A beginner's guide to bidding at an auction......

   As many of you may know, and for those who do not, we have a small antique business where we buy, sell and sometimes trade. They might be old things, not so old things, or maybe even new. The intent is, of course, to make a bit of money. If we relied on our antiques to buy our food or put gas in the car, we would need to step into an entirely new category where buying and selling becomes a full time job. At this point in life that is too big a step, so we maintain a somewhat 'hobby status' which allows us to buy and sell things we like just for the 'fun of it' and of course, it's not a bad thing  to make a little profit too.

   Most of the items we purchase, we buy at auctions and the truth of the matter is that.... auctions and watching people at the auction is down right fun and entertaining. No yard sale shopping here. Boring! At the auction, things can get 'down and dirty' with each person having their own style on 'how and when to bid' or when to stick up their hand or card. The fun can be matching your style with the others in the room. And if you get it right, you can pick up some pretty good deals.

   For those just starting out I thought I might give a few pointers and suggestions based upon my vast amount of worldly experience, well maybe not that vast and maybe not that worldly!.

   Suggestion one. Get to the auction early and preview. Now you probably are thinking that I am talking about the items to be sold. Wrong. I am talking about previewing the others in the room. Watch their actions and behavior, their moves. Do they carry a pad and pencil. Are they watching you watching them? It is important and helpful to be able to spot the serious dealers in the crowd. Often those bidders will set the tone of the auction and the prices. When they buy food at the snack bar, do they pay with a $20?

   Number two. Seating or standing location are key to auction success. Where one stands or sits separates the players from the sight-seers. There are many theories about location. Depending upon the auction, I often like to sit near the front, near the auctioneer. That way he or she has a clear line of sight to me when I bid. If it is a new auction, I may hang out in near the back for a while. That way I can see who is bidding on what, who my competition might be and what the items of their interests are. And often, it is just easier to get to the snack bar. Some auctions have great food. Would you rather go to an auction that has freshly made donuts or ones dumped out of a cardboard box?

   Number three. There is a flow to an auction, usually dictated by the pace of the auctioneer. It is important, depending upon the type and style of bidder you are, to pick up on the speed, pace and verbal rhythm of the auctioneer quickly. There are some who move very slowly, trying to squeeze out every dollar for each item. Those auctions can go on for what seems like days. Others move right along and before you know it, the item is sold and you never even got the chance to  bid, And if the auctioneer is really fast, before long you are left sitting alone, eating your freshly cooked donuts, while everyone else has packed up their trucks and vans and are on their way home.

   Number four. Some auctioneers will give you a clue when they are about to 'sell' the item. “Going, once, going twice......sold' is a common refrain. But there are others who use a simple shout of “sold.” No warning. For 'sniper' bidders like myself, it is important to learn the style of the auctioneer so you can get that last bid. Practicing in front of a mirror may help.

   Number five. Whether you are the successful bidder on an item or not, never, never show emotion. Save your expressions of joy or sorrow (tears) when you get back in the car and are out of the parking lot. Emotions are a dead giveaway and could be used against you by the 'well seasoned' auction-goer and experienced bidder. As they say...”never let them see you cry!”

   Number six. Avoid direct eye contact with those bidding against you. It will ensure, even guarantee, that you will end up paying more than you had intended. And if you do make eye contact by mistake, just close your eyes and turn your head in the opposite direction.

   A key to successful purchasing at an auction is timing. There are several theories about when to jump in on the bidding, when to back off and when to snipe.

   (For those not familiar with the term, 'snipe bidding' is trying to sneak in at the very last possible milli-second, not allowing time for the others to bid.)

   Depending upon how important the item is to you, you may opt to not be the first bidder. It's called "psyching out" the opponent. That way you can determine who else in the room has interest in the same item. There are times I want to be the first bidder, especially if people are not paying attention. At least by being the first bidder, others may think they know that I am interested in bidding, or maybe I am just a decoy for the auctioneer to get the bidding started.

   The most difficult decision at the auction is to know when to get out. My suggestion is to set your upper limit on what you are willing to pay.... and then know that you will probably spend more, not that this has ever happened to me.

   It is easy to get sucked into the emotion and the fun of the auction, but when the auction is finally over and you've loaded up your truck with some great buys, what you really may have done is to make new friends, have a great deal of fun and maybe even take any leftover donuts home.
    Oh! One more. Number seven. Don't forget your checkbook! Happy bidding and see you at the auction!