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Consumers, business people and governments attend and run auctions all over North America every day of the week. There are local auctions selling a persons personal possessions, there are farm auctions selling the equipment and livestock, there are government auctions selling surplus goods and used goods that are no longer needed, equipment auctions from bankrupt companies and of course there are online auctions such as eBay that run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.
With so many auctions, one wonders what kind of material is sold and how much it is sold for? Do customers really get good deals and good value for their money? Why do some people buy items in build at auctions? And what are the payment procedures at auctions. We will try to answer these questions and others in this short article.
There are many local auctions that consumers can attend during the week in or near their home towns. A variety of goods are sold at these auctions. Often you will see the family heirlooms of an older couple being put up for sale to generate income or to just get rid of things as they downsize into a smaller home. Many items are not worth much, but every once and awhile there will be a true gem in amongst the items for sale, which are well worth buying. Everyone has heard the urban legends of expensive paintings or antiques picked up for a small amount of money at an auction. This can actually happen to you if you persevere and know what to look for.
Farm auctions and estate auctions are another good way to find antiques. Although the auction will be selling farm implements and other farm related gear, there may also be many antiques that will also be sold at the same time. Estate auctions are another excellent source of antiques and old well look after furniture.
Government auctions are routinely held to dispose of any number of items. They can include everything from surplus office furniture to items that have passed their useful life and it is time to dispose of them. A favorite auction for many people are auctions of confiscated items by the various police forces. Often these items are in very good condition and customers can purchase a variety of items at quite good prices.
Everyone has heard of eBay. EBay operates around the clock every day of the year. Users can bid on items over a period of time, usually seven days and the highest bidder will win. Online systems like eBay provide sophisticated listing services and auction tools to assist sellers and buyers a like. For example sellers can place reserve bids to avoid selling an item too low, they can add pictures and there is a great deal of training available online for people who want to put something up for auction and do not know how to go about it.
There are auctions that people can attend whenever the mood strikes them. Some will go to auctions for the excitement, while others are looking for specific items that they hope to find for the right price. There are dealers who look for all sorts of items they can resell at their own stores or even on auction on eBay. If you are planning to attend an auction, and are looking for a specific item, a bit of planning can help to ensure that you find the deal you are looking for. Know what the value of the item is before hand and establish a price that you are not willing to go above. People have been known to pay as much for a used item as they would have it if were purchased new in a retail store.
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