Auction Bargains - Knowing How To Bid Will Help You Get Them
Posted on December 22, 2007
Filed Under Internet |
Everybody loves a bargain. Bargain-hunters are going to Salvation Army stores, thrift shops, garage and tag sales, estate sales, auction houses, and E-Bay. Live auction bidding is different from Internet bidding. You can find bargains at live auctions, but you have know the bidding basics to get them. What are the basics?
1. Preview items. Many auction houses post photos on their Web sites. These photos give you an idea of the array of items, but may not show damage to them. Go to the auction preview and examine items carefully.
2. Get a bidding number. Most auction houses use bidding cards or paddles. If you are interested in an item get a number before the auction starts.
3. Narrow choices. Determine which items interest you most and how much you are willing to pay. “Don’t forget to consider taxes and/or buyer’s premiums that may be added to the final bid,” says Castner’s Auction & Appraisal Service of Branchville, NJ.
4. Ask questions. This month’s auction may focus on furniture and next month’s auction may focus on china. Unless you ask you will not know this. Catalog photos may not tell the whole “story,” so do not be afraid to ask questions.
5. Know the rules. Each auction house and auctioneer has different rules, according to auctioneer Tom DiNardo. He discusses some of the rules in his Web site article, “Bidder Etiquette & Auction Rules.” According DiNardo, the auctioneer is the final authority on all matters.
6. Learn the lingo. Castner’s Auction & Appraisal Service has posted some definitions on its Web site. You may also pick up on auction lingo by watching televised auctions. Understanding auction lingo will help you to avoid bidding mistakes.
7. Listen to the auctioneer. This can be difficult if there are two auction “rings,” two auctioneers working at the same time. The auctioneer will update buyers on items that have been damaged and duplicate items for sale. He or she will announce items that have been added to the auction at the last minute.
8. Bid correctly. Hold your number up high so the auctioneer can see it. Bid according to the auctioneer’s dollar increments. Do not nod your head or the auctioneer will think you raised the bid. On the other hand, if you wish to drop out of the bidding shake you head and say “No.”
9. Pay promptly. Auction houses expect you to pay for purchased items immediately. The cashier will tell you if the auction house accepts personal checks and credit cards.
10. “Babysit” purchased items. Keep an eye on the large items you bought or hold small ones. As Castner’s Auction & Appraisal Service notes, “If someone steals your item after your have purchased it, you are responsible for it.”
Auctions are fun even if you don’t buy anything. They are really fun when the bidding gets fierce. When you get home you may laugh about the bidder who paid to much. You may admire the bidder who found the bargain of the year. Auction houses still have bargains and knowing how to bid will help you get them.
Copyright 2007 by Harriet Hodgson
Harriet Hodgson has been a freelance nonfiction writer for 28 years. She is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Her 24th book
Tags: auction bidding, auctions, live auctions
Related Posts
- Loans: How to Find Equity Loan Bargains
- Shopping Online Is Safe
- Art Auctions - Buying And Selling Art
- How To Hold A Successful Fundraising Auction
- Buy Discount iPhone - How To Buy Discount iPhones
Comments
Leave a Reply