Definately see the point. However, if I'd have had the ability back then to know immediately, you can bet I would have jumped on that. Just not in my DNA to be patient unless there is no other choice. I know, it's a real character flaw.

I don't think there are any 5x coon unsold period[/quote]
MB It is a West Heavy Slight damage. My account says unsold.

I am glad I had 4 mink sell for $26.50 so my 50 cent coyote from last year will now be added to my check!!! Wow 1/3rd of a cup of coffee. I questioned when I dispatch the YOY yote if I should take it home and I talked myself out of that and put it up. My 5xl-4xl coon was a C color so that brought only $6.50. My 5 largest coons were all males and color was off.

Bryce

Bryce I have a Section IV coyote that wasn't sold. Had I known it was a bad fur I would of had it tanned.

Yes Nancy I remember them so well1 We had alot more fun back then!!!

Ratbrain - what would you do with a Grade IV coyote once you tanned it? Just curious. Thanks

Hang it in the spare bedroom with my other section IV coyote. That one was obviously damaged by lice, down to the wool on the ribcage!

You know I thought about that. It would have been better to practice on a very poor pelt that has little to know value. Only thing lost is a couple bucks some time and a bit of pride.

Bryce

I see my beaver with this grade are now updated on my account as having sold for $33.50 each.

I understand the need to be patient, and that everything will eventually be updated. But from a logistics standpoint, FHA is running pickup routes right now for the next sale in June. Our drop off in northern MN is tomorrow. Current updated account information would certainly help in making an informed decision about sending another batch of fur.

That's part of their plan. Keep the trapper In the dark.

SALE RESULTS – MARCH 24-28, 2022
PRICES SHOWN IN US DOLLARS
This is now our 3rd year selling utilizing our in house developed online auction platform. Our desire to host a live auction was made impossible for several reasons. Much of China began locking down weeks before our sale and continues to be as China has a zero tolerance to the Covid virus. China expressed a strong desire to purchase fur prior to our decision being made on which style of auction we would choose to conduct. A live auction would have taken much of the Chinese orders off the table so the call was made in February to go with our online auction platform.
As well, Covid cases continue to rise again in parts of Europe making many customers concerned over global travel. On February 24th Russia invaded Ukraine and this war rages on as I write this report. Having said this, it is important to know that both these countries have been enormous supporters for many years, buying the top goods in a great many wild fur species. Ukraine now is in no position to purchase goods and Russia is blocked with sanctions disallowing import of luxury goods from Canada.
Over the past 2 months three major auctions have taken place on the other side of the globe. (ALL ONLINE). The St Petersburg/Baikal Auction had a very good sable sale which concluded just prior to Russia invading Ukraine. The results of this auction have an impact on our sable sale. Having spoken to St Petersburg the last day of this auction I was told prices had advanced but the largest increase was on the paler colors of which we have good quantities. Darker colors received the smallest interest.
Kopenhagen Fur Center’s (KFC) February 2022 auction ended with them selling 5% of their total offering, followed by Finland’s SAGA Furs doing slightly better. On March 23rd, the day before our March auction began, KFC announced they were cancelling their April auction due to the global issues mentioned earlier in this report. Our auction commenced the following day as scheduled.
On March 28th our auction concluded and the overall results, despite all the uncertainly and turmoil, saw many articles sold at advancing levels and strong clearances on many important wild fur species.
We all knew the coyote market was much softer compared to last year and our values were posted and we held to them on the western section and sold as of today approx 35%. Muskrats were the other item that realized low clearance as we valued them at last year’s levels and held to it, but we intend to adjust downward slightly and are optimistic sales will follow in the coming days.
Our sable auction witnessed increased prices and a clearance of 90% overall with the paler colors seeing the greatest increase as was the case at St Petersburg/ Baikal auction prior. Our beaver auction was very good, third section and smaller sizes LM/MED/SM selling for much more than our evaluations, approx. 40%+ higher than last year. The big sizes in the better goods increased as well with a basis on the blankets $5 to $10 more in many grades over last year. In the end beaver realized a 90% clearance. Fisher levels continue to advance with clearances of 96%. We even had increased interest in raccoon with good prices on big sizes in the heavy sections like Canadians and Western USA.
On the better luxury goods remaining unsold we are holding to values as we have a June auction just around the corner and hope the world situation will calm itself somewhat by this time.
Our overall results of this auction in light of all the negative influences facing the world have us looking very good and we are extremely pleased at the end result of this auction. As of this moment we have a lot of interest moving forward looking to our June auction for BEAVER, SABLE, CATS & FISHER, so keep this in mind before meeting the ICE CREAM TRUCK to sell for cash.
The demand for wild fur remains and our results during these troubling times proves this. To all those that support this facility we thank you, as in such unprecedented times loyalty and commitment is paramount and we thank you all for this.
Respectfully
Mark Downey
Chief Executive Officer
Fur Harvesters Auction Inc

Yes and there was 40+ ladies entering receipts and getting thing in order, one whole floor at Dominion Sudac. Many a farm girl got to work in the city, they hired them if they knew any town names and that was that. Back in 1980 they were entering data on punch cards believe it or not.

Maybe. Overall I think they do a good job with their sales. I don't know if it is intentional or incompetence on the communication part.

If FHA got the right program for the computer, prices would only need loaded once. I can not see how loading numbers into a number of programs can be an advantage. Maybe they already have it and they just want to control what is seen.

I just looked and 1 more mink sold for $6.00 PT. It was a select dk brown. It is not just this auction, but for the last 2-4 sales it seems that the live auctions be they in person or virtual are mostly for establishing price structure for buyers to use to bid during PT times and not for selling a lot of fur during the actual sale. If the auction is open until April 11th it gives buyers two weeks to negotiate prices and sometimes global conditions can change substantially over that time. I can remember the last couple NAFA auctions where valuations were almost always higher and maybe much higher when pelts sold during those downward trending times. The FHA has valuations at fractions of actual selling prices. I don't understand that huge difference in establishing valuations unless it is one way of making us feel better about selling fur at low prices.

Bryce

That is one thing that seems odd, how various shipper accounts get updated at different times, and certain species. Doesn't appear to be automated much, if at all.

[/quote]
I see my beaver with this grade are now updated on my account as having sold for $33.50 each.[/quote]
less.

Yep mine just updated. 33.50 as well.

All things considered you did good at those prices in this day and age. I had one leftover Heavy SLT L, sell for $9 PT

Jpwilson,

I was in the same situation. Had a local buyer offer me 350 for my nice bobcat before covid hit. I decided to send to FHA. It graded 3X, Heavy, extra pale, A. Been sitting there ever since. It finally sold at this sale for 650.