Blink, Wave Or Scream-It's Auction Time!
John Lundgren 2002
Auctions are a kick, right? Sometimes while thrusting
my arm in the air, I wish someone would give me a kick!
Anyway, I am one of the arm wavers at your friendly corner auction.
Did I say friendly? Yes, as friendly as a lion's den
as everyone competes for the pieces of meat! And to think
that I am a vegetarian!
Recently at an auction I attended, I noted the various styles
of bidding and was especially fascinated by a technique used by
Mr Blink. Mr Blink would sit looking as bored as a lizard sitting
on a rock. When a fine piece of funiture came up, he never flinched,
but maybe he yawned. As the bidders drove the price skyward, old
Mr Blink waited in ambush.
Just as the bidding was about to come to an end, old Mr Blink
shot his hand up-only once. From here on out, the only part of
his body to flinch were his eyelids. Now the rift-raft had long
fled the scene and only three or four serious bidders remained.
Everyone scanned the hall to locate the mysterious bidders. One
remained hidden behind his inscrutable blink, and later he loaded
a nice piece of curly maple furniture into his van.
Sure, the hall was filled with head nodders, ear pullers, and
head shakers, but this night Mr Blink ruled. I began to realize
that there was an unwritten code between the auctioneer and
his high roller bidders. Before the gavel hit the podium,
there was usually a quick glance at Mr Blink and other bidders
accustomed to bidding high and winning.
A closer look at Mr Blink revealed a cunning strategy. Just
when someone thought the winning bid was theirs, Mr Blink
yanked the rug from under them. His late bid in the the auction
was a heart breaker for the competition and served notice that
his check book was prepared for battle. Much of the competition
gave up without a fight.
Then an amorphous pile of debris came up for bid. There was a
lull in the action as the auctioneer directed his eye toward
one of his most reliable bottom feeders. Recognition by the
man himself. This is powerful stuff and the person's body reacts
spasmodically. There is no subtle blinking of eyes, no tugging
on ears, and no nodding of the head. An arm shoots skyward and
the man shouts the word SOLD! Yup, I defeated them all. Where
was Mr. Blink when I needed him.
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John Lundgren is a garage sale enthusiast and author
of, "How To Turn Your Garage Sale Into a Money Machine."
Visit http://www.garagesalebonanza.com for free tips.
Send a blank email to garagesale@freeautobot.com for a
free course on garage sales and auctions. | 
