Barrett-Jackson sues customer for defamation
Pardon us if we're very careful how we present this post. You see, the last time we posted on the situation surrounding allegations of impropriety being levied against Barrett-Jackson Auctions, we got nailed with a comment by Steve Davis, President of Barrett-Jackson. The comment chastised us for reporting on a post by Sam Barer of Four Wheel Drift concerning these allegations that has since been retracted.
Regardless, we learned from that experience that Barrett-Jackson is serious about protecting its reputation, and as such filed suit yesterday against one of its consignors from its recent Scottsdale event. According to the press release from Barrett-Jackson that surfaced today, the consignor was unhappy with the $300,000 sale price of his vehicle and placed chains and locks on the car after the auction. The release then says the man harnessed the power of the interweb to defame Barrett-Jackson by claiming the sale of his car was void due to "auction irregularities". BJ also claims that the "ongoing internet smear campaign", in which it appears we've been accused of participating, stems from this particular consignor.
So... that's all we're gonna say about this particular topic, because we don't want to be sued, either. Feel free to say what you want in the comments, though.
Check out the full press release from Barrett-Jackson after the jump.
[Source: Barrett-Jackson]
PRESS RELEASE:
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 16 -- Late yesterday
Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. LLC filed suit in U.S. District Court in
relation to a situation that occurred at the company's January 2007
Scottsdale event. A consignor, apparently unhappy with the $300,000 sale
price of his vehicle, placed chains and locks on the vehicle after it
crossed the auction block and was sold, while it sat in the area where
featured auction cars were displayed. He posted multiple notices on the
vehicle claiming that the sale was void due to claimed "auction
irregularities," and published other false and defamatory statements about
Barrett-Jackson in view of the company's customers and the thousands of
patrons attending the event. Barrett-Jackson's internal legal and security
teams, and the Scottsdale Police Department, responded to the incident and
documented the damage.
An ongoing internet smear campaign has stemmed from this seller
dispute, with numerous defamatory rumors and untrue statements being
published to websites and online chat rooms viewed by the company's core
customer base. In particular, an untrue, derogatory and defamatory
"article" referring to the above incident has made its way onto more than
20 automotive-related online "blogs" and discussion boards frequented by
thousands of classic car enthusiasts around the world.
Barrett-Jackson filed its lawsuit in order to protect its 36-year
reputation and business interests by seeking to correct the untrue
information that has been published, and by filing suit against the
responsible party on six separate counts, including defamation and breach
of contract.
Barrett-Jackson constantly strives to maintain the utmost ethical
standards in all the company's operations and activities. The company
recognizes that not every customer will be happy with the result of every
auction sale, and the Barrett-Jackson team values thoughtful, well-informed
feedback. However, Barrett-Jackson takes the company's business reputation
very seriously, and will do whatever is necessary to defend against
unfounded claims.
Copies of the lawsuit can be obtained by contacting the clerk of the
U.S. District Court in Phoenix or at http://www.azd.uscourts.gov.
About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz.,
Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic
and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts
around the world. The company produces the "World's Greatest Collector Car
Events(TM)" in Scottsdale and Palm Beach, Fla. For more information, visit
http://www.barrett-jackson.com
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
benp 8:17PM (3/16/2007)
Just wait till muscle car prices crash like the Ferrari market crashed in the late 80s. Barrett-Jackson will be in a world of hurt. Most serious collectors I know avoid their auctions like the plague, *edited not to get sued by Barrett Jackson* Lets put it this way, when was the last time you saw Jay Leno at a Barrett-Jackson auction.
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marja 1:03PM (3/17/2007)
That's right y'all, Barrett-Jackson Auctions is being treated unfairly. For gosh sakes, this whole thing is just a big "right-wing-conspiracy". If you say otherwise, you may find your mama with 2 broken legs.
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AZMike 9:05PM (3/16/2007)
I'm really glad to see Barrett-Jackson doing this! it gets really tiring to see all the crybabies who bring their cars here, well aware that the auction is NO RESERVE, and then gripe about the auction bids. no one forced them to put their car in the auction, and the sellers also have the option of paying the buyer's fee, and buying the car back themselves if they are not happy with the bids.
I speak from the experience of having sold two cars at Barrett-Jackson. it's always interesting to see all the comments from all the armchair "experts"; it's a little different to see it for yourself as it happens, when you actually there, and not watching it on cable.
a vehicle is worth what it brings, and the market is dictating that muscle cars are hot right now. there is not really much comparison with the Ferrari boom (and bust) of the 80's; those were much more investors than the car guys that are buying muscle cars right now.
I think a lot of people miss the point of Barrett-Jackson; it's quite a status symbol to say you bought your car there. there is no question that they always have the finest cars; if you don't believe it, try going to a Kruse auction.
and be sure to take a magnet with you.
Mike
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El Norte 10:04PM (3/16/2007)
"I think a lot of people miss the point of Barrett-Jackson; it's quite a status symbol to say you bought your car there."
No, it isn't.
See how that works? Opinion. Here's how a lot of people view the suckers who spend too much of their loot (which is their right, but suckers nonetheless): A fool and his money are soon departed. Nobody admires someone for overspending on a muscle car.
Again, it's their (presumably) hard-earned money and more power to them. Of course it's also my right to think their idiots.
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chuck goolsbee 10:19PM (3/16/2007)
Suing the press is stupid.
Suing your own customers is REALLY stupid.
Issuing a press release saying your suing your own customer is just plain weird.
But then again, the B-J Auctions have become something of a circus anyway, so why not crank up the weirdo meter a bit more?
--chuck
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James 10:31PM (3/16/2007)
I have to agree with the first few posts, I'm not a fan of BJ at all. Sure they have nice cars on there but most go for ridiculous prices. The die cast collecting Hobby is also in danger because of scalping and hoarding.
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paul34 10:56PM (3/16/2007)
Sounds like an old man afraid of these newfangled "interwebs"
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bernie 11:04PM (3/16/2007)
If Barrett Jackson is the porn industry then alpha males with way too much money are the actors. We're just the audience paying to watch.
I'm always amused at these wealthy dolts with comb overs whipping it out and comparing their weenies on national TV. People who restore cars and want to play in this league should be men and take what they get. A previous poster hit it on the head: A car is worth what it brings. So don't be a pansy and cry about "improprieties" when you're not happy with the results. Do you really think B-J needs to engage in criminal conspiracy to make money? No! They do just fine parting fools and their money every weekend.
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JB 11:35PM (3/16/2007)
The current muscle car "boom" is more like the Duesenberg/Bugatti boom before it. Now, the guys who really wanted those cars are dying off, and the values are falling back down. Granted, Duesies and the like are all rare cars, and there's no way to get spare parts like with many muscle cars.
It may cost 100K to restore a muscle car to better than new condition, maybe more. So in a way, if you manage to get it for less than the cost of a top-notch restoration, then you come out ahead on labor and parts alone. Customs are a different story, much more in the eye of the beholder.
For me, muscle cars used to be more valuable when we were all driving 120 hp sedans and 350-400 hp seemed to be gone forever. But now even minivans are approaching 300 hp in some cases, and most new cars handle and brake better than the muscle cars ever could when new.
I think I'll wait about 20-30 years when the prices come back down to reality, and the hot cars are Citation X-11s, Omni GLHs, and EXPs.
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Gregory Anderson 11:55PM (3/16/2007)
Well, I hope B&J are enjoying their days in the sun as the end is near.
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Matt 12:22AM (3/17/2007)
Any one know what car it was? I'm kinda curious.
I enjoyed the barrett jackson action a few years ago because you don't see these kinda of cars every day.But now it's kinda getting silly with all the one of one's and celebrity owned what evers.Don't get me wrong It's cool and they have the right to do it (it's there money) the thing that bothers me is that it drives up the price of everything else.You can't find a decent mopar anymore because everyone selling one watches barrett jacksons and wants slightly less than what one went across the block for.
I also get the impression that most of people are just sticking these into personal museums and such.That pratt guy buys a ton of cars and i wonder if they ever see the light of day or just get locked away in some warehouse in Arizona.My guess is most of these "collection" will wind up much like otis chandlers, in the hands of money hungry relatives looking for money.Might be a good time to pick a few up.
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Snix 1:38AM (3/17/2007)
I just cant imagine why anyone would cream their pants over a six digit Hemi Cuda nowadays. 15 years ago, heck yeah, but not anymore.
Just go buy a new SRT-8, get a warranty and save 1 to 300k.
Want a Shelby Mustang? Go to the Ford Dealer and buy one.
Cobra? Get a Viper.
L-88 Vette? ZO6, brand new.
Dont forget that the new Challenger and Camaro are coming.
All with warranties, a much more refined ride, better gas mileage and much more SAFER to drive on the street.
Happy days are here again, and I just dont get all of this nonsense about the old cars nowadays. I can appreciate them and all, but compared to the new crop of muscle, they dont even come close.
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JS 1:26AM (3/17/2007)
Barret Jackson sucks. Anyone with any credibility and truly wanting to get best dollar value for a fine automobile won't be caught dead at these overpriced auto whore-houses. Only people who want to be seen as foolish with their cash are seen buying at these auctions.
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theonlybiker 1:33AM (3/18/2007)
hey, come on guys... don't bash BJ.. I'm getting my muscle car ready to make some big bucks at BJ's .. it's a 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix. I'm waiting until 2020. That's about when it'll be worth money :)O
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TeamNutmeg 3:39AM (3/17/2007)
Snix and JB nailed it. While I love those old cars - I own a '67 Mustang myself - we're in another golden era of cars right now. It's not like this is 1995, and we're being offered our choice of Tauruses, Cavaliers, Accords, or Camrys. For the six figures some of these classics are going for, you could have a garage full of the best-engineered cars in the world, every one of them superior in every way except looks, where most are almost equal. Much as I love my '67, I love my '06 even more.
The current muscle car boom just makes no sense to me, given what you can currently get right off the lot. Chalk it up to old men buying one last gasp of youth before they die.
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todd 4:24AM (3/17/2007)
Copies of the public documents as they pertain to the lawsuit can be found here:
http://www.classiccar.com/garage/blog/index.php?/208-Barrett-Jackson-Sues-to-Halt-Defamation.html
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jacflash 6:27AM (3/17/2007)
Is this the shark-jumping moment for B-J? Or was the Keith Martin thing the shark-jumping moment?
Craig Jackson, listen up: you are doing a great job of turning off the collector car community -- not the middle-aged contractors and hedge fund dilettantes, but the serious folks who form the core of the market and make this business work, a/k/a the people you will need to be there for you when the market shifts. And it will shift.
I commend to you a copy of the book "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds", by Charles Mackay. Might I suggest you read it while sitting inside, oh, a Hemi Super Bee?
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Fulvia 8:52AM (3/17/2007)
"...think I'll wait about 20-30 years when the prices come back down to reality, and the hot cars are Citation X-11s, Omni GLHs, and EXPs."
I'm with you on that--I'm patiently waiting for the day when my mom's 85 Buick LeSabre Estate Wagon (with the ultra-desirable fake woodgrain) fetches $400K at B-J. I can picture a graying Tim Allen hootin' and hollerin' up on the stage as Speed TV pores over the smog-choked 302 and blue cloth/vinyl interior with fake chrome 80s GM power doors/locks.
The thing that makes this all so crazy is that it's built on a foundation of irrational choices in the first place. These muscle cars are simply not in the same league technologically, styling, build-quality or exclusivity-wise as more traditionally "collector" cars of the era (Ferrari, Porsche, Austin-Healy, Jaguar, etc.). The value assigned to them is purely nostalgia-based. Combine that with more disposable income than ever for people who were teenagers during the muscle-car era, and voila! You have a crazy market. B-J just seems to exploit that. On the one hand, B-J seems to really present a skewed picture of the actual value of these cars, and I'm more suprised at the booting of Keith Martin for far more innocuous comments than this crybaby whose car "only" sold for $300,000 (which is more than I paid for my house, btw). On the other hand, the bad press you get from going around chasing down internet squawkers and disgruntled customers I think by far outweighs any benefit you get from attempting to get some sort of legal judgement. He's just inviting less of the press coverage this thing really depends on, and certainly inviting less average schmucks who just want to buy/sell an old car at auction.
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Ford Mustang 3:38PM (3/17/2007)
"The current muscle car "boom" is more like the Duesenberg/Bugatti boom before it. Now, the guys who really wanted those cars are dying off, and the values are falling back down."
I have to say, you're right. The reality is that the guys who bought those cars were into them when they were younger, and when they finally had the cash they decided to pay whatever it took to get one. Same goes for the musclecar trend today. Guys who were teens back in the 60's-70's and couldn't afford a new Camaro are throwing down big bucks to relive those days. At some point these cars will be worth much less when that era of car buyer is gone.
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AJ Quick 6:24PM (3/17/2007)
Some guy complained that he got $300,000 for his car? I'm having a hard time selling mine for $500.
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