My name is Sam, and I'm a (recovering) J.C. Devine bidder.
(everyone) "Hi Sam!" (Sincere apologies to anyone who has/is going through a real 12 step program.)
Anyway, I live in the same little town in Ark. as boardmember John Jr. We have been good friends for many, many years. After being FORCED to shoot John's '28 Savage a number of times, I am now looking for a Thompson to call my own. A curse be upon him!
I'm mostly a lurker on discussion boards so you all will probably not hear much out of me unless I think I have something of value to add to the discussion. I have enjoyed reading about the topics here and even participated in the Thompson chat Sunday before last which was a lot of fun.The Auction
For a number of reasons I won't get into here, I'm primarily looking for a Savage 1928 or '28A1 for my first Thompson. Lot no. 78, a Savage "Tommy Gun" marked tsmg caught my eye. I made arrangements to bid by phone including sending a rather hefty deposit in order to establish credit as a first time bidder with JCD. Devine's phone bidder called Sun. morning at about the time that no. 75 was being auctioned. He didn't have any instructions or anything so I asked how he expected to handle it when no. 78 rolled around. He told me he would keep me abreast of the bid and I would simply tell him what I wanted to do. Simple enough, I thought. To make a long story short, my experience virtually mirrors that of TD and rsilvers (except that I didn't buy anything). The auction was over with in about 15 seconds, if that long. My bidder didn't even advise me that it had started and when he did, he couldn't seem to decide just where the bid was at that moment. I was eventually reduced to yelling numbers at him and demanding responses.
For example:
Me: (yelling) Bid me at 9(thousand) . . .
Me: Well, did you bid?
Me: What is the bid now? (still yelling)
Bidder: Uhhh, do what?
Bidder: Uhhh, no I didn't get your bid . . . you want to bid 9? It's at 10 now.
Me: Ok, bid 10!
Bidder: Uhh, I think it's at 10.5 . . .
Me: Ok!
Bidder: What?
Me: Ok, bid 10.5!!!
Bidder: Oh, did you want to bid? It's gone.
You get the idea.It's hard to type this dialogue but I wanted you all to have some idea what it was like. And yes, I did bid $10.5 on that gun and it sold for $10K because my bidder failed to get it to the auctioneer.
I've read many of the posts here in recent days about this auction. I appreciate some of the sentiments expressed here and the calls to action. Personally, I don't wish to pursue this any further at all. I have no idea whether the problems encountered were due to an almost amazing ineptitude on the part of the phone bidders or whether there's something more sinister at work as has been suggested in some posts here, or something else. I really don't care either. I'm not angry. I don't feel cheated. I'm just very disappointed with the whole experience and I will never have anything to do with JCD, Inc. again for reasons that you will soon learn. I called JCD Monday morning following the auction and spoke with JC Devine himself. Below is our conversation taken from my post last Monday which I wrote with it still fresh on my mind . . . and then deleted in an abundance of caution.
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I bid in the (not so) Devine auction yesterday, with particular interest in item no. 78--Savage M1928A1. I had the same difficulty discussed herein above in following the bids and in getting my own bids submitted. This was my first Devine auction, but I have participated in a number of auctions in the past both by phone and in person. I have never, ever had an experience like I had yesterday.
I phoned J.C. Devine, Inc. this morning (Mon. March 8) and spoke with Mr. Joe C. Devine himself. I politely explained the difficulty I had yesterday. I related some of the details of my futile attempts to bid on the tsmg. I also inquired, in light of the discussion on this thread {the original Devine thread}, as to who exactly won auction no. 78 since I was unsure whether it might have in fact been me. I was told that it was won by a bidder on the floor for $10K. No problem. Mr. Devine did most of the talking to say the least. He proceeded to tell me of his vast knowledge of almost all things, including but not limited to consumers of several nationalities (U.S., German, Belgian are two that I recall). He told me of his education experience--Boston College in case any of you are wondering. He asked what I would have bid on the gun (maximum). After telling him that I had envisioned having to go as high as $12-$14K, he informed me that, "as auctioneers we aren't interested in getting the last penny." I also mentioned that I knew of at least two other bidders who had had similar problems bidding yesterday (with the thought that as a business owner he would appreciate such information) and was told, "I did believe you before, but now you're telling me that all three of you guys had trouble? I don't believe you. Goodbye." And he hung up on me.
I know you're wondering . . . yep, I couldn't resist. I called back. Still maintaining a polite and civil tone, I explained that there was no need for him to hang up on me. I had simply called for two reasons: to learn whether I had indeed bought no. 78 or not, and to let him know of the problems encountered yesterday in the interest of being helpful to him.
Here's where it REALLY gets interesting.
Mr. Devine informed me that me and "my buddies" were just mad that we didn't buy these guns. And as far as he was concerned, "FUCK 'EM!" His words, not mine. I apologize for the obscenity.
It is not my wish to discredit the JCD auction house. All of the above happened but a few minutes ago exactly as I have described it. I felt sure that some of the board members would be interested. I know that speaking with Mr. Devine surely was an enlightening experience for me. Sorry my post ran so long.
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Well, there it is for what it's worth. And I am again sorry this post ran even longer.
Sam
