The holiday shopping season is upon us and we are all looking for values wherever we shop. Retail stores hold a variety of sales throughout the season, from Black Friday doorbusters to cyber Monday or cyber Week deals to special discounts throughout the season. These creative ploys attempt to lure the customer by leading them to believe they are getting a bargain. Everyone enjoys getting a “deal”! The pursuit is often what contributes to the feeling of satisfaction in finding exactly the right item for the right price.
One alternative to shopping the holiday sales is to buy at auction. Auction houses hold auction sales periodically on a variety of items from household collectibles, to furniture, to rugs, jewelry and art. You can research the various auction sites and view the lots in advance of the actual sale. Since auctions often are held on multiple venues simultaneously, a bidder can select the manner of participation that is most comfortable: viewing online, phoning in a bid, leaving an absentee bid or participating in person as a floor bidder. The thrill and energy of the auction lies in the speed with which items are auctioned, sometimes more than 80-90 lots per hour. The auctioneer’s garbled jargon that challenges the audience to bid higher is like another language. Newcomers to the auction scene need to tune in to the cadence, listen closely to what is being said, and pay attention to the bid increments. As the hammer comes down, a smart bidder can reap the benefits of getting a great buy versus retail sales. Auction values are approximately a quarter to a third of retail!