Login is required to view items
A few thoughts & guidelines before you enter:
--We've started by listing a few sets from our Revolutionary War, Roger's Rangers and Pirate Ranges. ( A few Conte Collector Club figures are also included). It is our intention to add to the listings in the Vault via a gradual process until we can address all ranges. Please check back on at least a weekly basis to see what we may have added. Please do not call the warehouse asking them what items will 'appear next'. Your best information will be to check back here in the Vault and/or to sign up for our email blasts.
--Click here to sign up if you have not done so already. Whenever new sets are added we will send out an email blast.
---The items being offered here are rare quality control sets or sample sets. These sets are the sets which the various factories have sent to me over the years for my review and approval which were to be used as the benchmarks of an entire production run. The sets, if approved by me became the quality control pieces which the ensuing production run was to emulate or copy.
--Normally, we've received a handful of these sets--as few as 3. Out of these scarce quantities, Joe Baker has received sets for use with his amazing dioramas and I have kept the remainder for my personal collection or as masters for additional production runs.
--The sets being made available are from the same batch that the sets in my personal collection have come from.
--Most of these sets have been long sold out and unavailable. The sets being offered are not likely to ever be rerun by us via additional production runs.
--The majority of these sets are NOT boxed. You are buying rare figures generally without item specific packaging. That said, we shall be carefully wrapping and packaging these figures so that they make it safely to you.
--By purchasing you acknowledge that these are not packaged in our usual way.
--All sets will receive a letter of authenticity signed by me, attesting to the fact that these are quality control / sample sets.
--Due to our fears that certain folks will be trying to buy these for the purpose of speculative resale we hereby expressly reserve the right to sell only to longstanding Conteco customers. If you've bought from someone other than us and we don't know you please send us a photo of your Conte collection just to prove to us that you are a legitimate collector. (We've had a number of contacts lately which have scared us into thinking that numerous non-Conte buffs were trying to swoop in and garner some rare sets which they could then resell on an internet auction.) It's my hope that these go to Conte collectors who have been searching for that elusive rare set needed to complete a range. We reserve the right to delete/omit bids at our discretion to avoid speculators or non collectors winning these.
--We've had so many requests from collectors that we allow them to cherry-pick sets from the vault--before other collectors get a chance- that we've realized the only fair way to do this is via an online 'auction'. It hasn't been easy but we've figured out how to set up an online auction here on our own site so we can keep speculators out of the auction ( something we cannot control on internet auctions such as ebay). You'll need to register with name, address, phone, email address, etc. in order to take part.
--We realize that this decision to auction items may be unwelcome news to some of you but we do not like being in the position of having to choose between loyal collectors . Said differently, we love all of you who have supported our efforts and want everyone to have a fair chance rather than to do some special behind the scenes deals.
--ALL sets will be sent priority mail and must be insured and signed for as we can't take 'any chances' with these treasures. Charges for these insurance and signature services will be added to the purchase price and charged at our cost. Please do NOT ask us to send these first class or parcel post, etc......
--Starting price is set by us . Each additional bid will need to increase the price by 5%. As with ebay you can enter a 'maximum bid" which will automatically bid for you if someone outbids you . Your bid will only increase if another higher bid makes it necessary. This will help you to avoid checking back too often.
--Payment will need to be made within 48 hours of auction closing or as otherwise approved by us. If not received we reserve the right to sell to the 2nd highest bidder. Due to the way these sets are 'spread out " in the warehouse, we regrettably cannot 'hold' your purchases to be combined with future auctions. We can not combine these items with other non auction purchases.
--Rules/guidelines are 100% at our discretion and may be changed by us as we deem necessary. We reserve the right to deny a person from bidding at our discretion ( speculators be forewarned).
--NO other discounts or sales or incentives apply to items from The Vault.
--Rare Play sets and Playset pieces will be appearing in The Vault but not until late July. We appreciate your patience.
--Thanks For your support & patience. We are not auctioneers and 'this' is all a new experience for us but we are doing the extra work to try and insure fairness to all. A great deal of extra work has been performed in order to set up this system in an effort to create a fair result for all.
Hail Ragnar's Beard!
By registering for the Conte Auctions you have agreed to these terms and conditions
Click here to register
Check back often - we will continue to add new items as they are uncovered