Busy Beever can give the reader a lot of facts about auctions, but we figured we would start this chat about the things that really excites the regular auction goer. What drives us to seek out auctions? What thrill do you get and what excites you about the auction moment? What is your main factor for choosing one auction over another? For us, the excitement surrounding and leading up to the auction we are holding is about many things. We enjoy the setup, of course. It is the finding of auction treasures and staging them for the auctioneer and public. We also enjoy the anticipation of bidding and being able to participate in the auction. Of course, if we have our eye on an auction piece we wonder if we will be able to bid high enough to win the prize. At estate sales, it’s the hunt but for auctions its more about the bidding process and feeling out other buyers as well as listing to the banter. Auction goers of all kinds listen in and wonder who may bid against them and for how much. This is where some excitement stems from. We have all seen the grouchy person that gets upset and bids us up, then the bidding war begins. There also is much excitement about pulling up to the auction and wondering exactly where your items are on the property. Sometimes companies have food trucks available but generally most serve things like chili dogs and fresh popcorn. This always adds to the atmosphere as everyone likes comfort food. Plenty of times we have all seen people wanting just one thing out of a box lot and another person is bidding on a completely different item in that lot. Sometimes these two folks sort out the box when the bidding is done and laugh over the process. For the most part, we see completely different people at our auctions versus our estate sales. This is because of the atmosphere and the bidding process, we believe. It takes a special type of person to stand around for hours and wait to bid on something you may or may not get. We also get bummed when we do not win our item but at the same time, there is still some joy just in the auction process itself. We have all seen an item go for much more at an auction than it was worth and some much less. This is also just part of the process and it’s another thrill as we shake our heads at the final bids. These bids are part of the excitement and letdown that the auctions can bring. The thrill of what is coming up next keeps some of us locked in. Let us not forget about the auctioneer’s tone and cadence. We get caught up in those voices sometimes as if nothing else in the world exists. We even have favorite auctioneers because of their cadence and auction style. At a large outdoor auction kicking back in my green lawn chair, eating a hot dog and listening to an auctioneer in the summertime are some of this writer’s fondest memories. Do you remember when you first received an auction bidding number? Remember the feel of the buying power and of that simple piece of paper or paddle? Or maybe you remember the junk guys that come and buy what seems like piles of trash? To them, there is a purpose for those items. We all collect many things as well as need items to fix a car or are missing a certain part of a childhood toy. These are the reasons we come to auctions and get giddy about the entire process. Yes, grown men even get giddy about an auction and what it may have in store for them. What is your sweetest find? Your most wonderful memory of an auction experience. What keeps you coming back and maybe even going to multiple a month? What keeps you coming back for more? I can say for me it’s the friendly faces and the adrenaline of the buy. Whatever your answers are we hope you will keep auctions alive and well. Even if you don’t spend a dime and come to just attend, attend them regularly if for nothing else but to make sure they survive. For companies like ours, these auctions are what pays the bills and put food on our table.
