LonghornSam
New member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2007
- Messages
- 16
Hi all,
Yesteday, I had the chance to stop by briefly and check out the this monthly tractor auction in East Texas.
Noon Day Tractor Auction
It was a nice professionally run, albeit somewhat relaxed, auction. I could only stay for about 3 hours but here is what I saw and experienced.
They advertise that they open their gates at 8:00 a.m. I got there at 8:20 a.m. and things were up and running as expected.
Parking was kind of "do it on your own". I would highly recommend you park outside the auction fence along the highway in a manner that will keep you from getting stuck later. I got blocked in and they had a hard time finding owners vehicles to come out and move their vehicles. It would have helped if they had some of their dudes out there helping people park in a way to prevent this from happening. They had plenty of folks helping out so this could have easily been done.
They had well over 500 items (farm equipment, trailers, etc.) to sell of which I would say there were at least 200+ tractors and construction equipment (skidsteers, trackhoes, etc.) of all makes and years. A wide variety included some junkers all the way up to brand new. They also had a some very nice ATV's, and utility vehicles that sold for decent prices. I was very impressed with their selection. I have no doubt that I could have found something I would have been happy with regardless of what I might be looking for.
Here is what they say on their website
First Saturday of each month, rain or shine.
Doors Open: 8:00am
Auction Begins: 9:00am
Auction Order
9:00am Lawnmowers, Golf Carts, ATV's
10:00am Tractors
Absolute, Trailers, Trucks, Salvage and Equipment to follow
Here is what actually happened...
Auction did not start until 9:30 a.m. even though most all the folks involved in the auction were milling around just chatting. At least a hundred people out of at least 300 to 500 people were on the grounds were sitting patiently for things to start. So I would assume there 9:00 a.m. start time doesn't actually happen very often, if at all.
The auctioneer, for the time I was there, was a nice enough guy and did a decent job of keeping things moving along. The guys on the floor were fun to watch trying to fish out bids and spot the buyers. I found the crowd to be quiet and low key. It took an eagle eye to spot bids from behind the crowd. Since I was there for the tractors I had to sit through the ATV's, lawn mowers, etc. from 9:30 a.m to 11:15 a.m. No big deal except that I had to leave at 11:15 a.m. So guess what, I did not get to see a single tractor get sold. That was a real bummer since one of the main reasons for my trip was to travel in from New Mexico to see the auction first hand. Had they started at 9:00 a.m. as advertised I would have gotten to see at least 20 or so tractors get sold. So thus, I cannot report any of the sales that occured.
Other things of note...
They had a nice food cart with some very polite folks working it. Prices were a bit high, but not crazy.
The auction building was functional. The weather was overcast yet not too cold so it was pleasant. I bet it is hot in the summer based on the half dozen or so "portacool" units they had parked inside. Their registration process was simple and easy. They just swipe our drivers license and pull your data from it directly.
Most of the buyers appeared to be locals (I was in town visiting). Everyone was couteous and polite. I love going back home to Texas. My grandmother would have been proud.
They offered some nice incentives for the folks that showed up...
I think they for anyone that bought an item in the auction your name went in the hat for one of a ten $300 gift certificates from a well known western wear store. Also for any registered bidders still there at the end of the auction your number went into the hat for a brand new 16 foot utility trailer. Awesome!
They did announce some info that should help out in the future. Starting in February, they are going to expand the building size so that they can run two auction lanes at one time. So If I heard them correctly they will start at 10:00 a.m. and run the ATV's and such in one lane and the tractors in another lane at the same time.
I would endorse that idea. Time is valuable for everyone so that is great. I also hope that they keep two lanes running at all times. It will probably ramp up the energy and thus the bottom line.
So all in all it was a good experience. I just hope they start on time in the future and help folks out with parking so they can leave when they want to rather than getting pinned in.
By the way, I stayed at the Fairfield Inn about 10 miles away in Tyler. It worked out great, the rooms were clean.
4 out of 5 stars.
I'll try and post some pics soon.
Yesteday, I had the chance to stop by briefly and check out the this monthly tractor auction in East Texas.
Noon Day Tractor Auction
It was a nice professionally run, albeit somewhat relaxed, auction. I could only stay for about 3 hours but here is what I saw and experienced.
They advertise that they open their gates at 8:00 a.m. I got there at 8:20 a.m. and things were up and running as expected.
Parking was kind of "do it on your own". I would highly recommend you park outside the auction fence along the highway in a manner that will keep you from getting stuck later. I got blocked in and they had a hard time finding owners vehicles to come out and move their vehicles. It would have helped if they had some of their dudes out there helping people park in a way to prevent this from happening. They had plenty of folks helping out so this could have easily been done.
They had well over 500 items (farm equipment, trailers, etc.) to sell of which I would say there were at least 200+ tractors and construction equipment (skidsteers, trackhoes, etc.) of all makes and years. A wide variety included some junkers all the way up to brand new. They also had a some very nice ATV's, and utility vehicles that sold for decent prices. I was very impressed with their selection. I have no doubt that I could have found something I would have been happy with regardless of what I might be looking for.
Here is what they say on their website
First Saturday of each month, rain or shine.
Doors Open: 8:00am
Auction Begins: 9:00am
Auction Order
9:00am Lawnmowers, Golf Carts, ATV's
10:00am Tractors
Absolute, Trailers, Trucks, Salvage and Equipment to follow
Here is what actually happened...
Auction did not start until 9:30 a.m. even though most all the folks involved in the auction were milling around just chatting. At least a hundred people out of at least 300 to 500 people were on the grounds were sitting patiently for things to start. So I would assume there 9:00 a.m. start time doesn't actually happen very often, if at all.
The auctioneer, for the time I was there, was a nice enough guy and did a decent job of keeping things moving along. The guys on the floor were fun to watch trying to fish out bids and spot the buyers. I found the crowd to be quiet and low key. It took an eagle eye to spot bids from behind the crowd. Since I was there for the tractors I had to sit through the ATV's, lawn mowers, etc. from 9:30 a.m to 11:15 a.m. No big deal except that I had to leave at 11:15 a.m. So guess what, I did not get to see a single tractor get sold. That was a real bummer since one of the main reasons for my trip was to travel in from New Mexico to see the auction first hand. Had they started at 9:00 a.m. as advertised I would have gotten to see at least 20 or so tractors get sold. So thus, I cannot report any of the sales that occured.
Other things of note...
They had a nice food cart with some very polite folks working it. Prices were a bit high, but not crazy.
The auction building was functional. The weather was overcast yet not too cold so it was pleasant. I bet it is hot in the summer based on the half dozen or so "portacool" units they had parked inside. Their registration process was simple and easy. They just swipe our drivers license and pull your data from it directly.
Most of the buyers appeared to be locals (I was in town visiting). Everyone was couteous and polite. I love going back home to Texas. My grandmother would have been proud.
They offered some nice incentives for the folks that showed up...
I think they for anyone that bought an item in the auction your name went in the hat for one of a ten $300 gift certificates from a well known western wear store. Also for any registered bidders still there at the end of the auction your number went into the hat for a brand new 16 foot utility trailer. Awesome!
They did announce some info that should help out in the future. Starting in February, they are going to expand the building size so that they can run two auction lanes at one time. So If I heard them correctly they will start at 10:00 a.m. and run the ATV's and such in one lane and the tractors in another lane at the same time.
I would endorse that idea. Time is valuable for everyone so that is great. I also hope that they keep two lanes running at all times. It will probably ramp up the energy and thus the bottom line.
So all in all it was a good experience. I just hope they start on time in the future and help folks out with parking so they can leave when they want to rather than getting pinned in.
By the way, I stayed at the Fairfield Inn about 10 miles away in Tyler. It worked out great, the rooms were clean.
4 out of 5 stars.
I'll try and post some pics soon.
