How to Attend an Online Auction

I attended my first online auction before the and of the last century, in 1998.  Not a long time ago to me but to those gen x'ers it's more than a lifetime.  

The auction was held by a new company, now internationally known and who continues to be the most widely used site  by sellers and buyers alike.  It's not perfect but is offers the most variety of items, ease of use  from signing on to cashing out. 

Since those early days I have attended hundreds of auctions from the comfort of my office or where ever I happen to be.

 

Deciding What Auction to Attend

There are several auction sites devoted to hosting auction from around the world.  Get to know these sites by previewing their auctions, the items being auctioned.  Be certain to understand the condition of sale, who arranges and pays for shipping of large items like furniture.
Many of the larger auction houses host their own auctions.  I recommend the same information be reviewed.  Check what the auction house specializes in, what types of payment are acceptable, what is the average selling price for items of interest to you.
 

Most important, read reviews of the auctions, are bidders satisfied.  Chances are if others have been you will be too.  

Do Your Homework Before Bidding 

Now that you have identified which auction to attend it is time to complete the registration process.  Most auctions will require you to register, sometimes providing a credit card in order to bid on items.  

You will be issued a bidding number and will be required to select a name to identify yourself during the bidding process. 

Carefully review the pics of the items being auctioned.  Bookmark them, read the descriptions. 

Contact the auction house with any questions.  The time to ask is now, not after you have won the bid.  

Prior to the auction starting is the time to develop your list of items on which you want to bid. Some auctions allow pre-bidding.  If you are available you can attend the auction in real time. 

Determine the highest bid you will enter.  It is important to hold yourself to this during the auction, otherwise you may find yourself bidding more than you wanted. Avoid bidding wars and bidding fever, these lead only to buyers remorse. 

Selling a Collection

Online auctions are a great way to add to a collection, find items to start a new collections, keep current with trends in the auction industry.  Lastly should you decide to downsize a collection you will have the knowledge to select the right auction house for selling your items.

Send me your stories of online auctions. I would love to share in your experiences!

Till next time stay well, stay happy,  

http://www.antiquestattheirongate

auctionmom80@gmail.com

School Supplies and Internet Auctions

Enough of the buying of school supplies.  How much can a little child write in the first days of school.  Anyway there is always the internet to order from and have delivered to your door within a day.  We have already begun to select from the childrens' magazines of which ones to subscribe to. As for the weekend it was a glorious time for internet auctions that allow auctions to continue for days, months even if they auction items to a store!

Unlike live auctions you can take your time deciding whether to bid, how much to bid, and when to get in the bidding. Those types of internet auctions are not nearly as exciting or nearly as good as teaching quick decision making.  However, there are live internet auction sites that allow you to experience the excitement of a being at a real live auction and still enjoy the comfort of sitting in your home, having your favorite foods within arm reach, the telephone in another, and be able to keep up with what is going on at home as well as with the auction.  That's what I am looking forward to this week.  One of my favorite auction houses from the West is having a huge antique and collectible auction.  Sure there are some things I don't want or need right now, like a tractor but the listings  of household items hold a great deal of interest for me.

Before the auction I will look through the categories of items of interest. It's a good idea to write down the number of the item, called a lot number, and a title of the item, for example Mission Oak Chair. During the week I will look at the pics I am most interested in a few times, maybe even email the auction house with any questions I have.  Auctioneers would rather have you ask questions before time than to be unsatisfied with an item you won and then did not like I am comfortable with this auction house having done business with them before.  This time I am not looking for anything in particular, but that's the fun of auctions, one never knows the treasures that lurk in the next lot called.