The auction process is fast-paced and can seem overwhelming to someone who has never attended one before. At Dakil, we strive to ensure all of our customers, first-time and returning, feel comfortable in the auction process.
The two major points of confusion and potential intimidation for auction first-timers are the roles of the employees during an auction and how the bidding takes place. Dakil Auctioneer Barrett Bray breaks down both in order to make understanding the auction process as simple as possible for a newcomer.
“There are two main types of auction employees that assist with the bidding,” Bray said. “The Auctioneer and the bid spotters.”
The role of the auctioneer is to lead the auction. They talk in a fast-paced manner, informing the buyers who are currently in the lead, and encouraging them to bid more.
“A lot of people worry they won’t understand the auctioneer because they are speaking so fast. We make sure that our auctioneers speak as clearly as possible, so that everyone understands,” Bray said.
The auctioneer isn’t the only one taking bids and scanning the audience, however. He also has multiple bid spotters, also known as ringmen, helping him keep track of who is bidding and how much.
“The bid spotters communicate information to the bidders, answer bidder questions, and alert the auctioneer of new bids in their section,” Bray said. “If you ever need any sort of clarification or have a question in the middle of an auction, a bid spotter can help you.”
The auctioneer and the bid spotters try to make bidding go as smoothly as possible for the bidder. However, in a busy auction, it’s still easy to get confused on how to bid and for how much.
“The auctioneer tries to get the best available price for the items, and get it as quickly as possible,” Bray said. “Bidders should be aware to be polite. It’s not a garage sale, so they are expected to bid quality prices.”
The auctioneer bids the prices in $25 increments. For example, if the current bid was $100, the auctioneer would push for a $125 bid. The least an auctioneer will take is half of the increment they are asking for.
It is a common misconception that any movement as much as a cough or a stretch can count as a bid. This is not true – only legitimate bids are accepted via an obvious flash of the bid card.
“We will only take legitimate bids,” Bray said. “You need to just show your bid card. We won’t let you accidently make a bid.”
During the auction, the auctioneer and the bid spotters are busy keeping track of new bids, so they do not have time to take formal minutes and records for the auction. A clerk is the gatekeeper of the records, and keeps track of who is buying what and for how much.
“The clerk is very busy, so he cannot be distracted,” Bray said. “Don’t bother the clerk; if you have questions, refer to the bid spotters.”
It’s also important to keep in mind that everything in an auction is sold as is – after it’s purchased, it is non-returnable.
“Always research the items you are purchasing. Auctions are all buyer-beware,” Bray said.
You don’t have to be a seasoned bidder to participate in a Dakil auction. We want to make sure all of our bidders feel welcome in the auction process. For more information on how auctions work, visit our Auction 101 page, or contact us today.
