Vinyl Cape Jawa UKG 80

[C&T Auctioneers]

C&T Auctioneers and Valuers in Kent have an extremely exciting and collectible Star Wars piece that's set to take centre stage in our upcoming Star Wars & TV / Film Related Toys and Collectibles auction on 8th May 2024. Lot 183, on 1978 Star Wars Palitoy 12 back B Card, fully sealed bubble and punched card, this Rare Vintage Star Wars UKG 80 Graded Jawa (Vinyl Cape) is estimated to make between £20,000 - £30,000 at auction.

The Vinyl Cape version of the Jawa was the first issued example of this figure, but production was short lived; the originally manufactured vinyl cape was soon replaced with a cloth version. The carded UK Palitoy backs are even rarer than the USA Kenner carded back versions, with this toy being only one of 4-5 examples known to exist upon the rare Palitoy card back! In such excellent and graded condition this is a once in a lifetime find for Star Wars collectors.
https://bid.candtauctions.co.uk/lot...ck-B-card?url=/auctions/catalog/id/178?page=2

 

[Cazza]

Moving, as it's an auction item.

 

[Cazza]

@C&T Auctioneers I'd be grateful for some clarification on what happened with lot 209 at this auction.

I made a bid of £70 online and was the highest bidder going into the auction. I then received an email saying I had been outbid, quickly followed by another, saying that bid had been retracted, so I was back in the lead at £70.

The item ended at £70, so naturally, I assumed I had won. However, I didn't receive any notifications, so called yesterday. The first person I spoke to, couldn't work out what had happened and said someone would call me back. I then got a very baffling phone call. The lady told me that someone in the room matched my £70 bid, so won the item at the discretion of the auctioneer!

Is this actually a thing, where you don't actually have to produce a winning bid anymore - you simply flutter your eyelashes at the auctioneer in person and they'll let you beat someone who actually got the same bid in first?! Surely, the item goes to the person who bid that amount first, unless they are outbid (which they weren't)? It can't be called an auction...

I was very disappointed to say the least. Disappointed with losing an item I'd been looking for for years and disappointed with how C&T ran this auction. I've spent 1000's on C&T auctions in the past, and although this was only a £70 item, it was a bit of a grail for me.

 

[C&T Auctioneers]

@C&T Auctioneers I'd be grateful for some clarification on what happened with lot 209 at this auction.

I made a bid of £70 online and was the highest bidder going into the auction. I then received an email saying I had been outbid, quickly followed by another, saying that bid had been retracted, so I was back in the lead at £70.

The item ended at £70, so naturally, I assumed I had won. However, I didn't receive any notifications, so called yesterday. The first person I spoke to, couldn't work out what had happened and said someone would call me back. I then got a very baffling phone call. The lady told me that someone in the room matched my £70 bid, so won the item at the discretion of the auctioneer!

Is this actually a thing, where you don't actually have to produce a winning bid anymore - you simply flutter your eyelashes at the auctioneer in person and they'll let you beat someone who actually got the same bid in first?! Surely, the item goes to the person who bid that amount first, unless they are outbid (which they weren't)? It can't be called an auction...

I was very disappointed to say the least. Disappointed with losing an item I'd been looking for for years and disappointed with how C&T ran this auction. I've spent 1000's on C&T auctions in the past, and although this was only a £70 item, it was a bit of a grail for me.

We're sorry to hear that you found the bidding process confusing. Looking at the bidding history on the Saleroom back office, we can see that you did not leave a bid on lot 209 but on lot 296, which did sell for £70, but to another bidding platform. It appears there has been some confusion and we've sent you an email explaining what has happened which will hopefully clarify some things! If you'd like to discuss this further, please do contact our office who will be happy to help. Kind regards, C&T

 

[Cazza]

Thanks for getting back to me- much appreciated. I meant lot 296. I've replied to your email. Just to keep others in the loop, there were no bids in person- I misunderstood the term 'room bidders', which simply means there were other bidders from other platforms.

Priority was given to the first person to bid at £70. This is where I am still confused, as I was winning the auction for a while at £70, so surely my bid of £70 was first? If not, then the system needs looking at to avoid this happening again in the future.

 

[welshwookie]

Interesting to hear about "room bidders" as I also thought they were in the room.
Didn't your bidding screen not say you were the highest bidder, or had gone green or red in the amount box ?
It sounds similar to the Vectis auction years ago that wasn't accepting Internet bids, and I ended up with an expensive shock as I had a few 20 backs, plus the Chewbacca I thought I couldn't bid on, but my winning bid must have been the only bid, so the price box didn't move. My 20 backs were won over the phone, and they were fantastic in the few minutes of a call, getting me a last minute phone operator.
Many can relate with your disappointment.

 

[Cazza]

I didn't watch the end of the live auction, but was winning well in advance. Apparently, someone bid £70 before me on another platform and it's all in the terms and conditions that this can happen. Strange that Saleroom had me as highest bidder at £70 a couple of weeks before the end of the auction. I was then outbid and then that was retracted, so I was told I was highest bidder again. But, apparently, I actually wasn't. The system is completely flawed and not a level playing field. How can the bids from different platforms not be collated before the end of the auction? Ridiculous.

 

[welshwookie]

I didn't watch the end of the live auction, but was winning well in advance. Apparently, someone bid £70 before me on another platform and it's all in the terms and conditions that this can happen. Strange that Saleroom had me as highest bidder at £70 a couple of weeks before the end of the auction. I was then outbid and then that was retracted, so I was told I was highest bidder again. But, apparently, I actually wasn't. The system is completely flawed and not a level playing field. How can the bids from different platforms not be collated before the end of the auction? Ridiculous.

We found online auction houses pretty late in our collecting. (What sets might have been finished isn't worth thinking about). But I wouldn't have though a tied bid possible, as the auctioneer should have stated that, to try and get a winner and a higher price. I imagine you wouldn't get 2 physical room bidders on the same amount, 1 would have to go higher to win ?
I'm sure I've had similar on last minute bids on ebay, and ended up being the loosing party.

 

[Fawns61]

I'm annoyed on your behalf @Cazza - it doesn't sound very organised and I'd be fuming too if I was led to believe 'in black and white' that I was the highest bidder.
Hopefully you'll find your holy grail in better condition and cheaper elsewhere - wish I had one to sell you.
Many years ago I was at an outside auction and bidding on an item, which I thought I had won - turned out it was the person in front of me, aarrgghhh!

 

[Cazza]

@welshwookie exactly mate. It's bizarre and the explanation doesn't hold water.

@Fawns61 thanks, mate! Sounds like we've all had some frustration with auctions, over the years. You'd think there would be a better system in place these days.