Mighty Bargain Hunter

Auctioneering school: Day 1

November 5th, 2006 | by mbhunter |

I sold a three-legged pig this morning.  The high bidder was one of the instructors at the school (I sold it for $57.50) and he didn’t actually buy it but instead tape-recorded my first attempt at calling, presumably for blackmail later.

So my first day had the following:

• Tricks to remember people’s names (for building clients and becoming an all-around better guy)
• Using the microphone
• Lots and lots of number drills and tongue-twisters
• Basic math for auctioneering (this was no problem — percentages and area calculations mainly)

The youngest guy in the class was eighteen, and there were people approaching sixty in the class.  About nine men for each woman.  I met a guy who lives just across the river from where I live, and another guy who works at an auction company where I like to go as a buyer.

Two live auctions coming up — one on Tuesday to benefit St. Jude’s, and another on Friday (with a large audience).  Selling to someone who’s listening to you for technique is one thing.  Actually selling something to an actual buyer is another.

To be continued …