Went to one auction today, Friday, May 20, 2011.

Good results. Only about 10 bidders and I knew I could outbid them all..until one big bidder showed up, but I have
a good business relationship with him and it paid off. Typically when one or the other of us gets in on the early bidding, the other stays out completely. If I get in first and I later bail out, he will pick up if he still think it has value. I do the same thing.

Anyway, 2 lkrs were being sold by the lkr owner who contracted with the auctioneer to do  that. The auctioneer announced this in the beginning. The lkr owner was there and watched.

1st one was a 10 x 10 and looked OK but I let one of the low-end bidders get it for $80. I SHOULD have bought it, took what I wanted and sold the rest to her for $40 !

2nd one also belonged to the owner in attendance. A 5 x 10 and looked pretty good, but nothing special. I got it for $200 and should make some money on it. This is the one my bidding friend "let me have".

Then a big 10 x20 which I recognized from about 3 months ago. Guy who bought it went through, got what he wanted and stuck the facility with the leftovers and an unrentable lkr. The auctioneer DOES NOT get a cleaning deposit at any of his facilities and has seldom had to BANISH a buyer from any further auctions. The guy who bought this 3 months ago was never seen again at any of the local auctions...he was a true TV NEWBIE ! This lkr went for $50.

Then a 10 x 30 packed went for $750....my friend got it and I didn't bid against him. More work than I wanted in the short term and I was returning the favor he gave me earlier too.

Finally, a 10 x 20 about 2/3 full and looked pretty good. Went for $450. I got in it later and with the newbie's consent looked at a few things. The two laptops were not good...the better one had Windows ME as op system, and if you know computers, you know what that means for age and quality. I liked the old harpsichord, but she had enough of an eye for it that she wouldn't sell it.

So, good crowd, good prices. On to the next one.

Teacher...

Any name on that small .380 you got as a gift?

Magazine might be available, and if pistol is not TOO rough, would probably function.

The best of both worlds ?

I've only used it once and that was on the quad I had....that ad led to the sale, so I have to say I was satisfied !

You can only vote once, so pick wisely.

I started with my vote ..... I was looking for a specific item 7 years ago and went to an auction. I was surprised to see one familiar face there in the appx 15 people at the auction.

I remember touching the flap of a cardboard box and being roughly addressed by an "old-timer, regular". My friend let him know I was a newbie. The additional funny thing to me was that I never saw that guy again....guess he moved away !

Pawn-Ography...that should strike a few chords !

realdetroitweekly.com/detroit/pawn-ography/Content?oid=1453787

Haven't seen this show myself...it's on TruTV which my carrier doesn't provide.

Anyway, seems to have been on a while. Here's a review:

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/detroit/index.ssf/2009/12/detroits_american_jewelry_and.html