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Never been to our auctions? In the next few paragraphs, we'll try to create for you a survival guide to a day or night at our auctions. It can be a lot of fun and it won't cost you a dime, unless you see something you just have to bring home! Our auctions are now held on the first weekend of every month but July, alternating between Fridays and Saturdays. The Friday Night sessions feature mostly Oak and Colonial revival and other antiques from 1880 to 1950. They begin at 6pm local time and continue until everything is gone. We try to be done by around 10pm, but can sometimes end closer to midnight if we have a big offering. The Saturday sessions feature Period items from about 1780 to 1880 and begin at 10am and usually run until about 3pm or so. Our auctions are held in an old theater in the heart of downtown Flomaton---a great facility. We have heat, air conditioning and even indoor plumbing! We are smoke free. Dress comfortably and casually. We provide chairs, though you might bring a cushion. We have a sound system and video closeups of key features of offered lots to help you keep up with the action. You can bring drinks (no alcohol, please) and snacks if you like, but why bother? A local school or church group operates a concession stand with pretty good variety . Some Saturday auctions have food "on the house." Arrive a little early. For that matter, visit us anytime the week before the auction to get a close look at the items we have to offer. Once you arrive on auction day, head upstairs to get your bidder number. There's no charge for the card, but be sure to read about any taxes or fees that might apply to anything you purchase by clicking 'Terms" above. After you have your number, stake your claim on a good seat! Some may be reserved. For all others, it's first come, first served. Just put your card on the seat and that'll do the trick. Then feel free to wander through the warehouse for a last minute check on things or to meet others at the auction. It is quite common to see the regulars sharing a handshake or a hug as they reunite with old friends. When the auction begins, it is just good manners to let the auctioneer do the talking. He'll start with a number. It is usually on the optimistic side and he may lower the number until he gets a bid. While we don't usually reserve bids, there are sometimes limits as to how low the auctioneer may go. He may just set an item aside if a reasonable bid is not offered. Once a bid is accepted, however, the game is on! If you want to bid, raise your card. Don't worry that scratching your nose is going to buy you something you don't want. The auctioneer has bright lights in his eyes and might miss you if you don't make it clear that you want to bid. After that first bid you can be a little more subtle, because he will be watching you. If you bid at, say, $100, you might hear the auctioneer immediately calling out "125." That doesn't mean the bid has been upped again, that's what he wants to get next. Don't try to outbid yourself! You will be bidding against others in the auditorium. You will also be bidding against callers on the phone who may be watching via our web cam (see menu bar above). And there are absentee bids and internet bids. Sometimes the action may slow if a phone connection has been lost when an important lot is up for bidding. If you are nervous about bidding, you can use the absentee bid system even if you are in the auditorium. Just tell us the most you are willing to spend on a lot and we will bid for you up to your limit. You might get the winning bid at a lower price as we don't just enter your top number first. If you get into a bidding war and are not sure about going higher, don't be afraid to walk up on the stage and take another close look at the item for sale. It's your money and we want you to be satisfied you are getting what you want. Lots are offered in a strategic order. If you want bargains or collect oddities, be there late Friday night when the auctioneer just wants to go home and will make any deal to get finished. While we would love to have you stay for the whole session, you can leave any time you like. If you have won a bid, go upstairs and check out. The staff will verify your purchases, collect your payment by the usual popular methods, including Mastercard, Visa, and cash, and then give you a receipt. You then take your receipt to the counter just inside the loading dock to collect your treasures. Our crew will help you load larger items. You'd be surprised what they can get into a minivan or SUV, but if you've overdone it, we can arrange delivery of that 10' tall bookcase that won't fit in your Beetle. Join us for our next auction and enjoy! |
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Page and photographs copyright 2003 and 2006 by Neal Collier and Flomaton Antique Auction. Feel free to print these pages for personal use. Any commercial use of code or images is forbidden without permission. Hi-resolution images are available for license. |