Fine-Tune These Tips To Enjoy Bidding Experience
There’s a classic TV episode in which comedienne Lucille Ball attends her first auction. Suddenly, her nose starts itching, and she scratches furiously. The auctioneer assumes she’s bidding, and before Lucy knows it, she’s bought some trinket for $1,000!
Don’t worry, says Post Falls auction manager Leanne Nichols. “It’s not like that at all,” she insists. “Most auctions are real easy-going.”
How can neophytes get the most out of auctions, while paying the least? Nichols and others offer these tips:
Check the classified ads in Sunday’s newspaper (category 480) to learn about upcoming auctions.
Arrive early to preview items and ask questions. What looks great from the back row may pale under closer scrutiny.
Don’t feel you have to own something. Set a limit on how much you’re willing to spend, and stick to it.
If you’re unsure of an item’s worth, seek a second opinion or consult a price guide. (And watch dealers. They usually drop out when bidding exceeds an item’s wholesale value.)
Early items are often good deals, because bidders aren’t warmed up. (Knowing this, auctioneers typically start with less desirable items, holding back the best merchandise until midway through an auction.)
Listen carefully to how items are described. Don’t assume something is an antique or still works unless the auctioneer says so.
If you get carried away and bid too high, don’t despair. There may be a back-up bidder willing to take the item off your hands for close to what you paid. Or, you can consign it to another auction, and perhaps turn a profit.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo