Auction Crazies

[hunterridgefarm]

I plan on going to an farm and home auction in a couple weeks. The owner had some 3pt attachments, welders, and tools I am interested in looking at and possibly bidding on. Also have some antiques my wife wants to look at /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

In the past I have been able to get some great buys at Farm and Estate auctions...that is unless the Crazies show up!

The Crazies are average people, some hobby farmers, some people just looking for a good deal. That is until the bidding starts /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif then the crazy part sets in.

They pay more for used items than a new one would cost, they get caught-up in the bidding and next thing you know they paid $500.00 for a $350.00 air compressor, $25.00 for a $15.00 shovel, and $5.00 for a box of nothing!!! And talk about what a great deal they got. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I hope they don't show up at this auction I really would like a good deal on a set of rippers, back blade, post hole digger, and welder /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

If you have never witnessed the Auction Crazies...its worht seeing at least once /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[slowrev]

I have seen various implements go for as much or more than the exact same item brand new. I know what you mean.

Ben

 

[JerryG]

You can find the seller pretty easily. He is guy in the crowd with the biggest smile. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[CTyler]

Yep...see it online quite a bit as well. Bid it up past what you can buy it down the street for and pay shipping on top of it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Winning an auction can be a very ironic and moronic.

 

[stevenf]

I went to a junior livestock auction last year where the average grand champion steer over the years sold for $7,500 but last year someone got the wise (very wise) idea of inviting two competing Bar-B-Que outfits and they broke some all time records when in this little old barn setup for a FFA high school kids auction the GRAND CHAMPION STEER sold for over $25,000. What a great start to college that kid had!
Steve

 

[hunterridgefarm]

It is unreal what some people will do at auctions...any kind of auction.

I have thought about auctioning all my tractors, new, and old equipment. Then taking the money buying the 50-75 HP tractor I am looking at...all new equipment... and having enough left over to Super-Size my Fries. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But it would be my luck the Auction Crazies would sleep-in that day /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

 

[George2615]

I know exactly what you mean. About three months ago I spotted an upcoming farm & equipment auction in the Sunday paper. I went and saw several trailers, bobcats and access., 3 pt rotary mowers, mini escavators, heavy equipment, compressors, welders, generators etc. and many items you might see in a Harbor Freight store. I went early and looked over what I was going to bid on , set my prices and waited for the auction to start. I left when the auction was 2/3 over with all the Crazies bidding (Also to beat the rush since there were several hundred there). Everything I was going to bid on sold for more than I could buy it new for. All the stuff such as Harbor Freight items sold for 30 - 50% more than you can buy in the store for. The used trailers winning bids were 300-500 more than new price. Not only that, the successful bidder also has to pay sales tax of 8% plus a buyers premium on another 10%. I couldn't believe how ignorant these crazies were. I ended up buying items I wanted later at new price and saved.

 

[California]

And government auctions are even worse from the bidder's perspective.

I posted this a while back showing how the deck is stacked against an off-the-street bidder:
Government Auctions

 

[beenthere]

I take it the Crazies are the highest bidders. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Can't be anything wierd about going over the previous bid to get the item being sold. The item goes to who wants it the most. What could be fairer than that? Or am I missing something here? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Sure, some things sell for more than new, but that is where I stop bidding. I don't mind if someone else is willing to pay more, as that is to the benefit of the seller. Also, I don't have to drag it home to find out that the item may not be what I thought it was, and by then I can't take it back. As to comparing prices to Harbor Freight - well the quality isn't always too tremendous at HF, and the used tools at the auction are maybe tested over time and are better. The auction is where I would go for a good steel spoon shovel. Or a good garden rake. Can't seem to find good ones new at the stores like they used to make. Same with a good axe. I could go on.

Some auctions you go to won't have any other bidders, such as these awful 'crazies', and the auctioneer will 'sell fast' to keep things moving. Have to go to a lot of auctions to find these gems.

Lately, I've gone to auctions just to realize that its nice stuff, and what I would bid on, but I leave realizing that if I really want it, I will go to the store and buy it new. Lots better control of the purchase that way, especially if something goes wrong. Maybe I'm crazy, but just the way I am. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[goodoleboy]

I got a few male inlaw's "who know alot about everything" LOL. Like is this widget a good deal? In fact the closet thing they have read to a book or newspaper is the classified ads or daily trader magazine. They frequent auctions,go to pawn shops and know the going price for just about anything I can throw at them. Nothing wrong with that, I like that stuff to to an extent.

For them finding bargains on "stuff" is their hobby or at least it takes up alot of their free time which pretty much constitutes a hobby.

I figure lots of people frequent auctions as hobbies.Ive heard of people spending quite abit of money on hobbies including tractors, land, etc.. I dont think the Crazies are really crazy just people having a good time or they could scared idiots with pocketsful of money bidding on anything they can get their hands on.

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif