I like auctions and have done quite well over the years, both in person and on line.
Once I attended a sealed bid vehicle government auction.
They had battery carts on hand and U could do you testing at leisure.
One was a Subaru 'Justy'. A sign stated 'will not start' but being very new I sat in it, opened the glove box and behold was the warranty card.
It was current model and less than 3000 Kms.
I joked with my buddy and filled in a bid for $3001.99 and got a call saying come and get it, you won!
The only problem was fusible link that had shorted.
Twisted wire bypass and we drove it home. Later sold it wholesale at full black book value.
Another was an aircraft tug, big heavy machine, started nice and just purred.
The gear shifter arm was broken and the 'stick' was on the floor.
When I sat in the operator's seat a chunk of metal poked me in the butt.
I matched that chunk to the shifting arm and there was a spot on perfect match which indicated that no bits or parts were floating around in the transmission.
While I held on for a few months word went out and I sold it to a cargo airline for a very health profit margin.
Oh, I've had a few. The trick is to know your merchandise and prices and keep cool.
Worst, and very amusing, is tool auctions as folks get carried away and often end up paying more than retail and that for a used item.
Especially notorious is welders and drill presses.
On the other hand I have won tool lots and before I get to my car have sold 1/2 of the lot for more that I bid for it all. Called fast profit!
I have also know of guys showing up for seizure auctions and get healthy cash to simply disappear and not bid.
Just like I once was called to testify in court and was told the case had been dropped.
WTF, as the plaintiff I am the only one that can drop a case.
Bailiff took me aside in a small room (cupboard like) and handed me $500. in cash.
I dropped the complaint then and there. Not my proudest moment.
What I did not know when I filed the complaint was that the 'perp' was the judges son.
(That was a parking lot 'hit and run' with actually no damages other than my clothing when I had to jump out of the driver's way to avoid being hit, the kid was driving a unlit clunker without wipers on a rainy night. I actually leaped and landed on his hood but slid off onto the wet mucky parking lot)
I told the kid to have my suit dry cleaned and we'd call it quits but he told me to F.O., I gave him 24 hours with a promise that I'd file a complaint if I did not hear back.
I then filed!
