.

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:09 pm

madelyn wrote:Exciting to the point of addictive. Hyponotic. Rubbing shoulders with the rich, famous and powerful. The other day I was a foot away from Princess Haya.

And oh, the HORSES.

You hit the nail on the head there

While I wasn't a foot away from Princess Haya, I did get to sit beside someone purchasing million dollar mares and a certain weanling

Very fun indeed.