I think back 25 or so years ago when auctions were fun to attend, when the only bidders were the guys there on the floor, the same faces that you would see at most auctions in or around the Chicago area. Guys knew why I was there, and I knew all bottom feeders in town waiting for their time to lunge at a Milwaukee Drill cheap. I won so many Maple wood tables I had Pollard Bros. contacting me. If there was more then one auction in a day. I would make sure I previewed both. Heavy snow or bad weather was almost a sure sign there would be 40-50 bidders instead of 100. It was easy pickings. Ending bids were a fraction of what they are today. When the auctioneer got to your lot, I managed to be close so I could hear the bids. Baldor anything and vises on or off wood benches. There were days I came home with a truckload of stuff and other days I came home with nothing. I know a lot of auctions in rural areas, farm auctions and such are not online are taking place today. As a big city guy I still reminisce about those good old of real live auctions times
"Life before internet and Bidspotter. The old days "
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BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Unfortunately things have changed. I always heard the old days were better. I was born in 2002 grew up with old technology we had computers from the 1990s up until about 2013 or so. Didn’t have to worry about people getting their phone out and recording everything either. Also like you mentioned no worry of people outbidding you online or anything like that either. I’m not a big fan of all this new stuff anyway.
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
Just had our first local auction in over 1.5 years. Still done by hand, none of that online stuff for this place! Guessing I should leave the details out...haha!
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
I miss those days too.
Here in BF Montana every auction is broadcast on Craigslist, Facebook, etc etc etc. I sure as hell wouldn't hire an auction co that didn't use the web!
Here in BF Montana every auction is broadcast on Craigslist, Facebook, etc etc etc. I sure as hell wouldn't hire an auction co that didn't use the web!
Online auctions can be good too. Just a couple months ago I was bidding on a local auction that had online bidding. I made out like a BANDIT. Some of the items (most, actually) I was the only bidder, and I won for the opening buck. It was pretty poorly advertized, but oh well, lol. Hey, I liked it.
pizza
Well-known member
sorry for off topic, but take a look at the link you posted.
Code:
https://duckduckgo.com/y.js?ad_provider=bing
&eddgt=Z78Bfh%2DO8VBXhLTdeg2tmQ%3D%3D&rut=88
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OWNjMGIxMzZhZjZmOGI%26rlid%3De928a044f526181
b689cc0b136af6f8b&vqd=3-27320119575527994345
1164326651387390052-115260280211527416965829
500591894855984&iurl=%7B1%7DIG%3D894EF724FC6
24382BE3B4F4F318B0730%26CID%3D3908DB659D666F
67062ECB1C9C806E57%26ID%3DDevEx%2C5720.1which should instead be:
Code:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/333982604247remember when links were links instead of obfuscated garbage? i remember.
steaks&anvils
Well-known member
In the early 1980's I used to go to the auctions (farm, estate etc) with my Dad. He was determined to get an old car. We got a few fun mystery boxes. They would just sell "this box and it's contents". I still use the push drill from one of those boxes.
It was fun.
We did get to know the "usual crowd". Of course, in hindsight, we were members of the "usual crowd"!
Dad never did get a car.
It was fun.
We did get to know the "usual crowd". Of course, in hindsight, we were members of the "usual crowd"!
Dad never did get a car.
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Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
Don't forget all the in person bidders looking for stuff to put on E-bay. Had a couple out bid me on items (or boxes of items) then ask me what they are and what I think they are worth.
racinfarmer
Well-known member
The thing is, as long as the auction bill is posted somewhere with "vise", "anvil", "tools", "Snap-On", etc on it, every Tom, ****, and Harry for 28 counties around will show up for a Tuesday at 4am all day 8 ring auction to try to buy that stuff.
And the needledix that end up winning the vises and anvils are the some 7 guys who have 296 vises and 181 anvils in their collection, but really need this one as a good "working" one, and they'll pay whatever it takes, for some reason.
Packard V8
Well-known member
Since the first camel was sold in the first sandy marketplace, auctions have been fun and always rigged to some degree. Shill bidders have always been with us. Auctioneers seeing mystery bidders no one else can see has always been a possibility. Tooling from machines which should be sold together with the machine is broken into lots and stuff which has no relation are lumped into lots.
At auctions, bottom feeders have to contend with those who have enough money that another $10, another $100, isn't even a consideration. They want it, they buy it and never give it a thought.
I belong to several car clubs where the owners are always debating who got a bargain and who paid too much. Again, there are guys with enough money, another $1,000, for some, another $100,000 doesn't even slow them.
At the big time Barrett-Jackson, et al, car auctions, free liquor helps the insanity along. A broker I know usually gets the cars he's sent to bid on, but at a recent auction, a VW 21-window microbus was on the block. He bid up to his limit, but a couple sitting next to me, the wife said, "That's a cute little ****** and I love that turquoise color." The husband handed her the paddle and she just kept raising it until she got it. New record sale, almost twice the market price. It's going to become a yard ornament at their Newport Beach estate.
We really old guys miss the days when the free local weekly Nickel Nick, The Exchange, et al, was mostly all individuals selling their own stuff. If one was seriously looking to buy tools or cars, he'd be at the local store on Wednesday when they were delivered.
I still have several tools and boxes I bought through those classifieds, but because it was inexpensive to advertise and effective, over time, the individuals were crowded out by small and large businesses. I haven't picked up one of those papers in the past twenty-five years.
Same thing has happened to craigslist, eBay and farcebook marketplace. Once they became successful, the greedheads crapped it up and those marketplaces became almost useless to individuals looking to buy or sell.
jack vines
At auctions, bottom feeders have to contend with those who have enough money that another $10, another $100, isn't even a consideration. They want it, they buy it and never give it a thought.
I belong to several car clubs where the owners are always debating who got a bargain and who paid too much. Again, there are guys with enough money, another $1,000, for some, another $100,000 doesn't even slow them.
At the big time Barrett-Jackson, et al, car auctions, free liquor helps the insanity along. A broker I know usually gets the cars he's sent to bid on, but at a recent auction, a VW 21-window microbus was on the block. He bid up to his limit, but a couple sitting next to me, the wife said, "That's a cute little ****** and I love that turquoise color." The husband handed her the paddle and she just kept raising it until she got it. New record sale, almost twice the market price. It's going to become a yard ornament at their Newport Beach estate.
We really old guys miss the days when the free local weekly Nickel Nick, The Exchange, et al, was mostly all individuals selling their own stuff. If one was seriously looking to buy tools or cars, he'd be at the local store on Wednesday when they were delivered.
I still have several tools and boxes I bought through those classifieds, but because it was inexpensive to advertise and effective, over time, the individuals were crowded out by small and large businesses. I haven't picked up one of those papers in the past twenty-five years.
Same thing has happened to craigslist, eBay and farcebook marketplace. Once they became successful, the greedheads crapped it up and those marketplaces became almost useless to individuals looking to buy or sell.
jack vines
True. I buy and restore old Japanese motorcycles, usually 2 strokes. Up until about 5 years ago it was pretty easy to find them at the right price. Sure, there was always some hardheads out there that wanted insane money for a not rare, not running, no title bike, but there were plenty others to chose from. These days the asking prices are pretty insane for the most part across the board.
OTOH, I sold a restored Yamaha a few months back and got way more than what I thought it would go for.
Ton ton
Well-known member
I like to go to farm and gun auctions when I find time .
bassJAM
Well-known member
I've only been to a couple in-person auctions in my life. But more recently you could still make out on online auctions. When I bought my house 9 years ago I bought a LOT of tools and furnishings on a new local online auction (Fast Track) that resold returns from Amazon and the big box hardware stores. Stuff was pennies on the dollar back then. Bought a $5,000 Toto toilet for $350. A $1200 granite top bathroom vanity for $5. A 12" Bosch miter saw for $50. A 12' kayak for $80. 800 sq ft of quality engineered hardwood flooring for $150. Refrigerator for $15. WEN 12" drill press for $40. $300 electric pressure washer for $25. All new/open box. $400 ping pong table for $30. The only time I had an issue was a $250 squat rack I got for $60 that was missing a critical piece and most the hardware, and the manufacturer charged me $100 to ship it to me. Oh and that granite vanity had a back corner broken off, but the broken piece was in the sink so a little JB Weld and it's barely noticeable. Practically every week I was showing up with my truck and sometimes trailer to pick items up. My wife started using it too and got some high end rugs and furniture pieces for cheap.
Then maybe 5 years ago I noticed the other buyers who showed up to pick up their stuff were a little different. Instead of driving their cars and trucks, they were showing up with Uhaul trailers and filling them to the brim. Then you'd see the same stuff that was on the auction a week ago pop up on Craigslist and FB market place. Now instead of paying 10-30% of an item's retail price, everything is going for 90% of retail, or sometimes more. I don't even bother logging in, its no longer worth the hassle.
Then maybe 5 years ago I noticed the other buyers who showed up to pick up their stuff were a little different. Instead of driving their cars and trucks, they were showing up with Uhaul trailers and filling them to the brim. Then you'd see the same stuff that was on the auction a week ago pop up on Craigslist and FB market place. Now instead of paying 10-30% of an item's retail price, everything is going for 90% of retail, or sometimes more. I don't even bother logging in, its no longer worth the hassle.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
My auction house seems to be Acme Tools. What do you expect from a guy that didn't see a live cow until he was 21 years old.
MarvinBerry
Well-known member
Talked a buddy recently... I remember the wild west days of the internet. Pre eBay or just on the verge of that horizon...
Someone a few hundred miles away would put up an ad somewhere with something I wanted. I'd call the dude, talk on the phone and if it seemed legit would mail a check.
He'd get my check then ship out the widget, send me an email with tracking number. It all seemed so easy. Uncomplicated.
Now we have sites collecting sales tax and 6 month buyer protection with PayPal and it's gotten worse, not better. Harder to make a deal. Certainly less profitable on both sides.
Someone a few hundred miles away would put up an ad somewhere with something I wanted. I'd call the dude, talk on the phone and if it seemed legit would mail a check.
He'd get my check then ship out the widget, send me an email with tracking number. It all seemed so easy. Uncomplicated.
Now we have sites collecting sales tax and 6 month buyer protection with PayPal and it's gotten worse, not better. Harder to make a deal. Certainly less profitable on both sides.
There's two local farm auctions near me. Once Covid got here, they went to in-person and online. Both have said they won't go back to in-person only. That really ***** because the broken piece of equipment you know you can fix and flip is now sales for as much as a fixed up one. Mostly because the person with the mouse never saw it in person and isn't aware of the issue.
Indexmill
Well-known member
Progress.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
So, the general purpose of this thread is to ***** about not being able to steal anymore. Is that correct?
I am most surprised that with the internet and resources in palm of hand now, at many auctions I watch used items sell for more than the exact same item ordered online new. And sometimes that is the case even before the additional buyers premium and tax get added on top.
Xcursion88
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2013
- Messages
- 785
Aahhh..
That damned old inTRAnet...
While there is a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips...skype calling for distant family, all sorts of positives....
There is also the problem of exactly what you describe. Ebay...brought an auction to everyone's living room any time of day or night.
Classic cars...LOL...that's a joke. That old codger who has a swiss cheese rust king with the engine seized Mustang Mach 1 in the barn now thinks it's worth 300k easy.
Why? Well you know...Barrett Jackson...Mecum...Ebay motors...
Corvettes that need 100k worth of recon people think they should get 200k for it in junk form.
It has made life easier tracking down a hard to find ****** or similar but again it's also easier for anyone looking for said transmission to find it.
I can tell you being in business the inTRAnet makes every customer an expert
. I love that ****. They bring us something to repair but tell us what their dear friend, google, told them was wrong. They also think they know how much **** should cost or they think they'll play some trickery and buy parts online and bring to you.We don't even participate with that nonsense anymore. Too many "new" egg shaped brake drums right out the box from Rock auto or wrong product altogether from Amazon..whatever...
We either get the parts to fix it or we're just not interested.
Is life better with the internet?
Positives vs. Negatives...
That's a tough one.
Dave455
Well-known member
Here in Sussex, England, we still see a lot of the traditional auctions. For certain things, it’s pretty much the best route to go. There are usually enough folks attending that nothing worthwhile gets given away, and most things find a sensible price.
None of the auctions I attend put lots on ebay, or anywhere else online. The auctioneer can’t be bothered with all that photographing and description writing, and none of his target customers use it anyway.
For years it’s been almost a joke how far “behind” some areas are, but as Jack above said, the “greedheads” (I love that word) have pretty much made a lot of sites unworkable. So, you go along, inspect the lot’s in person, make your bid, pay cash, and take it away the same day. Most lots are sold “as seen”. No guarantee, no ebay disputes, no paypal fees, maybe an auction date advertised online, maybe not even that.
And now, with all these sites getting more and more greedy, the way it’s done here is looking like the way of the future rather than the way of the past.
None of the auctions I attend put lots on ebay, or anywhere else online. The auctioneer can’t be bothered with all that photographing and description writing, and none of his target customers use it anyway.
For years it’s been almost a joke how far “behind” some areas are, but as Jack above said, the “greedheads” (I love that word) have pretty much made a lot of sites unworkable. So, you go along, inspect the lot’s in person, make your bid, pay cash, and take it away the same day. Most lots are sold “as seen”. No guarantee, no ebay disputes, no paypal fees, maybe an auction date advertised online, maybe not even that.
And now, with all these sites getting more and more greedy, the way it’s done here is looking like the way of the future rather than the way of the past.
R.Bolte.Jr
Active member
The auctions can still be fun, in the right frame of mind.
My girlfriend collects Mid Century "stuff". She goes into auctions, armed with the knowledge of what the dealers charge for the items she's looking for, and be willing to go a bit higher than 50% of that. She actually had one get in her face because she was "running up the prices and ruining his profits" for items she wanted. Of course he had the same items on his Marketplace store, for 2x that price. Apparently it was her fault he couldn't steal stuff and resell it for 2.5x the price. She just laughed in his face. He walked away mumbling about how people are RUING this game.
My girlfriend collects Mid Century "stuff". She goes into auctions, armed with the knowledge of what the dealers charge for the items she's looking for, and be willing to go a bit higher than 50% of that. She actually had one get in her face because she was "running up the prices and ruining his profits" for items she wanted. Of course he had the same items on his Marketplace store, for 2x that price. Apparently it was her fault he couldn't steal stuff and resell it for 2.5x the price. She just laughed in his face. He walked away mumbling about how people are RUING this game.