Auction Tip #1

Hello everybody.  I am an auctioneer in the La Crosse, WI, area and I have noticed a funny thing lately.  There have been quite a few people that come to our auctions that have never been to an auction but would like to give them a try and perhaps start going regularly.  This comes as a surprise to me, because I have grown up in an auction family and have been going to them my entire life.  When I think about it though, it makes sense.  With shows like "Auction Hunters" and "Storage Wars" and others like it, people who have never had any interest in auctions are starting to wonder what the appeal is.  This is leading more and more people to try the wonderful experience that is "Auctions."  This phenomenon isn't only unique to the La Crosse area either.  From what we have been able to learn from other auctioneers they are experiencing the same thing.

The question that our company, Goodman's A to Z Auctions, has been trying to answer is how we can best assist those customers that have never been to an auction but would like to start going regularly.  Most of these customers truly want to be there, but they don't know what to do or even where to start.  We have decided that the best thing to do would be to make a regular post with helpful tips that are good not only for the new auction goers but also some of the regulars, because let's face it, we can always learn something new and refresh our memory in the meantime.

With that, I present to you Auction Tip #1.  Always get a number.  Even if you aren't planning to buy anything, if you go to an auction, be sure to get a bidding number anyway.  More often than not you will find something that you are interested in buying and that number would be nice to have.  The nice thing about most auction companies, is that bidding numbers are free.  This means it only costs you your time and a little information, such as your name, number, and address, to sign up.  Bidding numbers can be found at what is known as the cashier's trailer.  There are usually signs to show you which trailer that is, otherwise if you get there shortly before the auction is scheduled to begin, you'll most likely see the line of people waiting to get their numbers.  If you still aren't sure, ask someone! Auctions are group-effort events.  That is, they only succeed if people show up and if everyone works to make it a great auction, so feel free to ask someone, (especially if they look like they know what they are doing or look like they are in charge).

That is the first hint for all of you real life auction hunters, but I promise that there will be more to come very soon.

AJAuctioneer