In a previous post that commented on GUU’s October Consignment Auction, I found the following statement to be extremely insightful, “Moreover, I felt confident that my "Ceiling" bids were not compromised as on both items I won, I was under my "Ceiling" bids. Does that mean that GUU didn't get top dollar and that the clients should complain? No, just the opposite as the prices achieved were reflective of the true marketplace and in the end that can only benefit all parties to the transaction.”
At the statement suggests, from a consignor’s standpoint, one might argue that GUU could have gotten more money for items in our auction if we pushed bids up to the bidders’ ceiling bids. To be very honest, if you remove the variable of integrity from the equation, that argument seems logical. However, as the statement above also implies, pushing bids up to their “ceiling” amounts would be manipulating the prices and therefore be unethical.
We at Game Used Universe have made it very clear that we are committed to "integrity before profits" and we want everyone doing business with us to know they can trust us. That is why we set up our system so that those monitoring the bids could not even see the ceiling bids. In fact, here are two previous threads where we discussed this point and members provided some of their own comments:
http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_f...ad.php?t=11910
http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_f...ad.php?t=11911
While we definitely forfeited potential short-term profit for items that did not reach their ceiling bids, we do not believe bidders should have paid more than the market dictated for their items in the auction. That is where the ethics part of the equation comes in. We believe bidders, and consignors, over time will make their own determinations as to whom they feel they can trust with their business, and that will be a very positive thing for GUU. Among other things, we feel more and more bidders will choose GUU because they know they can trust us and this will mean good things for GUU and for our consignors as well.
While I feel confident that the Game Used Universe name is one that collectors have come to trust, I also know that my saying so is not any different from other maybe not-so-trustworthy entities who talk about how honest and ethical they are. That is why I always caution people not to believe me just because of what I say. I tell people to look beyond my words and look at our actions. There is a great teaching that says you can judge a tree by the fruit it bears. A good tree will bear good fruit. I trust that if people look at how Game Used Universe has positively affected the market over the last few years and how we have materially demonstrated our uncompromising commitment to integrity before profits, they will have the evidence they need to know we are more than just ideal words.
Am I saying that GUU is the only trusted entity in the marketplace? Absolutely not. The point I am trying to make is that I believe the collecting community is made up of smart individuals who can make informed decisions about who they want to do business with. I believe there are entities worthy of collectors trust and that collectors can make that decision by looking at the fruits of what those companies produce. In GUU’s case, I believe the efforts we have made to correct many of the problems in the marketplace, as well as the transparency of our policies in running an honest business, are fruits that speak for themselves. I also believe that if collectors make that their criteria going forward, the future looks bright for companies and individuals that have worked to earn collector trust.
Sincerely,
Chris Cavalier
At the statement suggests, from a consignor’s standpoint, one might argue that GUU could have gotten more money for items in our auction if we pushed bids up to the bidders’ ceiling bids. To be very honest, if you remove the variable of integrity from the equation, that argument seems logical. However, as the statement above also implies, pushing bids up to their “ceiling” amounts would be manipulating the prices and therefore be unethical.
We at Game Used Universe have made it very clear that we are committed to "integrity before profits" and we want everyone doing business with us to know they can trust us. That is why we set up our system so that those monitoring the bids could not even see the ceiling bids. In fact, here are two previous threads where we discussed this point and members provided some of their own comments:
http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_f...ad.php?t=11910
http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_f...ad.php?t=11911
While we definitely forfeited potential short-term profit for items that did not reach their ceiling bids, we do not believe bidders should have paid more than the market dictated for their items in the auction. That is where the ethics part of the equation comes in. We believe bidders, and consignors, over time will make their own determinations as to whom they feel they can trust with their business, and that will be a very positive thing for GUU. Among other things, we feel more and more bidders will choose GUU because they know they can trust us and this will mean good things for GUU and for our consignors as well.
While I feel confident that the Game Used Universe name is one that collectors have come to trust, I also know that my saying so is not any different from other maybe not-so-trustworthy entities who talk about how honest and ethical they are. That is why I always caution people not to believe me just because of what I say. I tell people to look beyond my words and look at our actions. There is a great teaching that says you can judge a tree by the fruit it bears. A good tree will bear good fruit. I trust that if people look at how Game Used Universe has positively affected the market over the last few years and how we have materially demonstrated our uncompromising commitment to integrity before profits, they will have the evidence they need to know we are more than just ideal words.
Am I saying that GUU is the only trusted entity in the marketplace? Absolutely not. The point I am trying to make is that I believe the collecting community is made up of smart individuals who can make informed decisions about who they want to do business with. I believe there are entities worthy of collectors trust and that collectors can make that decision by looking at the fruits of what those companies produce. In GUU’s case, I believe the efforts we have made to correct many of the problems in the marketplace, as well as the transparency of our policies in running an honest business, are fruits that speak for themselves. I also believe that if collectors make that their criteria going forward, the future looks bright for companies and individuals that have worked to earn collector trust.
Sincerely,
Chris Cavalier
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