Long a thorn in the sides of other Internet bidding providers, the National Auctioneers Association‘s affinity relationship with Ableauctions.com is coming to an end. We’re excited about this development, as we feel it will foster a more open and competitive development of Internet bidding methods and techniques among all the vendors. Here’s the release.
Overland Park, Kan., August 31, 2009 – National Auctioneers Association (NAA) announced today the dissolution of its relationship with Ableauctions.com Inc. (NYSE Amex “AAC”) , a high-tech liquidator and online auction facilitator that operates the domains iCollector.com and NAALive.com. NAA Live is an online auction site utilized by members of the NAA to market auctions both live and online. The NAA has maintained an affinity relationship with Ableauctions.com Inc. for over 5 years. The NAA is the nation’s largest professional association dedicated to the auction profession and industry. Membership in the NAA ranges from real estate and art auctioneers, to heavy equipment and automobile auctioneers.
“It was determined by the NAA and Ableauctions.com Inc. leadership that the two organizations would terminate their affinity relationship effective August 31, 2009,” said Hannes Combest, NAA CEO. “Since the relationship was created, Ableauctions (NAA Live) has been a proud supporter of the association and its membership. NAA Live and other live online auction companies have led the way in the expansion of auction technology and thanks to their endeavors the auction method of marketing continues to grow and flourish both live and online in today’s marketplace.”
“While we have enjoyed our relationship with the NAA, this does not mark the end of our support for members of the association. Rather, we look forward to a new beginning with a cutting edge platform suitable for all types of auction and one which is fully adaptable to the needs of today’s auction marketplace. We will continue to support the NAA wherever possible and remain a proud advocate of the auctioneering profession.” says Thorsten Bonn, CEO of iCollector.com/NAALive.com.
Ableauctions.com Inc. will continue to operate the domain name naalive.com until April 30, 2010. Effective May 1, 2010, naalive.com will direct back to the National Auctioneers Association homepage auctioneers.org.
