How's stuff packaged for display at live tool auctions?

[GarageWarrior]

Anybody familiar with how things are setup for display at live auctions (e.g. shop liquidations, commercial equipment)?

I can see how lager cabinets and machinery can be palatalized and still be accessible for display and inspection. What about small stuff?

As part of my shop liquidation - there is a bunch of small assorted hand tools, machinist tools, straight edge, dial indicators, small power tools, small stock, wrenches, specialty tools, electrical tools, hardware sets that I want to bring to a commercial auction house. Not sure how it should be packaged and bundled in to lots and still made available for display... Does it go on shelves? Pallets? Clear bags? Bins? Does the auction house topically provide display stands/shelving?

I sold my blueprint cabinets and now have a hell of a mess to sort through with stuff everywhere. There is one commercial auction, that can take large inventory and sell everything, but they have not been very helpful with instructions on how to get things ready, other than just "bring it in".

If I stuff things in boxes and stack on pallets, nobody would be able to see it what's inside. It's easier when I have retail packaging, but there is a lot of stuff that I don't have packaging for. How's that problem typically handled?

 

[wasfuzz]

Here like things are thrown in a box, if it is something big it will be held up separate, if it does not sell it gets thrown into the next box and sold. Most Commercial auctions have things laid out for review prior to the auction. They usually do not sell one tool at a time it will be grouped together like I said above. Google an online auction house like www.faheysales.com and see how they do it.
Good luck with the auction.

 

[nine4gmc]

I group things together that I want sold in a "lot" before I drop them off but that does not mean they will get sold separately. I have seen cardboard drink flats, buckets, small carry tool boxes, milk crates, etc but the auction company will not take time to do it, you need to stage them in groups that you are happy with. If you put too many crappy tools in a box with a few good tools, you may not fetch a good price on them, but if you take a bunch of good tools and add some less expensive tools as filler, you may get more for them. I wouldn't sort them out good from ****, make sure to mix them up with more good to bad ratio.

As for the things in boxes, pallets of stuff, it is up to the potential bidders to preview and get their hands dirty to see if it's worth a bid. If you have too many things in each box, they usually bid only for what they can actually see.

 

[Strouty]

Most of the auctioneers will separate as they see fit. That being said, I would try and organize like with like or group things in a "set". That is a shame they won't give you more input.

 

[GarageWarrior]

Thanks guys!

Cardboard drink flats sounds like the way to go. Just need to figure out where to find stacks of them.

Most of my blueprints were 2" deep, and with 4'x5' drawers that's like 300 sq feet real estate. In the pic is just one drawer and that's from a small blueprint.

Now it's packed in a bunch of grocery bags, as we had to quickly empty blueprint cabinet for the buyer. My shop floor looks like a bomb went off. Going to take days just to sort through it all.

May be I should keep small tools if resale is going to ****. Large stuff costs too much to store, but small stock is expensive and doesn't take much space...

 

[nine4gmc]

You never can tell with auctions, many times you get more than expected on some things but a lot less than expected on others. You may want to try listing lots here in the Classifieds, bet you could sell a few here. Or, just hang on to them as you mentioned, it's less expensive to store them than replace them.

 

[Strouty]

As an example with that drawer you have some duplicates. I would bundle a group of similar purpose but different tools together as a small lot.

 

[GarageWarrior]

As an example with that drawer you have some duplicates. I would bundle a group of similar purpose but different tools together as a small lot.

But they are not duplicates. Same frame, but different jaw dies for different types of crimp connectors ... my friend just use pliers for everything

As far as "purpose" lots - I'll take that idea. Thanks!

 

[Strouty]

I know, but you get my point. The other way would be to group those together, but I feel you will get more bids the other way. If someone wanted all of those different crimpers, they may buy multiple lots to get them all. Of course I would not know this from personal experience.

 

[kd3pc]

May be I should keep small tools if resale is going to ****. Large stuff costs too much to store, but small stock is expensive and doesn't take much space...

resale is going to ****. That is a fact. How much you expect will drive the "keep" or "sell" option. I can't tell from the pics, what quality or brands you are selling, but that will impact the keep or sell option. As a previous poster wrote, replacement is way more than keeping the one you have, and many tools are lesser quality today, than they were even 20 years ago.

As a seller, I would like to sell everything at a great margin -80-90% of retail and push all fees/premiums/etc to the buyer.....reality is more like 10-20% of retail, if you have a good crowd. Then add in premiums and fees and that will take some thought to decide what you want to do.

As a buyer, I like to buy at 10-20% of retail - or less, premiums and fees have to go in there as well, as that is money out of my pocket. As a buyer you have no guarantees, or warranties or as if often the case, no idea if the tool is 100% functional.

You pays your money and you takes your chances.

 

[Steevo]

My local auction house bundles stuff in ways that force the buyer to take stuff he doesn't want to get what he wants. That is how they get the highest prices.
They generally spread a lot out on a table and take several pictures from various angles to maximize the views of the items.

Oh, and I drop out at about 25% of retail at auctions.

 

[egnorant]

Then they have multiple of some items (or similar items) and sell them for "price each".
You bid for one and can pay that price for one or all and they restart the bidding if they have any left. Really ticks some people off when you buy all 22 Vise-Grips for $3.00!
Other bidders hold back so they can buy a few for the same 3 bucks.

Bruce

 

[PFSard]

You may want to try listing lots here in the Classifieds, bet you could sell a few here.

GarageWarrior

I like nine4gmc's thought. I saw that you had ads for large items in GJ classifieds. I assume that you didn't want the hassle of dealing with the smaller items in GJ classifieds. I.e., let an auction house deal with the large quantity of smaller items.

Paul