Auctions: How to Bid Safely

Every movement on the bidding floor- even the slightest nod- could mean a bid to the auctioneer. Some people accidentally win items being auctioned because of some gestures that were natural for them, say waving at a friend during the auction. This could happen to anyone and it could happen to you.



Here are some bidding safety tips:



EYE CONTACT



You may be sitting far from the auctioneer but whenever you have the chance, catch his attention. Maintain eye contact afterwards. Keep your eye contact whenever possible, this will establish your identity to him. Thus, when it is time for you to bid on an item you intend to buy, you will have no problem in communicating this to the auctioneer.



ESTABLISHING CONNECTION



Once you start bidding see to it that you don't lose the connection with the auctioneer. You could start by making a determined hand gesture or unabashed bidding using your card. From this point on, he will come back to you whenever your bid is upped. A simple nod or a slight gesture will tell him that you willing to raise the price a bit higher.



DROPPING OUT



Sometimes people feel pressured if the auctioneer keeps on coming back to them. If you want to quit from the bidding, a polite shaking of the head will signal the auctioneer that you are backing out.



ENTERING THE BID



You should always know when to enter the bidding. Some people come in too early, some are too late. Both positions have low chances of getting the item or property being auctioned at a price they want. If you want to set the price, try to enter midway into the bidding. This way you are giving yourself a fair chance of getting out of the bid if you want to quit or pursue your bid if you are serious with the item. If you are doubtful on whether or not you should buy the item, never enter the bid when you feel that there are fewer people participating on it.



If, however, you intentionally entered the bidding game late, there is a chance that you could be overlooked by the auctioneer. If this happens, try to get his attention by politely saying a word to signal your interest.



QUICK DECISIONS



Bidding often happen fast and sometimes it leaves you no room for analyzing whether you should place the next highest bid. In this case, try to think as fast as you can because the bidding will never stop for you.