| Do live online auctions offer catalogs of their products | | | | where you can mark off your favorite items and then |
| or do you just have to show up when the auction | | | | be reminded that you were interested in bidding when |
| happens to see what's being sold? That's a question | | | | it actually comes up for sale. |
| we recently heard from someone and we're going to | | | | However, for those who still like the traditional catalogs, |
| answer it in a moment. | | | | there are some who will send out a catalog and in |
| First though, for those not familiar with the concept and | | | | other cases, you can get a catalog in the form a PDF |
| who haven't seen our other articles on this subject, live | | | | file which you can read on your iPad or other tablet |
| online auctions are not like any other auction site on | | | | computer so you can feel very 21st century while still |
| the Internet. They're not an eBay-like event where it is, | | | | getting the feel of an auction catalog. |
| in essence, a silent auction. Instead, these auctions are | | | | Better than Regular Catalogs |
| run on the spot (i.e. live) and are run by a professional, | | | | Speaking of those online auction catalogs, did you |
| licensed auctioneer. | | | | know that they are, in fact, better than the traditional |
| Auctions ran live and online by a real auction house (at | | | | catalogs? Take a catalog off your shelf and start |
| least those that are legitimate - there will unfortunately, | | | | flipping through it. See what they have for sale that |
| as in every business always be scammers) will | | | | you think you might be interested in. Then take a look |
| conform to all the standard auction rules that are used | | | | down at the descriptions. Do you notice that some |
| in regular, live auctions. Now, on to the question we | | | | things say "picture not shown?" That's because every |
| were asked. | | | | color page costs a lot of money to print. |
| Online Auction Catalog | | | | However, with an online catalog, everything gets |
| Most often, an auction house that runs live auctions via | | | | shown and you may find a gem you're interested in |
| the Internet will not publish a catalog the way the more | | | | that you didn't even know about. Plus, you can do |
| traditional auction houses do. They do not want to | | | | absentee bidding for it as well. |
| send out piles of fat books, most of which will be a | | | | Bidding On the Spot and Absentee Bidding |
| waste anyway. However, that doesn't mean you just | | | | So what's this about absentee bidding we mentioned? |
| show up and see what's being sold. | | | | Well, you can of course simply be sitting in front of |
| Instead, you will find what we call an online auction | | | | your computer and placing bids on the spot for |
| catalog. In essence, this is a catalog which exists | | | | whatever it is you happen to be interested in |
| entirely online and which is browseable and searchable | | | | purchasing, or you can arrange for an absentee bid |
| just like when you might visit a web site. In fact, many | | | | the same as you would at a more traditional auction |
| online auction houses will actually offer you a catalog | | | | house. |