L
LisaF.
Guest
First, let me say I have never been to a miniature horse auction in my life. I have also never bid over the internet or by phone bidding. So, I may be 100% in the wrong here. I don't feel I am or I would not be so hurt. I wanted to post yesturday, but that would NOT have been a good time for me. I was angry and hurt!
I also want to point out ..out of 20 miniature horses I have only bought one miniature on payments. So, I am not too familiar with this either. This farm Little Pegasus did not charge me any interest, they let me pick him up after they received my down payment. I paid them monthly and carried insurance on him and they held the papers until he was completely paid off. Then his AMHA/AMHR papers were sent to me.
I have e-mailed Robin at LKF today so I am hoping she will help me understand what happened. I also, had to wait until today because I was too upset yesturday to e-mail anyone about this.
Although, this is the Last Heritage Sale at LKF. I know other auctions will continue to go on and I am hoping someone will learn from me to help them in the future. Or, someone can teach me for the future. So, I appreciate any comments to help any of us on online or phone bidding.
Sorry, this is so long just please bear with me because to be fair I think I have to tell ALL sides.
I spotted a pinto mare about two weeks ago on The Heritage Online Sale Catalog. ( This is aproximate date, but I was checking everyday and as soon as her picture came up I e-mailed the same day).
Sometimes ( at least for me) a miniature will catch you eye and you just think you have to have that ONE! That is how I felt about Lot #60. Some of you may remember I posted asking who the consigner was COH. I am sorry I can't remember who, but someone on the forum told me it was Cherry Orchard Hill. I searchedd and searched for their website because I wanted to talk to them and I did not want to bother anyone at LKF because I knew they were extremely busy getting ready for the big event. Well, by the end of the day I e-mailed LKF and Robin told me they MS. Hoffman ( from Cherry Orchard Farm) did not have a website that most or all ( I can't remember) of her horses was at LKF. Robin also informed me she knew alot about the horses. So, I asked her SEVERAL QUESTIONS and she did answer each one about the mare.
With what is going on in our family ( we have gave our kids money to make the trips to St. Louis) and we have had a horrible winter, medical bills etc. So, I did not want to spend all my cash on a miniature. I don't know when my kids will be going back to see Skler ( read Back Porch..if you want more info). Anyway we have had some tough times lately...but, I have decided to sell most of my herd and make some changes. This mare would have helped me MAKE some of the CHANGES I want too. Now I 100% realize that this is no ones responsiblity but ours. Noone has to offer payments on any horse. If they can't I don't blame them. If they can...I am looking for a couple right now while I am getting mine ready to sell. ( A LITTLE OFF SUBJECT..BUT YOU WILL UNDERSTND LATER).
Ok, after Robin answered all my questions about the mare. I HATE to borrow money or buy horses on payment plans...but, I think at this time I will have to in order to make some changes.
So, I called my dad ( MY MISTAKE) and asked him to borrow some money. He said ok...if they will take my credit card. So, I e-mailed Robin and she said that would be fine if my dad would talk to their office and confirm the information. So, I called dad and he said he would. So, this is what I told Robin. Well, the next day dad changed his mind. I don't know why...and didn't bother to ask ( I should have known better).
This is when everything started getting confusing -
I told Robin what had happened and asked if Ms. Hoffman would take payments. Robin said she would check with Ms. Hoffman at Cherry Orchard Farm. She e-mailed me back and told me the ONLY way Ms. Hoffman would take payments was if I would PAY $15,000.00. and carried insurance on the mare. I told her there was no way I could afford that type of money.
I received an e-mail from Robin asking me what I could do. I told her I could put XX amount of dollars down and XX amount of payments per month. I would also agree to carry insurance on the mare and foal.
Well, over the next week I e-mailed LKF for an answer ( In my mind Ms. Hoffman would maybe come down since Robin had e-mailed me). I knew I had to get a payment plan set up BEFORE the auction if Ms. Hoffman had agreed to a lower price. In several e-mails, I requested an answer. I did not know if I could bid on the mare only and MS. Hoffman keep the colt. ( I offered this). I didn't know if I would need to pay board at LKF or if Ms. Hoffman wanted them moved right away and them hold the papers. I didn't know if I needed to get transportation set up. I e-mailed several times trying to find something out. There was just so many details to work out if Ms. Hoffman from Cherry Orchard Farm would agree to anything I had offered.
Now, looking back...I wish I would have called Robin before the auction. I just hate to bother people on the phone when I know they are so busy. I knew they had to be very busy getting ready for this big event.
Well, on Friday I recieved an e-mail from Mary Ann telling me if I wanted to sign up for phone bidding to go ahead. I was THRILLED I thougth this was a sign something had been set up.
So, again I started e-mailing Mary Ann and Robin several times to see what the plan was. I never got an e-mail so I thougth they were too busy. So, again...here is where I wish I would have called.
I called the office ( or whoever works the phones for Little King Farm during The Heritage Sale). I gave them all the information they requested. So, I was ready to bid by telephone.
Now, to the day of the Auction - I have a fairly new computer and my speakers work very well with everything else. The AUDIO was HORRIBLE. I adjusted low..medium..high..nothing would help the Audio. I also have DSL. ( Not a computer expert, so I am not sure if this matters).
The presentation I felt was WONDERFUL ( except I couldn't hear a word...the audio just kept breaking up) but, watching the horses just brought chills. This was the first year we planned on going ( but, then the emergency family matter happened and we did not want to be that far away from home. Oh, I also told Robin this is why we could not come). Just watching Buckeroo and all his sons and grandsons was very emotional so I can't even imagine how great it would be to have been there. ( Knowing me I would have cried and embarrassed my husband..lol).
Ok...I watched the Auction...and some horses were going so low that I could bid on them without a payment plan ( I was really surprised at the low prices on some of the horses that were of such great quality). I even picked up the phone a few times to call in...but, I held out because I knew if I bought them I wouldn't have the cash( debit card) for my down payment. Now, I am really kicking myself. Some people got beautiful miniatures at a great price. ( Although I am happy for those people also).
Well, during the auction I seen where you could click on a link and chat. You could ask a question and then it would come up in green - The Heritage Sale- and they would answer the question ( because the audio was so bad). A couple of examples - They couldnt' hear the horses height or didn't know if the foal on the side was a colt or filly. Those two questions were the most popular questions asked that I seen.
The link would not work for me so I called The Heritage Sale and told them about the audio, the link not working, and I needed my buyer's number also. For some reason when I called in they forgot and I forgot to get a buyers number. The lady that answered the phone and asked me my name. She said Robin had all my information. She never did help me get into the chat.
So, I called in again and told them I needed to know if my payment plan was an option on lot 60. Again they asked my name and they told me Robin had all of my information. I was getting REALLY EXCITED...I thougth Ms. Hoffman had agreed to some type of payment plan.
As stated above when I registered to bid by phone they told me someone would call me 2 to 3 horses BEFORE Lot 60 came on stage. I was almost in panic mode Lot 60 came on stage..I called in..I am glad I have call waiting because Robin beeped in on her cell phone.
Here is where I am REALLY UPSET- The cell phone had a horrible connection ( not Robins fault) I told her I could not hear her good ...but, if Ms. Hoffman had agreed to the payment plan I had offered I would bid - keep in mind I still didn't know if I would be paying board for this mini or if the mini would need to be transported-
*** Anway, like I said above I told Robin I could not hear her very good her cell was breaking up, but if the payment plan offered was ok.. I would bid....Robin said did you get my e-mail I said NO..She said Ms. Hoffman would except my payment plan under ONE CONDITION *******Robin told me Ms. Hoffman would ONLY EXCEPT MY PAYMENT PLAN IF I BID $10,000.00 or more. ***I said Robin I can't afford 10,000.00..but, I will continue to bid until I have to stop and even if Ms. Hoffman wanted to keep the colt..she said Ms. Hoffman wanted them to go together *****Robin said Lisa.......the bid is at $5,600.00 I said *****Robin put a $5,700.00 bid in for me and I will keep bidding until I have to stop*******Robin said Lisa Ms. Hoffman WILL NOT EXCEPT A PAYMENT PLAN UNLESS YOU BID $10,000.00 or more and before another word came out of my mouth Robin said she sold at $5,700.00.
Writting this phone conversation makes it sound like it went on a long time.......IT DID NOT...my mind was swirling it was so fast.
Now this is where I am upset - Ms. Hoffman from Cherry Orchard Farm did NOT owe me anything. She did NOT have to offer me a payment plan. I will be 100% honest. If Ms. Hoffman would have said I am sorry I am putting this miniature horse and her colt in the auction and I can NOT except a payment plan. From the bottom of my heart I would have understood 100%. I would not have been hurt or angry. It is the fact, that since I had to make a payment plan it feels like I would have been paying almost 50% interest. I just don't think that is fair. Or if Robin would have said your bid plus xx amount of dollars board...or your bid plus 10% interest. But, NOT MY MINIMUM BID $10,000.00
In my mind I was hoping to get this mare and her foal for around $6000.00 or less...but, I would have went up to $7000.00. ( My husband may have shot me..LOL). But, I knew in my mind what I was prepared to do before the call came in as far as how much I would be willing to spend. If the payment plan was excepted which Robin said on the phone it was...so I know how much money I had to put down that day and how much money I had to pay per month and that I had to carry insurance.( I was scared because if I would have bid 7000.00 and ended up paying board fee( my husband would have shot me..LOL). I bet some of my minis would have been going out the door fast to get the mare home fast..lol.
Could someone that has experience with Auctions please help me understand. I feel like if I was allowed a payment plan I should have been able to bid like everyone else. *** Not my lowest bid at $10,000.00. That just doesn't sound fair to me. As I stated in the beginning this may be normal. I just don't know. If it is normal please let me know. Maybe I won't feel so hurt..if only I could understand.
I am trying to start a Migraine...I have took some meds for it...so...I hope I made sence. If not, feel free to ask questions. I am just trying to understand if this is normal and how to handle auctions the next time. ( I guess cash on hand would be the best way). This miniature mare just really caught my eye and I wanted her so bad and the auction was the only way to get her.
If anyone knows who bought Lot# 60 please let me know. I am sure they are planning on keeping her...but, just in case ...or if she comes up for sale in the future I would like the new owners to know I would be interested in buying her.
I also want to point out ..out of 20 miniature horses I have only bought one miniature on payments. So, I am not too familiar with this either. This farm Little Pegasus did not charge me any interest, they let me pick him up after they received my down payment. I paid them monthly and carried insurance on him and they held the papers until he was completely paid off. Then his AMHA/AMHR papers were sent to me.
I have e-mailed Robin at LKF today so I am hoping she will help me understand what happened. I also, had to wait until today because I was too upset yesturday to e-mail anyone about this.
Although, this is the Last Heritage Sale at LKF. I know other auctions will continue to go on and I am hoping someone will learn from me to help them in the future. Or, someone can teach me for the future. So, I appreciate any comments to help any of us on online or phone bidding.
Sorry, this is so long just please bear with me because to be fair I think I have to tell ALL sides.
I spotted a pinto mare about two weeks ago on The Heritage Online Sale Catalog. ( This is aproximate date, but I was checking everyday and as soon as her picture came up I e-mailed the same day).
Sometimes ( at least for me) a miniature will catch you eye and you just think you have to have that ONE! That is how I felt about Lot #60. Some of you may remember I posted asking who the consigner was COH. I am sorry I can't remember who, but someone on the forum told me it was Cherry Orchard Hill. I searchedd and searched for their website because I wanted to talk to them and I did not want to bother anyone at LKF because I knew they were extremely busy getting ready for the big event. Well, by the end of the day I e-mailed LKF and Robin told me they MS. Hoffman ( from Cherry Orchard Farm) did not have a website that most or all ( I can't remember) of her horses was at LKF. Robin also informed me she knew alot about the horses. So, I asked her SEVERAL QUESTIONS and she did answer each one about the mare.
With what is going on in our family ( we have gave our kids money to make the trips to St. Louis) and we have had a horrible winter, medical bills etc. So, I did not want to spend all my cash on a miniature. I don't know when my kids will be going back to see Skler ( read Back Porch..if you want more info). Anyway we have had some tough times lately...but, I have decided to sell most of my herd and make some changes. This mare would have helped me MAKE some of the CHANGES I want too. Now I 100% realize that this is no ones responsiblity but ours. Noone has to offer payments on any horse. If they can't I don't blame them. If they can...I am looking for a couple right now while I am getting mine ready to sell. ( A LITTLE OFF SUBJECT..BUT YOU WILL UNDERSTND LATER).
Ok, after Robin answered all my questions about the mare. I HATE to borrow money or buy horses on payment plans...but, I think at this time I will have to in order to make some changes.
So, I called my dad ( MY MISTAKE) and asked him to borrow some money. He said ok...if they will take my credit card. So, I e-mailed Robin and she said that would be fine if my dad would talk to their office and confirm the information. So, I called dad and he said he would. So, this is what I told Robin. Well, the next day dad changed his mind. I don't know why...and didn't bother to ask ( I should have known better).
This is when everything started getting confusing -
I told Robin what had happened and asked if Ms. Hoffman would take payments. Robin said she would check with Ms. Hoffman at Cherry Orchard Farm. She e-mailed me back and told me the ONLY way Ms. Hoffman would take payments was if I would PAY $15,000.00. and carried insurance on the mare. I told her there was no way I could afford that type of money.
I received an e-mail from Robin asking me what I could do. I told her I could put XX amount of dollars down and XX amount of payments per month. I would also agree to carry insurance on the mare and foal.
Well, over the next week I e-mailed LKF for an answer ( In my mind Ms. Hoffman would maybe come down since Robin had e-mailed me). I knew I had to get a payment plan set up BEFORE the auction if Ms. Hoffman had agreed to a lower price. In several e-mails, I requested an answer. I did not know if I could bid on the mare only and MS. Hoffman keep the colt. ( I offered this). I didn't know if I would need to pay board at LKF or if Ms. Hoffman wanted them moved right away and them hold the papers. I didn't know if I needed to get transportation set up. I e-mailed several times trying to find something out. There was just so many details to work out if Ms. Hoffman from Cherry Orchard Farm would agree to anything I had offered.
Now, looking back...I wish I would have called Robin before the auction. I just hate to bother people on the phone when I know they are so busy. I knew they had to be very busy getting ready for this big event.
Well, on Friday I recieved an e-mail from Mary Ann telling me if I wanted to sign up for phone bidding to go ahead. I was THRILLED I thougth this was a sign something had been set up.
So, again I started e-mailing Mary Ann and Robin several times to see what the plan was. I never got an e-mail so I thougth they were too busy. So, again...here is where I wish I would have called.
I called the office ( or whoever works the phones for Little King Farm during The Heritage Sale). I gave them all the information they requested. So, I was ready to bid by telephone.
Now, to the day of the Auction - I have a fairly new computer and my speakers work very well with everything else. The AUDIO was HORRIBLE. I adjusted low..medium..high..nothing would help the Audio. I also have DSL. ( Not a computer expert, so I am not sure if this matters).
The presentation I felt was WONDERFUL ( except I couldn't hear a word...the audio just kept breaking up) but, watching the horses just brought chills. This was the first year we planned on going ( but, then the emergency family matter happened and we did not want to be that far away from home. Oh, I also told Robin this is why we could not come). Just watching Buckeroo and all his sons and grandsons was very emotional so I can't even imagine how great it would be to have been there. ( Knowing me I would have cried and embarrassed my husband..lol).
Ok...I watched the Auction...and some horses were going so low that I could bid on them without a payment plan ( I was really surprised at the low prices on some of the horses that were of such great quality). I even picked up the phone a few times to call in...but, I held out because I knew if I bought them I wouldn't have the cash( debit card) for my down payment. Now, I am really kicking myself. Some people got beautiful miniatures at a great price. ( Although I am happy for those people also).
Well, during the auction I seen where you could click on a link and chat. You could ask a question and then it would come up in green - The Heritage Sale- and they would answer the question ( because the audio was so bad). A couple of examples - They couldnt' hear the horses height or didn't know if the foal on the side was a colt or filly. Those two questions were the most popular questions asked that I seen.
The link would not work for me so I called The Heritage Sale and told them about the audio, the link not working, and I needed my buyer's number also. For some reason when I called in they forgot and I forgot to get a buyers number. The lady that answered the phone and asked me my name. She said Robin had all my information. She never did help me get into the chat.
So, I called in again and told them I needed to know if my payment plan was an option on lot 60. Again they asked my name and they told me Robin had all of my information. I was getting REALLY EXCITED...I thougth Ms. Hoffman had agreed to some type of payment plan.
As stated above when I registered to bid by phone they told me someone would call me 2 to 3 horses BEFORE Lot 60 came on stage. I was almost in panic mode Lot 60 came on stage..I called in..I am glad I have call waiting because Robin beeped in on her cell phone.
Here is where I am REALLY UPSET- The cell phone had a horrible connection ( not Robins fault) I told her I could not hear her good ...but, if Ms. Hoffman had agreed to the payment plan I had offered I would bid - keep in mind I still didn't know if I would be paying board for this mini or if the mini would need to be transported-
*** Anway, like I said above I told Robin I could not hear her very good her cell was breaking up, but if the payment plan offered was ok.. I would bid....Robin said did you get my e-mail I said NO..She said Ms. Hoffman would except my payment plan under ONE CONDITION *******Robin told me Ms. Hoffman would ONLY EXCEPT MY PAYMENT PLAN IF I BID $10,000.00 or more. ***I said Robin I can't afford 10,000.00..but, I will continue to bid until I have to stop and even if Ms. Hoffman wanted to keep the colt..she said Ms. Hoffman wanted them to go together *****Robin said Lisa.......the bid is at $5,600.00 I said *****Robin put a $5,700.00 bid in for me and I will keep bidding until I have to stop*******Robin said Lisa Ms. Hoffman WILL NOT EXCEPT A PAYMENT PLAN UNLESS YOU BID $10,000.00 or more and before another word came out of my mouth Robin said she sold at $5,700.00.
Writting this phone conversation makes it sound like it went on a long time.......IT DID NOT...my mind was swirling it was so fast.
Now this is where I am upset - Ms. Hoffman from Cherry Orchard Farm did NOT owe me anything. She did NOT have to offer me a payment plan. I will be 100% honest. If Ms. Hoffman would have said I am sorry I am putting this miniature horse and her colt in the auction and I can NOT except a payment plan. From the bottom of my heart I would have understood 100%. I would not have been hurt or angry. It is the fact, that since I had to make a payment plan it feels like I would have been paying almost 50% interest. I just don't think that is fair. Or if Robin would have said your bid plus xx amount of dollars board...or your bid plus 10% interest. But, NOT MY MINIMUM BID $10,000.00
In my mind I was hoping to get this mare and her foal for around $6000.00 or less...but, I would have went up to $7000.00. ( My husband may have shot me..LOL). But, I knew in my mind what I was prepared to do before the call came in as far as how much I would be willing to spend. If the payment plan was excepted which Robin said on the phone it was...so I know how much money I had to put down that day and how much money I had to pay per month and that I had to carry insurance.( I was scared because if I would have bid 7000.00 and ended up paying board fee( my husband would have shot me..LOL). I bet some of my minis would have been going out the door fast to get the mare home fast..lol.
Could someone that has experience with Auctions please help me understand. I feel like if I was allowed a payment plan I should have been able to bid like everyone else. *** Not my lowest bid at $10,000.00. That just doesn't sound fair to me. As I stated in the beginning this may be normal. I just don't know. If it is normal please let me know. Maybe I won't feel so hurt..if only I could understand.
I am trying to start a Migraine...I have took some meds for it...so...I hope I made sence. If not, feel free to ask questions. I am just trying to understand if this is normal and how to handle auctions the next time. ( I guess cash on hand would be the best way). This miniature mare just really caught my eye and I wanted her so bad and the auction was the only way to get her.
If anyone knows who bought Lot# 60 please let me know. I am sure they are planning on keeping her...but, just in case ...or if she comes up for sale in the future I would like the new owners to know I would be interested in buying her.