Went to my first auction today!

farmergirl · #21 04/24/10, 04:43 PM

HopefulLady,
What part of the country are you in? We're in need of a cheap old truck for the farm.

FarmboyBill · #22 04/24/10, 05:43 PM

Yup, Once i took 2 tires I didnt need to the sale. The bidding was slow, and I upped the bid, I darn near had to take them back home, PLUS pay the commission both on the auctioneer selling them for me, and paying the commission cause I had bought them back, I didnt like that idea.

When I go to bid on something. I decide before, LONG before whether I really need/want it or not. If I decide I really need it, then I dont worry about the money. I bid like Donald Trump would. Like I got all the rest of the stuff to buy, and I aint got time to be standing here bidding on this. Ill worry about getting the money after the bidding is over If I dont have it on me at that time. Here, the sale is on Sat, and we got to tues afternoon to settle. I raise the bid before the auctioneer even looks at me. I dont look anxious, I dont look worried, I look bored. I always go One bid over an even amount, If the bid has finally reached $50, or $100 say, for an example, Ill go the next bid above that, as so many people set a limit at those points, and then drop out. If the person is bidding like hes haveing to sell parts of his body to come up with the money, and the auctioneer figures he woulda had an easier time being a dentist, Ill hang in there, jumping on every bid he makes. If they cut it down to less than the auctioneer asks, say he starts out at $50, and it gets to $75, and the auctioneer asks for $80, and the other bidder says 86, or 87, whatever, I know itall soon be mine.

Hopeful Lady · #23 04/24/10, 05:44 PM

MS Farmergirl. We have been to ones in both MS and LA.

PrettyPaisley · #24 04/25/10, 11:20 AM

AH!

We went to the first one ever about a month ago and had a blast! I'd never been to anything like it and just fell in love. So did my 11 year old step-daughter; she wants to spend every Saturday there from now on!

We left with a couple of bunnies, nesting boxes and some other odds and ends like pocket knives and foot locker. That was for me; I need a way to lock my tools so they don't disappear!

I loved it and now have a place to take my old hens when it's time to replace them!

beowoulf90 · #25 04/26/10, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HilltopDaisy

Yep, I'm (mumble mumble) years old and I've never been to an auction until today. I took $3 with me, just in case I wanted coffee. I didn't trust myself. Good thing, too, because I would have come home with baby cows (6 month old dairy heifers went for less than $200. I don't know if it's good or bad, but they were cute. There were 3 registered Texas Longhorn cows, all bred, went for $400 each).

All in all, it was a wonderful day. This is a yearly farm auction, less than 10 minutes from here. I was in heaven. I'm so glad that I was able to attend.

Well Congrats!

I'm at auction every Tuesday evening and have been going to auctions for many years. When I'm home on weekends I try to get to the farm auctions if I can.. Just remember that it can get addicting..

If you are going after something specific, know what the going price is before you go to an auction to bid on it. As a general rule I won't bid more then half the new value on an item. The reasons for this is because you never really know the condition of the item till you buy it and try to use it. For example; I've bought used tv's for $3 and they lasted for years and I've bought tv's for $100 and they lasted 3 days.. Now you have to understand I rarely buy anything new any more. I can normally find it for less at auction and in just as good of condition. The DW has a working antique spinning wheel I paid $45 or my coal forge and blower for $20. It is just a matter of patience and being there at the right time..

Enjoy the auctions!

jmtinmi · #26 04/26/10, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PulpFaction

Holy moly, I just gave one away free on Craigslist the other day. Abandoned in our lot with a broken axle and a dilapidated camper.

Shoulda hauled it to an auction!

Or took it to a scrap metal business. Scrap steel is back to $200 a ton here.

chewie · #27 04/27/10, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopeful Lady

Of course when we have an item that we are trying to sell we sit way up in the bleachers and DH bids against it. Just to make sure we get what we need for it. I didnt realize until after my first auction that this was common place. It makes sense though. We like auctions can you tell.

Blessings,
HL

in this area, its called running up a bid, and is scorned. sometimes you won't be allowed back. if you need XX for the item, you put a bottom price on it, and it won't sell if that price isnt' met. i guess your way, you can avoid no-sales charges, but our area is so small, i'd be too embarrassed to pull this sort of thing. is it actually allowed in other places?

we also hit many auctions thru the year, found some fab deals.

FarmboyBill · #28 04/27/10, 01:19 PM

The auction I go to is so big, Im sure it happens all the time. I did it once, and that was enough for me lol

thequeensblessing · #29 04/27/10, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewie

in this area, its called running up a bid, and is scorned. sometimes you won't be allowed back. if you need XX for the item, you put a bottom price on it, and it won't sell if that price isnt' met. i guess your way, you can avoid no-sales charges, but our area is so small, i'd be too embarrassed to pull this sort of thing. is it actually allowed in other places?

we also hit many auctions thru the year, found some fab deals.

It's a nasty practice that is very much discouraged here too. People get a reputation for bid running and if folks know an item/animal is yours, they won't bid on it after a while. Not a good reputation to have in the auction circles.

That being said, we go to a semi-annual plant and nursery auction in the next town over and it amazes me how many people get in such a bidding war with other bidders that they don't realize they are paying way over the retail value of plant/tree they are bidding on. I mean, the nursery leaves the tags with the retail price right on the items. People will bid $32.00 for a tree marked $24.00. I always take time to walk and find the items I want, note their retail value and set myself a limit.

GoldenCityMuse · #30 04/27/10, 04:22 PM

Shill bidding is the term, and reputable auctioneers don't allow it. That is what a reserve is used for.

beaglebiz · #31 04/27/10, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beowoulf90

Well Congrats!

I'm at auction every Tuesday evening and have been going to auctions for many years. When I'm home on weekends I try to get to the farm auctions if I can.. Just remember that it can get addicting..

If you are going after something specific, know what the going price is before you go to an auction to bid on it. As a general rule I won't bid more then half the new value on an item. The reasons for this is because you never really know the condition of the item till you buy it and try to use it. For example; I've bought used tv's for $3 and they lasted for years and I've bought tv's for $100 and they lasted 3 days.. Now you have to understand I rarely buy anything new any more. I can normally find it for less at auction and in just as good of condition. The DW has a working antique spinning wheel I paid $45 or my coal forge and blower for $20. It is just a matter of patience and being there at the right time..

Enjoy the auctions!

not sure where you are in PA, but do you go to the Nicholoson Livestock auction on Tuesdays?? Just wondering, because my family goes sometimes

beowoulf90 · #32 04/30/10, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaglebiz

not sure where you are in PA, but do you go to the Nicholoson Livestock auction on Tuesdays?? Just wondering, because my family goes sometimes

Nope, I'm down here in Lancaster and York counties. The one I go to on Tuesday is Conestoga Auction, across from Root's Farmers Market which is also every Tuesday. Occasionally I will go to the small livestock auction or the produce action at the Farmers Market.

This past Tuesday I did get a Delta Wood Shaper for $75 plus 10% buyers premium and sales tax, so for less then $90 I got a wood shaper in very good condition. Oh I also picked up a double boiler/steamer for the DW for $3...

I had to "bribe" my purchase with it...

FarmboyBill · #33 04/30/10, 11:06 AM

Here, theres hardly any way an auctioneer would know who brought what.

I was watching a show on PBS about peoples minds and money. They had an auction of a $20 bill. The deal was, the next to the last bid had to pay the amount of their bid back to the auctioneer. The bill sold for $28, They said that the higher the last 2 numbers of your ssn was the more likely u were of takeing risks. They said if you had watched a sad movie, the less you were likely to take risks

Sometimes ill pay a high price for something I want simply cause its in good shape, its here, im here, and I dont have to go into tulsa somewhere to buy it, which I might not do if I had to do so.

FarmboyBill · #34 05/01/10, 08:33 PM

They had 4 stands of black plastic tubs with handles on them. 10 stacked 10 to a stack. I had counted them so I knew how many there were inna stack. Maybe I thought that was how they were gonna sell them. Anyway, I bid $6 and got one of the stacks. Then When they were putting my tags number on the stack, I heard them say, (Yup,, thats each one in the stack). That was alot more money than I wanted to spend. Then with the rest of the stacks, people bought them in 2s and 3s, whatever. I really didnt want or need 10, but I didnt want to mitch about it, as im more or less a regular there. Guess thats the only way to learn. Im positive, it they had been seperated, ida realized that I would have to pay the amount for each, but with them fitted so close together, maybe, when the bidding got started my mind went visual, and I just saw 4 trash barrels lol There each around 24in bottom, 32in top with handles, and around 20in deep. Ill find a use for a few of them and give a couple each to my kids.

beowoulf90 · #35 05/05/10, 12:18 PM

Yesterday I got a Black & Decker Shop Mate work bench ( a folding work table/bench/vise) for $1.. The thing is in excellent shape and almost think it is in better shape then the other ones I have and paid more for..

laughaha · #36 05/05/10, 04:44 PM

I LOVE AUCTIONS!!!

Last year I got an old (electric) washer with the wringer on top for about $5- It's now our really cool cooler for get togethers. We put a handtowel in the wringer and love the drain.

I got an old stock tank (6 or 8' long) that was a bit rusty around the top for $10. I painted it blue with rustoleum and have been using it for everything- right now it's a brooder.

Cast iron pig trough for $25- holds 25 lbs of chicken feed in the chicken house. Before that I was having to feed everyday.

My stepdad put his foot down when a HUGE cast iron safe came up for bid- I still wish I'd gotten it- highest bid was like $45.

All told I spent about $100 and had to make two trailer load trips to get all the loot home. Auctions are the bombdiggity, lol

My first auction for this year will be on saturday- a poultry auction.

Jerngen · #37 05/06/10, 02:09 AM

I'm one of those who just go to auctions for fun. If the weather is nice and it's on a weekend...... I don't go tho. I only go to the ones on weekdays and/or when the weather is "off".
My family has gotten some amazing deals over the years this way