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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;silverthwaite II, post: 223405, member: 4291&quot;]1.&nbsp; &quot;Professionals&quot; can bid discretely; the auctioneer knows who they are, and will recognize the signals.&nbsp; Should Joe Smith try the same tricks he will likely be handed a tissue, or a cough drop, by a sympathetic neighbor.</p><p><br /></p><p>2.&nbsp; Sit where you can SEE.&nbsp; Since you have (YOU HAVE, HAVEN&#039;T YOU?!) previewed all the goods offered, and decided which treasure has piqued your interest, you want to be sure you don&#039;t bid on a chrome pitcher that is the exact double of the solid silver one you wanted.&nbsp; The auctioneer will TELL you that (usually), but in the excitement of the moment, I have known people to bid on what they thought was a painting of sheep -- only to discover that they now own a herd of Guernseys.</p><p><br /></p><p>3.&nbsp; IF the opening bid is only a pittance, AND the audience seems sluggish, AND if the item is something fairly reasonable (to the point wherein one may find oneself carrying home a $2.00 yellow teapot), then indeed, start the bidding.</p><p><br /></p><p>Otherwise, do as you do on eBay; jump in at the bitter end!&nbsp; Of course, you may find that the bidding is thereby renewed with great fervor, and that solid silver pitcher is suddenly going to some guy whose wiggly eyebrows you never noticed -- and for $200 over your limit.</p><p><br /></p><p>As to the last part of #3, MY answer is Never in a Million!!&nbsp; I have my own psychology to keep in order!&nbsp; Were I a &quot;professional,&quot; and totally uninterested in the object in question, and if I had a Really good reason (starving widow, saving the Holy Grail), I might try.&nbsp; However, I know full well that my efforts might result in my becoming the proud owner of a cardboard box full of plastic picnic ware.&nbsp; Or...do they still have Debtor&#039;s Prison?</p><p><br /></p><p>Others here will know more.&nbsp; (Where is the Auction lady?)</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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