Auction Strategy

[GolfAddict]

I've seen that many times, a box of low value stuff not getting any bids. Often they'll all-of-a-sudden just add it to the next box and start looking for bids with it all combined. Seems there's always something in all that stuff combined that someone is interested in bidding on, and a sale gets made. You're seeing the opposite happen - the stuff is already combined.

You are frustrated when a lot has a valuable item or two mixed in with some "stuff". They've likely done that to get a sale and move the low value stuff quickly. You happened to be interested in the low value stuff, not the expensive stuff.

I wouldn't hesitate to speak up and ask for a lot to be split if what you wanted split out was low value stuff. I'm betting they'd be willing to, as they know they've got a sale for the low value stuff, and another sale for the high value stuff. They're going to get the same money for the good stuff, and a little out of you for the other. If you were asking for the valuable stuff to be split off, good luck - not going to happen.

 

[bdeboer]

Have you ever tried offering 2 dollars for the items you want just as the auctioneer starts on the pallet. Or ask for choice out of the box?

 

[GolfAddict]

Choice is often offered (or would likely be agreed to if asked) if it's a bunch of pretty good stuff.

If it's a bunch of pretty good stuff, and choice isn't offered, the auctioneer may be willing to sell choice if he's asked. You can bid up to what you want to pay for the lesser value things and stop. If you are high bidder, you really made out. Likely you're not, so once the bidding ends, you are risking that the winner doesn't want them all for x-times the price. If he doesn't, then you can start bidding up to your price again on the remaining. If you really want the lesser stuff, I think you'd be better off to ask for the lesser stuff split from the lot and bid on first.

In the case where it's some good stuff with a bunch of "bad", the auctioneer probably grouped it that way to move the "bad". He may be willing to go with choice, and it doesn't hurt to ask, but I don't think he's going to agree. He's going to naturally think that you and everyone else is interested in the good stuff. His experience tells him that if he sells choice, the price will run up and the winner will take the good stuff. And he's left trying to sell the "bad" that no one may want. I think your chances are going to be better if you let him know you're interested in the "bad" stuff and ask if that can be split off and auctioned first.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Usually someone waits until I buy what they want, then they steal it later. Or the item I want mysteriously ends up in the lot next to it just before bidding begins

Sometimes you can watch other buyers and see what seems to grab their interest in a particular lot, than make an educated guess when it comes to bidding by choice. 9 out of 10 times the other person is after something that I'd never expect, like a used toilet seat or a Jeff Gordon clock with half the numbers missing.

Just reading this thread is giving me auction fever LOL

 

[Gary Fowler]

We have a farm auction nearby twice a year and mostly it is junk that should be thrown in the trash plus tractors, cars, trucks, trailers and a few worn out pieces of equipment. I usually stop by for a look a day or two before the auction and if anything is there that interest me, I may stay for the auction. What is funny is that many times folks will bid up some items within a couple hundred of new price and if in a frenzy, sometimes pay more than new. I rarely see any bargains happening at an auction. I give away or throw away better stuff than I see at most of them.