have you ever used a live auction house site?

[grasswire]

Here's a link to one in my town. I know that many local auctions around the country allow absentee or phone bids. Is it possible to find bargains this way? Of course, one must allow for shipping costs, too, and the premium.

I see some tempting items in this auction. Do you?

http://www.pioneerantiqueauction.com/auction_catalogs/Auction_41/cat_0041_0001_0050.htm

Oddly enough, when I looked at this site yesterday, there was an opening bid listed for each item. I don't see that today.

[Vinca]

1. I'm a sucker for jewelry lots. I like the looks of Lot 50.

That scorpion pin is calling my name. I noticed there are some Mazer earrings, too. The other item I like is the Van Briggle tile. I should drag my lazy behind down to that auction sometime.

[grasswire]

3. I hope they post final values.

I'm interested in the RPPC postcard lot. The opening bid they had posted the other day was quite reasonable. I don't know why those bids disappeared from the site. A glitch, I assume.

[zabet]

2. I have.

Usually I just either email or call in an
absentee bid. This local auction house does
the live phone bidding also, http://www.auctioncompanyofwilmington.com/
I have attended auctions and have done the absentee
bid. Last one I attended had several live phone
bidders on several items.

[demgrrrll]

4. I have not done this but it sounds like a good idea

[grasswire]

5. well, the final values are posted

Many items did not sell. This looks as if it might be a good deal for bargains, even with the premium and the shipping. Of course, it's always risky to not be able to inspect condition.

[demgrrrll]

6. I thought the groups of items looked great, I would love to see that

merchandise at an estate sale! Interesting that some things did not sell, I wonder about the market sometimes but I just keep plugging along.

[grasswire]

7. I am having a marvelous time looking at auctionzip

This is a service for auction houses, with links to thousands of auctions all over the country. Goodness, I'm having the time of my life ogling everything at small local auctions from Maine to North Carolina to Podunk, Midwest.

I particularly enjoyed the photo gallery for an auction this Saturday in Maine:

http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/photopanel.cgi?listingid=350419

Poke around at auctionzip.com. Both collectors and sellers will have fun, I think.