Bidders follow Bob down a line of box lots, which typically go under the gavel first, followed by furniture and other larger, more desirable items. swat a fly or make an innocent movement, and we may say sold.” Bob has stopped auctions when he has found a couple bidding against each other without knowing it.
Today the bidding continues apace. A bit battered and some with a touch of rust, old toys sell for $ 100 a piece. One of the most coveted and obscure items— a goat cart— brings $ 265 and a Roseville Jardiniere( an ornamental planter by a desirable high-quality art pottery maker) sees bidding rise to $ 1,450. Could any of these prices been anticipated? Probably not. For the seller, these prices are good, but the buyer had better know his or her merchandise. For her research, Donna has accumulated more than 400 reference books on collectibles.“ This is imperative,” she says.
And, a good auctioneer can’ t be outsmarted— having done his or her homework on the items, too.“ The more you know about what you are selling, the better you can market it accurately and make it desirable for both parties,” says Bob. Ongoing training helps. Even after 30 years in the business, Bob still attends continuing education classes sponsored by state and national auction associations.“ The instructor will pass around six items, and we have to provide an appraisal of the lowest and highest value. This is a real challenge, as it is still an estimate. In the end, what is needed is a willing buyer and a willing seller.”
BEFORE YOU BID …
One of the most important things when attending an estate sale is to know what you are buying. Do your homework before you go, because the auctioneer has done his and knows the value of what he is selling.“ The first time you go to an auction, just stand by and watch,” advises Rick Shindle, an experienced antique dealer. Save your checkbook by developing an eye for what items are sale worthy, and watch how other people are bidding. Sometimes people just bid, Rick warns, not to buy for themselves, but to jack up the price.
Go the day before or early the same day of the auction to inspect the item you are interested in. Many auctioneers now post photographs on their websites, giving you time to check out information in reference books. Set a maximum limit for a purchase, and stick to it. If you lose, don’ t worry. There’ s always another auction, maybe with an even more interesting piece. And, above all, don’ t get caught up in auction fever— that overwhelming desire to buy everything without knowing the real cost or its use! It pushes auctiongoers to buy something often at a higher price than its real value. Auctions are good at instilling that excitement and panic that someone else will swipe what you want. As Rick says, if there’ s another day, there’ s another auction.
SOLD! Those willing sellers are what Rick Shindle, a Waynesboro, Pa., antique dealer of 40 years, looked for when he was 18. He and a dealer friend would drive around in a pick-up with a rack on top.“ We would just stop at a house and talk to people to see what they had.” Those days long gone, people now have a better idea of what something is worth thanks to the internet and shows like“ Antiques Roadshow.”
As in most businesses today, technology has made its inroads.“ The internet is a big part of our business, and we have already booked auctions from Facebook,” says Tom.“ We have to keep up, as every year the way we advertise changes drastically. The younger generation now uses Quick Response or QR codes, which they can scan with a smart phone and
58 March / April 2013 Hagerstown: The Best of Life in Washington County & Beyond