Heritage Auctions:
Heritage Auctions, one of the largest collectibles auctioneers worldwide, has invested millions into making its website, HA.com, the new industry standard. Revolutionizing the way bids are made, Heritage Auctions has established the Interactive Internet bidding system, which creates a virtual auction house for placing bids around the clock weeks before the live auction, and the HERITAGE Live! bidding system, which allows bidders worldwide to participate actively in the live auction. Heritage Auctions also offers a number of other key online advantages, including the Auctions Archive. All lots sold at Heritage Auctions since 1993 are archived, including all photographs, descriptions, and prices realized, making the Auctions Archive an invaluable research tool for consignors and collectors alike. At HA.com, Heritage Auctions' almost 480,000 registered members also have access to MyWantList. Using a confidential electronic wish list, Heritage Auctions' collectors can record the details of any item they desire for their collections. Once Heritage Auctions compiles lot photos into its catalogue, the auctions are published online and bidders receive instant e-mail notification if an item from their MyWantList has become available, complete with a link to the listing. This level of online innovation benefits both the consigner and the bidder and has additionally made Heritage Auctions the unsurpassed online auction house. Since it was established in 1976, Heritage Auctions has been growing rapidly, especially online. In both 1999 and 2001, Forbes magazine named Heritage Auctions' site one of the top 250 sites on the web. According to Compete.com, an online traffic measurement site, HA.com receives over twice the traffic as Sothebys.com and Christies.com combined, Heritage Auctions' top two competitors. On the average day, HA.com receives almost 30,000 new visitors, largely due to its unique online offerings, such as interactive bidding systems, auction archives, and interactive wish lists, in addition to practical information, such as third-party pricing and rarity data.
