Auctions are
unique — in experience, in sound, in
practice.
Many auction
attendees find the experience addictive.
They report that there’s nothing quite
like the thrill of finding something they
want and then bidding against others who
want the same thing.
But you don’t
have to be a seasoned auction attendee to
be able to experience the thrill of
auctions. Auctioneers across America are
glad to welcome new bidders to their
auctions. And though almost everyone has
heard the old story about the person who
attended an auction, scratched his nose
and came home with an item he’d not
intended to buy, pay no heed to that myth.
"People who have
never been to an auction before should
certainly give it a try," said John
Roebuck, CAI, AARE.
"Don’t be intimidated - go and have fun!"
Feel free to
just get your feet wet - don’t think you
have to go to your first auction ready to
bid. Attend an auction or two in your area
to get a feel for how they are conducted.
Watch and listen, then move on to bidding
if that makes you comfortable.
Many auctioneers
spend some time addressing commonly asked
questions and explaining how the auction
is going to work. Some even conduct
pre-auction or practice sessions, or brief
tutorials, about the auction process. If
you’re interested in going to your first
auction, check with local auctioneers to
see if they offer such a service.
Always remember
that at an auction you’re free to ask a
question if you don’t understand
something. Auctioneers and their staffs
want people to continue to come to their
auctions, so they’ll do all they can to
encourage repeat business! Ask a question
of a member of the auctioneer’s team, and
they’ll find the answer for you.
When you arrive
an auction site, register for a bidder
number and read the rules printed on or
displayed on posters, brochures or
handouts. Again, ask questions if you
don’t understand a policy. Inspect the
merchandise you’re interested in, as most
is auctioned on an "as is, where is"
basis. This means it is not guaranteed.
When you buy an item, you become
responsible for it. And, keep in mind that
you’ll pay for the items you purchase
before you leave the auction, even if you
aren’t taking everything with you that
day.
In order to
bid at an auction, you need to make
contact with the auctioneer or the
ringperson. A ringperson is someone who
takes bids from the audience and then
passes those on to the auctioneer. To bid,
hold up your bid card, your hand or shout
"yes." The auctioneer or ringperson will
make eye contact with you, take your bid
and immediately turn and seek another bid.
You can remove yourself from the process
at any time by shaking your head "no" or
saying "no" if the auctioneer or
ringperson turns your way. Should an
auctioneer or ringperson misinterpret any
of your signals, simply report the mistake
right away.