Tell us about auctions

[Humberto]

How do you go about bidding at auctions? Where do you find out about these auctions?

 

[ToxicBunny]

us?

 

[Messugga]

You fight the auctioneer for what you want.

 

[Avenue]

You arrive at the auction and register- this normally involves leaving your credit card with them or some kind of deposit so you can't have buyers remorse. You then have some time before the auction to view the products on offer.
For the auction itself, a guy will introduce each item with the starting bid and if you're interested you raise a plaque with your number. He calls it out and then raises the bid. Highest bid wins.
After the auction you collect your goods and pay.
Just use wisdom when you go, those guys stir you into a frenzy and you can come away with a lot of stuff you don't really want.

 

[satanboy]

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/

 

[Humberto]

I read that Julius Malema's grand piano was auctioned off for R 9,500 which seems like a bargain.

 

[Hosehead]

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/

That's for cheap trinkets and scams.

Proper auctions are advertised in the weekend papers. Watch a few before you go out bidding and watch out for shills planted in the audience whose job it is to bid against you if the price is too low or the auctioneer is struggling to raise interest. Remember (and I cant stress this enough) but if you have the winning bid you need to factor in the auctioneers commission (between 10-15%) plus VAT so when you bid keep the final price in mind -especially as things can move very fast and before you know it you end up with a pile of rubbish - common beginners mistake ...getting carried away.
If at all possible go to the viewing of the lots BEFORE the auction (usually the day before or just prior) and do your research on what something is worth and what you are prepared to pay. On the day don't go over your pre set budget and it's not the end of the world if you lose something you had eyes on.
once I found myself bidding against a shill and I played along - it was like a poker game. The ultimate satisfaction was when the price rose to a ridiculous level and I stopped bidding after the shill put in his bid. Serves him right.
But look around and you can score- especially if turnout on the day is light.

 

[Hosehead]

I read that Julius Malema's grand piano was auctioned off for R 9,500 which seems like a bargain.

Yes because there are very very rich people in Polokwane. Even the Catholic Church...

One bidder snatched a piano for R9000. “I have been looking for a piano to play in my church, the Roman Catholic Church in Polokwane,”

 

[GreyBush]

I read that Julius Malema's grand piano was auctioned off for R 9,500 which seems like a bargain.

Good deal because you know that piano's never been used.

 

[Avenue]

Good deal because you know that piano's never been used.

but you may have to first wipe floyd shivambu butt prints off it.