See where that trash can is? See the strip of grass that runs between these two driveways? That’s what a man paid $9,100 for at auction, thinking he was buying something else.
He thought he was buying something else because the picture showed the villa(s) and further did not mark, outline or otherwise denote only the tiny lot was selling. Here’s a link to one of many stories about this auction.
As some say, indeed with a little research this buyer could have found only the 100 square foot strip was selling. However, I counter that with little effort, the online platform could have better represented what was actually selling.
By most accounts, this buyer is “stuck” with this strip of land for his $9,100 and it seems most auctioneers are saying, “Right, he deserves to be stuck because he didn’t do his homework.” Legally, that’s correct to an extent, but how many other auctions is this gentleman going to attend?
Further, how is he going to talk about his auction-experience with his family, neighbors and coworkers? Auctioneers need bidders and buyers or there’s no auction to conduct and the more we drive people away from our process, the lonelier our auctions are going to be.
I’m not suggesting we give in to every buyer who doesn’t read the terms and conditions or do his or her due diligence, but at some point are we going to make our auctions a place where people want to participate and return as customers?
Here’s my point (again …) I don’t see many other companies making it more difficult or unpleasant to do business with them. With a click I can buy almost anything I want and have it delivered to my home with a guarantee or warranty and a effortless return policy.
At auction it’s traditionally, “as-is, where-is,” “no guarantee nor warranty,” “once you buy it’s yours, no refunds nor exchanges” and that’s been acceptable for centuries. Now we as live and online auctioneers have competition and it’s not each other — it’s the ease and friendly terms of retail and the Internet otherwise.
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 The Supreme Court of Ohio for attorney education.
Comentários