The political climate is truly changing our (auctioneers’) language. I continue to hear it again and again and again and again as I travel as well as read it in depositions, affidavits, transcripts, and the like.
More specifically, here’s just a few examples:
“This truck has only 60,000 miles — amazing.”
“What a phenomenal opportunity, a terrific opportunity.”
“Folks — over two acres — a powerful property — an unbelievable property.”
“This 10-year-old house is in great shape — tremendous condition.”
“These next several cars run beautifully — incredibly.”
“The next few tractors have hours below 1,000 — very low, dramatically low.”
Similarly, we wrote previously about the delicate balance between “sales talk” and misrepresentation which has been much more prevalent in the last few years: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2019/11/25/sales-talk-and-puffing-held-as-fact/.
In our (spectacular) six examples above, several note that some number is quoted (miles, acres, years, hours) and then it’s supplemented with a superlative — to tell you what to think of that number.
Further, is this indeed an “unbelievable property?” Do these cars run “beautifully?” Is this ‘property’ truly a “terrific opportunity?” Are these statements true — partially true — or merely sales talk?
It would seem to me that auctioneers should be in the habit of stating facts and accompanying those facts, if desired, with sales talk … but not risk misrepresentation. Can any two acres of land really be “unbelievable?”
In at least one of our cases, it appears the judge is taking a dim view of a real property parcel with several issues being described as “amazing.” For most, the word ‘amazing’ doesn’t translate to something that has significant problems.
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, CAS, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, RES Auction Services and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. He serves as Distinguished Faculty at Hondros College, Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School, an Instructor at the National Auctioneers Association’s Designation Academy and America’s Auction Academy. He is faculty at the Certified Auctioneers Institute held at Indiana University and is approved by The Supreme Court of Ohio for attorney education.
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