Buying at Auction

I probably break all the rules ..

I just wing it.



If I like something, I bid. I don't worry about what the auctioneer is doing or where bids are (or aren't) coming from... if I'm in for it, I have put a value on it and it's currently below that value.

I usually have an overall budget - but it varies from lot to lot.. if you're buying tups say, you tend to be buying a certain type which you like, so the budget ends up similar



Can't beat buying something with just 1 bid - be it the first/only bid (my favourite), or last

Nithsdale Farmer said:

Can't beat buying something with just 1 bid - be it the first/only bid (my favourite), or last

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If you buy it with a maiden bid, do you not start to wonder if there's something you've missed and you've paid too much?

The main thing with buying at auction is that you need to be able to value an animal accurately and stick to that valuation.

doesn’t matter if the auctioneer is running you if you can value it….if you drop him with it then it’s his problem

It's not an easy subject to give guidance to a novice.
Critically, know what your limit is, so you don't get carried away.

I've bought by auction the length of the country, and no one strategy suits every circumstance.
If I really want something particular, and am sure of it's value, I'll go in hard and obviously.
If I'm wanting, say, a few tups, I'll mark a catalogue, and keep working at it until I get more or less what I want, rather than going mad for a specific sheep.

I've known auctioneers who'd not dream of running you - which raises the subject of what do they do if there's a reserve?
Through to those who'd run you openly and with good nature, and others who think they're Gods gift, and can't be trusted.
On the other side, I've rigged events to my advantage in various ways- both as seller and buyer-, and in turn, had them rigged agin me.
That is life I'm afraid.

At Builth NSA tup sale one year, some whizz kid was selling cheviots, and was a swine for running buyers.
We could all see it - and when you're in for the day, with a 'shopping list', such behaviour becomes very tedious pdq.
A dry old farmer sat at the front was trying to buy a tup, and the auctioneer was clearly pushing him...so the old fella bid clearly and strong on one, then dropped out when it was obviously the auctioneers bid.
Oh how the young asswipe tried to cajole the old fella to have another bid, but he simply folded his arms and shook his head.
The whole crowd could see exactly what was afoot, and loved it.
Eventually, he wouldn't eat humble pie, so the young buck knocked the tup down to the 'man with hat, at the back', and sent his assistant off to look for this fictitious buyer.
He might as well have written on his forehead.... 'I'm a pushy little twerp, whose just been made a fool of by someone I thought I was better than'.

I'd have bought the old fella his lunch if I'd have thought about it...it was a beautiful bit of work.

Northeastfarmer said:

The main thing with buying at auction is that you need to be able to value an animal accurately and stick to that valuation.

doesn’t matter if the auctioneer is running you if you can value it….if you drop him with it then it’s his problem

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I don't care who is bidding against me ,auctioneer or vendor , if I want something then I will bid up to what I think it's worth to me. When I get to that point I may decide its worth going one more bid or may just drop out.
I recently held back on a bunch of heifers cos my mate wanted them but normally I don't.
I got annoyed yesterday when cows and calves were coming in the ring which were clearly worth 2000 or more and some would be trying to start them at 1300 . What a waste of time ! Thankfully auctioneer knew how to value them !

neilo said:

If you buy it with a maiden bid, do you not start to wonder if there's something you've missed and you've paid too much?

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There is always that niggling doubt of "what the f**ks wrong with it/them?!?" (But I always get that if I but something for a lot less than I expect to pay)

The 50 texX Gimmers which started my thread on here. First pen in the ring of the TexX section... auctioneer opens at £100 - I bid straight away and they're chapped down to me. The other 2-300 made £140-£150 IIRC and almost everyone I spoke to said I got a bargain pen I think everyone was expecting the price to drop before opening the bidding - so I caught everyone out





But, you've only paid too much if you decide they weren't worth it if you get them home and are happy with them and happy with the price you've paid, then you've not paid too much

...we used to say " buy the first lot cos they will be the cheapest "

Hfd Cattle said:

...we used to say " buy the first lot cos they will be the cheapest "

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First and last lots. People are often bored or have to go and do stuff so leave before the end.

BAF said:

First and last lots. People are often bored or have to go and do stuff so leave before the end.

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in the dairy trade, a lot of cows are bought on finance, so bidders try to 'max out' at one sale, then those end lots, usually 'problem' cows, not i/c, calved a long time etc. Used to be cheap, now people want to finish a lorry load, or finish their finance, so now, can be dear.

and you have to be quick with mental arithmetic, you don't get time to get your mobile out, in calculator mode ! You have to know what/how much you have spent,

BAF said:

First and last lots. People are often bored or have to go and do stuff so leave before the end.

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Trouble is everybody thinks that now Bit like people who think kit will be cheap at a farm sale when the weathers awful and turn up to find the sale field rammed with folks all thinking the same

Aspiring Peasants said:

Rightly or wrongly I don't start bidding until near the end when someone thinks they've got it. Hopefully to dishearten them so they drop out

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I know a couple of auctioneers who will miss you on purpose doing that too get you to bud up sooner…

Mc115reed said:

That’s me too I don’t like too be the man who’s in it from the start

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Start them high, don’t let other folk start looking. Low start and everyone starts looking and bidding. Start ewe lambs at £150 and folk will walk away rather than push you that last £10…

Anymulewilldo said:

Start them high, don’t let other folk start looking. Low start and everyone starts looking and bidding. Start ewe lambs at £150 and folk will walk away rather than push you that last £10…

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But what if I start at 150 and everybody else was thinking 140

Hfd Cattle said:

I don't care who is bidding against me ,auctioneer or vendor , if I want something then I will bid up to what I think it's worth to me. When I get to that point I may decide its worth going one more bid or may just drop out.
I recently held back on a bunch of heifers cos my mate wanted them but normally I don't.
I got annoyed yesterday when cows and calves were coming in the ring which were clearly worth 2000 or more and some would be trying to start them at 1300 . What a waste of time ! Thankfully auctioneer knew how to value them !

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This. It doesn’t matter who you’re bidding against as long as you aren’t above value.

Mc115reed said:

But what if I start at 150 and everybody else was thinking 140

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Well you need too practise valuations better?

Anymulewilldo said:

I know a couple of auctioneers who will miss you on purpose doing that too get you to bud up sooner…

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Know a few who won't take your bid if you're in early, then drop out... then try to bid again!

Anymulewilldo said:

I know a couple of auctioneers who will miss you on purpose doing that too get you to bud up sooner…

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I probably don't buy enough to make it worth their while. I also don't go to that many marts so I know the auctioneers. One did miss me once but I was trying to be to clever and she apologised later. I have noticed sometimes if there's something being sold that they think I might be in the market for, they do occasionally glance in my direction when they've run out of bids

Aspiring Peasants said:

I probably don't buy enough to make it worth their while. I also don't go to that many marts so I know the auctioneers. One did miss me once but I was trying to be to clever and she apologised later. I have noticed sometimes if there's something being sold that they think I might be in the market for, they do occasionally glance in my direction when they've run out of bids

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Good auctioneer knows who wants it the moment a pen comes in. Like too throw the odd curve ball in though

Anymulewilldo said:

Good auctioneer knows who wants it the moment a pen comes in. Like too throw the odd curve ball in though

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do all the northern marts just book anything less than 20kg down too you regardless of if you bid because they know you wanted it really?