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Thinking of going to a Auction this weekend

N

NYOlivers

Member
So I am considering possibly going to a farm equipment auction this Saturday, about an hour away from me. The auction is at a used equipment dealer. I figure its kind of like a inventory reduction deal. I honestly have only been to 2 live auctions before, one was non tractor/farm related and the other was. I was not in the market for anything at either time. So my question to all of you fellow YT'ers and auction grurus is what are some pointers good or bad that I should follow or take into consideration?? I think I understand the basics of what has to happen, I would have to get there early enough to register to bid with the auctioneer and then look over the items I am thinking about bidding on, and then I guess wait till they start and get around to something I am intrested in. At that point I guess I pay attention to the auctioneer and If I want to place a bid make sure they notice my bid. I have bought tractors and some other equipment from online actions in the past. That seems easy to me just set my highest price I am willing to pay and then watch from there, and adjust if nessecary. Fortunely I have had a chance to preview most of what I was bidding on online.

I called and talked to the auctioneer today, I asked how early I could get there to check over the items and if there are more lots then just whats in the pictures. Also if they will load bought items and when does it have to be remove by. Is there more questions I should have asked?

Any commets, advice or anything else would be greatly appricated. Thanks in advance.....
 
If you find anything that interests you get a good idea of what you are willing to pay or you can get caught up in the auction and overbid to regret it later. Bring a pen to keep track of prices. Have fun and buy something, I always figure I need to buy something at the auction for when I have my own auction down the road.

Joe
 
Expect to stand around a lot. I've gotten to auctions at 9am and hung around until mid afternoon for one item I'm interested in to sell, and then seen the item sell for twice what I was willing to pay.

If there's only one large item I'm interested in on an auction, I've gotten the habit of calling the auctioneer ahead of time and asking him if he can predict approximately the time it will sell.

Traditionally, all the small stuff sells first, then progresses upward with the large, high dollar items selling last. But you can't even trust that. There was a local auction a couple of years ago that had several vehicles I was interested in, and vehicles usually sell late in an auction. I arrived at the auction a half hours after it started, and found the vehicles had been the very first things that sold. Someone commented they didn't hardly bring anything.

It seems everyone has their own bidding theories. Some will bid aggressively right from the start on an item, thinking it will scare everyone else off. Others will wait until the bidding almost stops and then jump in. I play it by ear, but I usually set a top dollar I'll pay for something and then bid one bid above that, in case someone else has the same thought.

In a nutshell, expect the unexpected. Hope this helps. Good luck!
 
Once you bid,you probably won't have to get the auctioneer's attention again. There'll be a ring man on you to make sure you keep bidding. Tell him and he'll let the auctioneer know.
 
It is at Ken Benson farm equipment in Lima NY. The auctioneer is Blake Benson Auction Company, I assume a son or relative.
 
That is kind of what I figure is going to or what could happen. There is 2 items I see as of now that interested me, I figure they will go for a lot more then I am willing to spend. One is a cultimulcher they seem to bring good money around here, even old bet up ones that I see for sale. I figure it will go for more than I want to spend. I have a small budget to work with and I am just trying to start getting better equipment and implements. I hate asking to borrow stuff from people. There is enough correct color green tractors around here! I have to put them to work. Thanks for the advice.
 
I always try to see who else is bidding against me.... and make sure that it is indeed somebody!

Go with a top $ price in mind.

Usually they will start things out about where they will think it is worth, and then drop it down to a much lower level to get a first bid.

Good luck, and let us know how it works out.
 
Be courteous of others. If you are going to bid, BID Please do not stand around and hum hawng to make the auctioneer beg for your bid. It wastes everybody's time. Some on his site openly say they are very slow bidders. They try to convince us they are just trying to get best price. In reality they are just craving the ATTENTION of the crowd!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's Rude and shows the ignorance of the bidder. Decide what you are willing to pay for something before item starts and stick to it. What someone else thinks an item is worth should have NO bearing on what you think., I love it when some clown waits and is so slow everyone is giving them the attention they are wishing for and the auctioneer says sold. Often the person will complain they were going to bid. The auctioneer often says then BID!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Pay attention to the auctioneers announcement when he starts to sell something.......such as a tractor with duals he may say duals sell separate...or if there is a group of something he may all sell for one money or they may sell for the bid times the number of items in the group.....I've seen some bidders get awful mad when they didn't pay attention to what they where bidding on.
 
I am always leery of dealer's "auctions" unless they are going out of business. Sometimes it's more like "What can we 'auction' to some sap that will pay much more than it is worth". Is it an 'absolute' auction or will there be reserves on some or all of the items? When some of the more desired items sell look and see who is bidding and when they jump in. For all you know some of their "employees" or friends will make bids just to run up the price and you won't know if they are legit or not. That being said if you have an idea of what you want to bid then be prepared to bid and stop, don't get caught up in the "excitement" and overbid. Otherwise pay close attention and be ready when your item comes up. Good Luck, you CAN get a deal sometimes. :)
 
I've never been to Benson's auctions but I have the same sense of apprehension when it comes to dealer or jockey auctions as to whether something is really for sale or not. Further, once you get to know an annual sale you will realize that each auction has its own flavor so to speak. I am going to a consignment sale on the same day but going to one where there are a fair amount of what I would call parts units even if they are not described as such. These type of machines show up there year after year. Another sale I sometimes hit has a lot of older stuff for the gray and red Ford tractors along with older IH and JD corn planters and plows.
 
I have been to a couple and the auctioneer will tell a slow bidder, "S...... or get off the pot we have a lot of stuff to sell. He said it really loud to this clown. The guy just crawled away. And away we went.
 
That's kind of what I had in the back of my mind. When I talked to the auctioneer he said by Thursday night or Friday they should have more pictures posted of more items that are comming in this week. I think it will be a last minute decision if I go or not. I know what I can spend so I will just keep that in mind. If I find something I like.
 
Yeah.

I was bidding on a combine once, and some smart alec kid was bidding a dollar at a time. On a combine. And the auctioneer let him get away with it. I ran the price up and stuck the kid with it.
 
I can't speak as to consignments as like I said before I have never been to one of his sales. I will say that he brings in a fair amount of IH tractors 06-66 series row crops, older gravity wagons of all types, IH and White tillage, and JD 7000 planters for everyday stock to sell. Never bought anything from him.
 
Get there early check out anything you think you might be interested in and write the item's number or description down and how much your highest bid will be, important to note where
its located because at big auctions with a huge crowd it can be confusing.Since you haven't been to many live auctions let someone else start the bidding then join in the bidding until
you have the top bid or it goes past your preset top price you want to pay. Just that simple and do not worry about things a lot of people worry about real and imagined like is the auctioneer doing some magic trick or who is bidding against you etc as it makes no difference in the end. If you get it for your your price great if not that's the way it goes.
Also need to check on things like buyers premiums and taxes to be able to figure those into the final price you want to pay for an item.
 
I have been on both sides of the auction wagon, bid loud and often. Throw your hand up and holler, after the first bid they will know to keep an eye on you. Be ready to bid,the largest auctoner company around here will sell the first item quick and cheep, just to wake up the crowd.
 
Understand and take into account "buyer's Premium" that is added to the sale price and you pay it. Not all auctioneers charge a buyer's premium.
 
Just as many others have said,, do your research before the auction and get a price in your head what you want to pay for an item or items. Let someone else start the bid and when it's your turn, keep bidding up to your limit, then"stop". It's real easy to go over your limit and then you'll regret it later. That's my auction theory and I stick to it. I've seen others get mad at themselves for bidding too much, nobodys fault but their own.
Also, as others have said,, see how the auctioneer runs his auction. One important this to watch for is rafter bids. That's where he'll take a bid from you then take a bid from the rafters, that's no one bidding and he's doing that to run you or someone else up. I know auctioneers who do that and I won't go to their auctions because they're dishonest.
Auctions are fun and you can usually find a good deal, if you pay attention.
 
Thanks to everyone for the advice and comments. I will decide Friday if I do go or not to the auction on Saturday morning. Plus I have to dig the trailer out of the snow! I will keep you all posted...
 
Coonie Minnie's statement of the auctioneer starting high then dropping way down to get the first bid is worth repeating for someone not familiar with the way auctions work. This is also why I am hardly ever the first bidder on an item unless the auctioneer has dropped truly low and still hasn't gotten a bid. For an auction novice it would always be safer to let the bidding begin before jumping in. Once you start bidding you should bid decisively right up to your set maximum then say "nope" and walk away. Hesitant bidding could send a message to your opponent(s) that you're getting uncomfortable with the dollars and are getting cold feet. This might encourage them to keep going past their set maximum in the hopes you bow out the next time around. The auctioneer wants people to violate their set maximums (thus increasing the selling price) and will work hard at trying to convince you to keep going once you say no. If you physically disengage from the bidding once throwing in the towel it eliminates the opportunity for the auctioneer to keep working on you for another bid that is past your limit.
 
My Place is full of bargain stuff LOL , And i Am a oldhand at auction bidding . I have dealt with alot of Auctioneers in my time .the best Auctioneers Control the increment of bidding , And will not Accept 5 dollar bidding until the final bid throes of a item of $ 200 value ,and 50 for $2000 item, 500 for $20,000 item , you get the drift.I like ringleaders that pry bids , Since Their are More Personalities exposed . The bidders are easier to spot and easier to read the resolve strength of the bidder . I have heard of syhtaZ auctioneers that grab airbids , But I dO Not BELEIVE WE ALLOW Those Guys to chant 1 minute in the state of INDIANA. we Will not Tolerate them . PERIOD //// My favorite spot was a family friends Place that is Now out of Business from personel gambling problems.. THE GUy Was a Top Notch Auctioneer Who Knew the Business and the People too . He would Look Over at Me sometimes when He was tumbling down , trying to get a starter bid . Just to get it rolling i would throw in at $ 300 and it would take off and settle out at over a thousand .More than once i got hung though .But , I Got a Heck of a deal. Like $1400 on a 430 Case diesel with starter issues .a 12ft field cultivator for $125.and a NH 489 Haybine for 250 bux.and a 125 Bux on a Spray rig. Once i Got Hung up on a Perkins 354 Combine Motor that i Knew was a Darn GOOD MOTOR . never moved it and sold it 3 monthes later at next auction for 800 more than i paid .There Is a Internet Auction Hot Shot Auctioneer in Our Area , That Still does LIVE AUctions, I had Heard that He paper Bumps the bids,and did not want to believe it ,til I was a Victim 1st hand , , I Fully knew My successful last Bid was 450 and He was beggin for 500, and that same day i bid 90 when he wanted a hundred,They Were Recorded as 500 and 100 and I quietly told the clerk That Was WRONG and stated My Bids and
firmly asked to see the Auctioneer . they Took My Numbers , No Arguement, whatso ever, And The Auctioneer said I Got to Talk To That kid Thats Writing These bids down.I honestly THINK it TRUELY was a Honest Mistake , but If I heard the rumor at a previous auction ,How Many Other Guys Did , And refused to Come To the auction ?
 
prolly the most important thing is to listen closely to the first bunch of stuff auctioned to be able to understand what the auctioneer is saying. Auctioneers have a language & style all their own & you may not be able to tell what he is saying or doing. Close attention is very important.
 
Depends on size and type of sale. And how many autioners they have. Smaller sales usually not.
 
Check out what you are interested in. If it's good enough condition to be something you want set your price., Remember an auction is not a contest. You don't win! You make a purchase! I've gone to more than one auction looked at what I was interested in, decided it was in too bad a shape and left before the auction even started.

Rick
 
hesitant bidding ,,. The magic that is occuring in everyones mind is akin to a gun dual out in the main streets of town .LOL. at our local consignment auction , it is common knowledge that the opposing bidder may be wanting to get one more 50 dollar bid for a piece they are hoping to unload at a minimal loss
 
Theres a guy at the Louisville Car Auction ,. Hi Chant drives me up the wall , And I never bid in his ring , He is easy enuf to understand ,but unnerving!.. LOL .. He sorta,,And I liked the sound back then ,Ok , But , HE sorta reminds me of Great Uncle Joe's Strait piped Ol' John Deer G, runnin the old corn shredder at half throttle. Fifty-FIVE!!clump clumpclup,Bid More Clup Clup 55,NOW SIXTY, 60,60 clup cloop clup clup, SIXTY-Sixty-SIXTY_FIVE,,,.,.. clup cluip clup clupo Clop Cloop ,clup ,. I have never heard A guy Like That anywhere, And I DON'T WANT TO either LOL .. His Chant Is a ODD duck for sure ,.. hope he dont talk like that normally,His Wife mite shoot Him LOL ,
 
Most likely all the items are listed and shown on a sale bill. That bill will also be somewhere online. Ask for the website. or Google Benson auction.
 
I think I'm going to that auction too. Never been to this guy's sale but I've been by the place a few times. Kind of struck me as a fly-by-night equipment jockey, but I figured the trip will be fun even if there's nothing there of interest.

There is no sale bill for this auction yet. It is a consignment sale, so you won't see a complete one until probably the day before the sale, if you see one at all. He does advertise on auctionzip, though.

I go to a lot of auctions and as a general rule they have the terms of the sale spelled out, either on the bidder's card or on a sign or on a document that you can get from the office. They also spell out the terms of the sale at the beginning of the auction. So there's no need to be apprehensive.

Most auctioneers will work with you if you can't get your equipment off their site by the cutoff date. It's different if it's a farm sale, but a consignment sale on the auctioneer's property is usually pretty flexible, if you make arrangements.
 
I guess we will see if they post anymore pictures or information before Sat. Like I say I am not sure yet if I am going or not. How far of a trip is it for you? Just about an hour east for me right down rt20. I know exactly where it is, we go by there when we go to the finger lakes camping or steam show in Canandaigua.
 
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