DennisBickers

 This is a post from my other blog.  I thought I would share it here as well.   https://bivocationalministry.blogspot.com/2021/07/developing-good-habits-leads-to-good.html

 One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is "What do you think I can get for this at auction?" While it's possible to give a very generalized ballpark figure, it all depends on if there are two people at the auction who want to buy the item. I watched a plastic oil can sell at one auction for $220.00 because two people decided they didn't want the other person to have it. On the flip side, I've seen items sell for less than market value because there was little interest in the item at that sale. Having said all this, there are some things that are selling well at auction right now and some things that are not bringing much. Some of the better selling items at auction, at least in my area, would include gold, silver, guns, knives. relics such as arrowheads, coins, tools, quality collectibles, cars and trucks in good condition, real estate, primitives, hunting and fishing items, vintage toys, ammo, and items of local interest. Right now the market is we...

Our auction which ended this past Tuesday was great! The arrowheads commanded very good prices as did some of the sports cards. I think my sellers will be very happy with their checks. We are now setting up for our next auction which will begin July 13. This auction will feature the contents of a local estate and a collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia from a consignor. I'm told there are over 200 items in this collection including many of his records. I'm excited to start processing this auction. One of the things I warn persons disposing of an estate is to not throw anything away until an auctioneer looks at it. So many times I've seen people prepared to throw something in the dumpster only to see it sell for $200-300 at auction. What one person may think is junk may be what another person is collecting. When selling at an online auction, the market is suddenly opened up to a much wider audience, and chances are someone in that crowd is looking for the items you are rea...

 I have an online auction ending this evening starting at 6:00 PM. This auction features some great tools, several showcases of arrow heads, Native American axe heads and pestles, a number of very nice rods and reels, quality glassware and pottery such as Fenton, thousands of sports cards and many more desirable items. We have over 350 items in this sale! Check it out at bickersauctionservice.hibid.com and bid on the items you want.

 After the pandemic in 2020 many auctioneers switched to holding online auctions. I was one of them. For several months public gatherings were not allowed, and even when that changed there were limits on how many people could gather. As those limits began to be raised, the attendance at live auctions did not improve. My auctions would have 15-20 people there. Other auctions I attended had about the same number, and it's hard to have a good sale with that few people. Gradually, and often reluctantly, auctioneers began exploring holding online auctions. One friend of mine told me before I made the move that there was a steep learning curve, but it would be worth it. As the end of 2020 arrived I began making the transition to online auctions and had my first one in January of this year. There are several things I miss about live auctions. I miss the interaction with the buyers. We had fun at my auctions. I also miss working with one of the greatest auction teams anyone in this busines...

One post could never explain everything a person needs to know about selling items at auction, but in this post we want to give some basics. The best way to have all your questions answered is to talk to a reputable auctioneer in your area. I've been a licensed auctioneer for almost eight years. I  have worked rings, clerked, cashiered and done set-ups for many of the auctioneers in my area as well as conducted my own auctions. I've seen thousands of items sold through auctions.  I've seen things bring prices far above what the same thing could have been bought new, and I've seen things sell far below expectations. Some of that is out of the control of the seller or the auctioneer. It's just a reflection of who happens to be at a particular auction and what they want to buy.  Whether you have a large estate to sell or a few items you want to consign to auction, many of the things mentioned in this post will apply. The first thing you want to do is to work with a rep...