When selling rare whisky, choosing the right platform can significantly impact your profits and convenience. Both Glenbotal and Whisky-Online Auctions offer unique advantages tailored to different sellers’ needs. This post will compare the two platforms, highlighting key aspects such as pricing, fees, ease of use, and payout timelines to help you decide which one suits your goals best.
Glenbotal:
Glenbotal helps sellers achieve, on average, 40% higher prices compared to auctions by offering a fixed-price model. This eliminates the unpredictability of auctions and ensures that sellers get the most value by directly connecting them to collectors and investors seeking high-quality bottles.
Whisky-Online Auctions:
Whisky-Online Auctions operates on a traditional auction model, where the final price depends on bidding dynamics. While competitive bidding can push prices higher, there’s always a level of unpredictability, and final prices can vary based on the number of active bidders.
Glenbotal:
Glenbotal’s pricing is simple, with a 15% seller commission and no fees for buyers. This covers all services, including expert valuations, professional marketing, and free bottle collection.
Whisky-Online Auctions:
Whisky-Online Auctions stands out by offering 0% seller commission. However, sellers do pay a £7 listing fee per item and an optional £10 reserve fee. Although sellers keep 100% of the hammer price, there are additional costs for listing and setting reserves.
Glenbotal:
Once the sale is complete, Glenbotal ensures sellers are paid within 7 days of the bottle being sent to the buyer, allowing for quick access to funds.
Whisky-Online Auctions:
Payments from Whisky-Online Auctions are processed 14-21 days after the auction closes, giving the buyer time to complete payment and ensure satisfaction. While slightly slower, this timeline is standard for traditional auction models.
Glenbotal:
Glenbotal connects sellers with a global network of collectors and investors, ensuring wide exposure and faster sales. This targeted audience increases the chances of achieving higher prices for your rare whisky.
Whisky-Online Auctions:
Whisky-Online Auctions has a strong global audience of whisky enthusiasts and collectors, but exposure is tied to the auction period. Your whisky only gets visibility during the auction window, limiting the flexibility that Glenbotal offers with its continuous sales model.
Glenbotal:
Glenbotal’s full-service model makes selling whisky easy. Sellers simply send bottle photos via WhatsApp, and Glenbotal takes care of everything from collection to marketing, photography, and sales.
Whisky-Online Auctions:
Whisky-Online Auctions requires sellers to manage the process themselves. Sellers must register bottles, arrange delivery, and ensure items reach the auction house. For larger consignments, Whisky-Online offers free courier collection for bottles valued at over £250.
Glenbotal:
Glenbotal employs extensive global marketing, including online ads, professional photography, and direct campaigns to reach high-value buyers. This marketing is continuous, giving your whisky exposure outside of auction windows.
Whisky-Online Auctions:
Marketing on Whisky-Online Auctions is tied to the auction cycle, with promotion primarily happening in the lead-up to and during the auction. While effective for auction periods, it limits ongoing exposure compared to Glenbotal’s continuous marketing approach.
| Feature | Glenbotal | Whisky-Online Auctions |
| Pricing Potential | On average, 40% higher than auction prices. Fixed-price sales ensure predictable outcomes. | Auction prices depend on bidder interest and competition. |
| Fees | 15% seller commission, no fees for buyers. | £7 listing fee, 0% seller commission, £10 reserve fee (optional). |
| Payout Speed | ~7 days after the bottle is sent to the buyer. | 14-21 days after the auction closes. |
| Audience Reach | Global network of collectors and investors for broader exposure. | Global audience of whisky enthusiasts, exposure limited to auction periods. |
| Sales Flexibility | List bottles for sale at any time, without auction deadlines. | Auction-driven, with lots tied to specific auction dates. |
| Convenience | Full-service, hassle-free with free bottle pickup and professional marketing. | Seller-managed process with courier options and free collections over £250. |
| Marketing | Extensive global campaigns with continuous exposure. | Auction-based promotion limited to auction windows. |
| Sales Outcome | Fixed-price, certain sales based on market demand. | Auction-driven, with sales subject to competitive bidding. |
| Market Perception | Reliable, with a reputation for maximizing seller profits. | Well-established, known for handling rare and old whisky sales. |
Choose Glenbotal if you want a hassle-free, full-service experience with the potential for higher prices. With fixed-price sales, you have more control over the final value and a faster payout.
Choose Whisky-Online Auctions if you prefer traditional auction excitement and are comfortable with managing your listing. The 0% commission rate is attractive, especially if you’re familiar with the auction process.
Both platforms provide excellent opportunities to sell rare whisky, but your choice will depend on your preference for ease of use and predictability (Glenbotal) versus auction excitement and potential variability (Whisky-Online Auctions).
