If in fact you’re a car enthusiast, then I say be happy that the Amelia Island Concours is respected enough of an event to garner both Gooding and RM holding auctions there. To me, that is the bottom line – this is a great event and better served because more top-notch companies are involved.

Perhaps people had the same issues years ago in Pebble Beach, but I’m sure most would agree that the product today -many great stand-alone events – is better than just the Concours and Historics.

And so what if Gooding’s press release infers something that may not be the case? You could argue that 98 out of 100 press releases do that very same thing.

Hope you’re able to enjoy next year’s Amelia Concours…

And apparently readers did not figure it out, as they are flooding the Real Concours office with phone calls and e-mails asking what the F is going on?

The news release on the Gooding & co site is nearly word for word identical to the above article. In fact, that press release is repeated verbatim throughout the internet on a number of different automotive websites.

So the source for this deception is from the company, not from the site.

From the original GOODING press release from their website:

“The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance has become one of the preeminent automotive events of the
world, attracting some of the best cars and collectors,” says David Gooding, president and founder of
Gooding & Company. “In terms of East Coast auctions, we identified a gap at the top of the market. We
are very pleased to announce that Gooding & Company will soon be in Amelia Island with an auction at
the Plantation that will reflect our high standards.”

OK, if you are NOT at the Concours, why mention it? To the average reader, this comment would make it appear that the auction is at the concours or affiliated with it. If you want to claim otherwise, you are just being disingenuous.

Not many people outside of Jacksonville realize that the Plantation at Amelia Island and the Ritz Carlton are two different venues.

Gooding has made a lot of waves in the auction world fairly rapidly. Good for them. Nothing wrong with trying to piggyback off another event. All the better for the attendees that weekend, who can go to two auctions in one weekend. Nothing wrong or illegal about that.

But issuing vague press releases that make it appear you are PART of the Concours d’elegance, well, shame on Gooding.

They should correct this on their website and issue and apology. Otherwise, it comes off as sort of low-rent.

Is that the reputation Gooding is going for? The knock-off auction house?

Apparently so. Makes me wonder about the folks who list their cars there for auction.

You said: “nor do I see how they could have done things differently.”

Simple: First, state clearly that the auction is NOT affiliated with the Amelia Island Concours d’elegance and also that it is NOT being held at the same venue.

Hmmmm.. makes me wonder about their other auctions. Are they also unaffiliated “me too” kinds of deals that piggyback off other events?

Neat trick. Do counter-programming off some one else’s event and save all that overhead and make more money. You can’t blame them for trying, but it sort of undercuts the original event. If you have lower overhead, you can offer lower auction fees, and then attract more business.

Ordinarily I’d say, “well, business is business, may the best man win”. But the Amelia Island Concours d’elegance is a charity event, for crying out loud. Trying to piggyback your for-profit auction off it without contributing to the underlying event is sort of, well, crass.

If everyone did that, well, the original venue and event would eventually be destroyed. Suppose all the commercial exhibitors put up displays just outside the gate to avoid paying booth fees? Or suppose attendees said “why bother paying admission, I’ll just cut through the golf course and see it for free?”

Also, I do not understand this comment from Gooding:

“In terms of East Coast auctions, we identified a gap at the top of the market”

A gap? RM auctions is holding an auction the same weekend at the Concours. There is no “gap”, just an opportunity for a competing auction house to horn-in on somebody else’s venue.

Classy!

Here is Gooding’s quote: “We are very pleased to announce that Gooding & Company will soon be in Amelia Island with an auction at the Plantation that will reflect our high standards.”

There is more above, but never does he mention that it’s part of the Concours itself, just part of the weekend.

I had the privilege of seeing the Voisin last year, and it is a very interesting cars. The wheels are enormous…

This e-mail arrive in my inbox this afternoon, which explains all:

November 23, 2009

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN…

“There have been many calls to our office and speculation concerning the addition of another auction on Amelia Island in March 2010. This is to confirm that RM Auctions, Blenheim, Ontario, Canada, is the exclusive auction partner and the official auction of The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. For over ten years, RM has supported the growth of The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Foundation and the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance as both a valued sponsor and an avid cheerleader. Any claims by any other auction house that they are the sole auction or affiliated with the Foundation are inaccurate and misleading.”
Bill Warner, Founder & Co-Chairman
The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance