The value of the item is almost irrelevant – we look after everything because whatever it is, it is valuable to the person who bought it. That takes time and extra care.
MBE Auction Logistics was created by shipping experts Mail Boxes Etc. in 2016. Its mission is to make auction shipping simpler, safer and more economical for buyers. The firm has long-established relationships with over 300 auction houses and nearly 2,000 fine-art dealers and antique specialists around the UK and Ireland. It also has a nationwide network of more than 150 Mail Boxes Etc. centres.
Steve Sleigh opened a Mail Boxes Etc. franchise 20 years ago, using his experience in print and print sales as a springboard to becoming an entrepreneur. Within a few months of opening his Colchester centre, he had gained his first auction house customer, and now he specialises in auction shipping. Today, we hear from him about the delicate art of auction shipping and some of the interesting artefacts he's managed to pack.
"Because of my background, a lot of our work was in print in the early days. Then shipping started to grow as our reputation spread," explains Steve. It was this reputation that got Steve his first auction house customer, although the process was somewhat nail-biting. "They wanted to know we could really handle fragile, delicate and valuable shipments for their buyers, so when I first went in to talk to them, the management team lined up on one side of the table, with me on the other, and they asked me to show them how I would pack a parcel for safe transit."
Steve’s willingness to roll up his sleeves paid dividends, though. "Like any industry, people talk to each other, and soon we were getting enquiries from other auction houses. Also, MBE is well-known as a brand overseas, so we had buyers from abroad asking us to ship their UK auction finds to them. In those early days, a lot of remote bidding was done by telephone, but now it's nearly all done online."
Steve and his team of five now work in partnership with six local auction house customers. It’s a growing market, as buyers become more confident and discerning, and online sales become the norm. So how does Steve create relationships with auction houses? "People who buy from them will ask us to collect from an auction house, which gives us an opening. But from then on, it’s about building trust through regular contact and ensuring all their needs are met. After all, an auction house can make or break any relationship we might have with their buyers. We want them to know that we will look after their clients, so that everyone can relax knowing the lots are in safe hands."
A Personal Service
Once a sale has taken place and the bidder has won their item, Steve’s team will arrange to collect it from the auction house. "We often have to wait until a few days after the sale to allow payments from buyers to the auctioneer to be cleared, and often we will be collecting more than one item – that way, it’s financially viable for us and for our customers." With the items safely back at the Colchester store, buyers are provided with quotes for their bespoke shipping service.
Asked about the difference between the service he and his team offer compared to the logistics that an online store like Amazon provides, Steve says it’s all about personalisation. "With most mail-order organisations, items are pre-packed and stacked on a shelf in a large warehouse, from where they are picked and put into the back of a van for delivery. We offer a totally personalised collection, expert packing and delivery service, together with our unique MBE CoverProtect compensation cover for extra peace of mind.
"We pack each lot according to its precise needs, and that could include creating custom boxes or even crates. The value of the item is almost irrelevant – we look after everything because whatever it is, it’s valuable to the person who bought it. That takes time and extra care." MBE’s Auction Logistics service also includes selecting the right carrier for every destination and, crucially, handling customs and import regulations documents when shipping overseas.
Steve has shipped many different types of artefacts in the last 20 years, including several lots donated by Ed Sheeran to charity auctions, royal memorabilia, and recently a pickaxe from World War I, which was used by soldiers to tunnel beneath German lines and came complete with notes explaining its provenance. Perhaps one of the more unusual shipments he has handled was a suit of armour. "I had to sit it in the passenger seat of my van to get it back to the store, because that was the safest place for it. I think I got a few strange looks on the journey back from the auction house!"
Customers can use the MBE Auction Logistics’ website to request collections from upcoming sales, where its delivery solutions are offered. MBE Auction Logistics works with all the leading carriers, including FedEx, Parcelforce Worldwide, TNT, DHL and UPS, to offer an end-to-end logistics solution.
