Bidders without Flashlights

Okay, let me start by saying that I like to think I'm a pretty easy going guy and fairly generous to others within my realm, and am usually the first one to help people out. But quite frankly, it irks the hell out of me when people show up to an auction without a flashlight, then ask to borrow mine. My response is like, "really, you come unprepared and then want to use my tool so that you can get a better look at stuff to bid against me?"

Now why on Earth would I want to help someone bid against me, raise the bid, and cost me extra money or cause me to lose the unit altogether?

So am I being reasonable or just being a jerk?

But quite frankly, it irks the hell out of me when people show up to an auction without a flashlight, then ask to borrow mine. My response is like, "really, you come unprepared and then want to use my tool so that you can get a better look at stuff to bid against me?"


So am I being reasonable or just being a jerk?

This happens to me once in a while too and I totally agree with the quotes I provided just above. No you're not a jerk. This is a business.

A fellow who lives 40 miles away from my city drops in once in a while to my area. He has been buying for about 6 months so is an "old" newbie.  We greeted each other in the hallway and at the second unit he lined himself up right behind me. After I had looked at a dark unit he asked if he could use my light. I told him no and asked "Would you like to borrow some money too?"

When that unit finished I waited for him to pass me and said to him "Next time I forget to bring my light you can say "no" to me."  Didn't hear a word from him for the rest of the sale, and I won't be forgetting my light !

It's a rare occasion when I loan my light even to one of my regular cronies. If I have looked at a unit and I'm not going to bid on it, I MIGHT, but not always. If I did and then the next time that person failed to return the favor to me because HE did want to bid on a unit it just would not work out that he was helping me to possibly bid against him. I think I have come up with a DEAD flashlight twice in 8 years....my fault for not having a backup.

LESSON FOR NEWBIES....bring your flashlight!

They can use my light while I am scanning the unit. They have to look where I am looking, and they have to look quick.

NO ONE touches my 200 dollar flashlight.

Forget tools of the trade? your screwed if you ask me for them.

Sold a guy a padlock for 20 bucks at one sale. "can I borrow a lock?" no but I'll sell you one at a premium or you can walk up to the office and risk your unit while your gone.

There is NO love at an auction.

They can use my light while I am scanning the unit. They have to look where I am looking, and they have to look quick.

Depending on the circumstances I might take up a spot at the end of the line or just "wait out" some newbie who is making a point of waiting for me to turn on my light so he can see inside.

"That's OK, I can wait until you're done".... my comment to him as he peers into the dark abyss.

Okay, let me start by saying that I like to think I'm a pretty easy going guy and fairly generous to others within my realm, and am usually the first one to help people out. But quite frankly, it irks the hell out of me when people show up to an auction without a flashlight, then ask to borrow mine. My response is like, "really, you come unprepared and then want to use my tool so that you can get a better look at stuff to bid against me?"

Now why on Earth would I want to help someone bid against me, raise the bid, and cost me extra money or cause me to lose the unit altogether?

So am I being reasonable or just being a jerk?

In my opinion you are being completely reasonable, the excitment from the TV shows is NOT winding down and the bidding is still way to high and competative for anyone who wants or needs to do this for a living to give other bidders any advantage.

It's just like the noobs who come out and bid a $200 unit up to $800 then ask "So how do you find out about the other auctions going on?" Really, you think I am going to tell YOU how I find other auctions so you can show up there too with your Vegas Casino bidding habits?!

Same goes for "barrowing a lock". No, you can BUY a lock! if you are so unprepared as to actually bid on units and win, and not have a lock with you, then you get no sympathy from me. This is the school of hard knocks.

They can use my light while I am scanning the unit. They have to look where I am looking, and they have to look quick.

NO ONE touches my 200 dollar flashlight.

Forget tools of the trade? your screwed if you ask me for them.

Sold a guy a padlock for 20 bucks at one sale. "can I borrow a lock?" no but I'll sell you one at a premium or you can walk up to the office and risk your unit while your gone.

There is NO love at an auction.

gezz I use a 3.00 dollar flashlight and do fine. But glad to see that thou, we look for new big flashlights to see who's knew and make bets on how much money the new guy is going to spend. Love dropin a unit on the new guys.

Many times I don't use my light that I bring to auctions but I do bring them.  I do however sometimes loan it out.  But that is to 2 of the regulars.  It helps establish a relationship.  Mostly, these two have deep pockets and can squeeze me out of a unit if they want to.  However, already once they were only semi-interested in a locker that I wanted and didn't bid me up.  For the most part lockers I want they could care less about and vice versa.  Twice a locker I wanted I won and then just sold the stuff they were interested in to.  The one other guy I loan my light to is another "old newbie" who has the same interest as me.  Him and I compare notes, help each other spot stuf, etc.  If he wins a locker I like he invites me in to look and stuff.  All the other newbies are just SOL.  They should come prepared like I did and/or do some research at home.  Those are the people that cost me money more then the regulars.

Your not being a jerk at all. I dont lend out my light to anyone unless it is a buddy of mine AND I am not interested in the locker.  I usually have alot of people peering over my back, lol I am short, 5'5". So I quickly scan with my light, quick taps of the button.