| Everyone has heard a story or read about someone | | | | becomes a matter of personal preference. |
| who bought a $9000 salvage motorcycle at auction | | | | Now to the bidding. There are three hot salvage |
| for only $250. But is it real and if so, how does one go | | | | motorcycle auction strategies. They are: |
| about doing it? | | | | 1. First Up. When you find the salvage motorcycle that |
| There are several classic methods commonly used to | | | | you want, make a good sized bid. Enough to make the |
| purchase a salvage motorcycle for bargain prices and | | | | other bidders think your pocketbook is endless and |
| there are an infinite variety of situations that could lead | | | | you are determined to get the bike at all costs. (They |
| to an amazing salvage motorcycle bargain. But for the | | | | don't know that you have a budget and we're not |
| sake of reality, I will focus on the one that is the most | | | | going to tell them.) A bid like this will make the timid |
| commonly seen in the current market - the salvage | | | | buyers drop out and the more experienced buyers |
| motorcycle auction. | | | | think it's not worth the trouble to bid against you, as |
| Salvage auctions are where insurance companies | | | | you are a "crazy" bidder. This strategy has worked for |
| dump their unwanted bikes. The bikes could be | | | | me many times. I am constantly amazed by how |
| wrecked, or they could have been through a flood, or | | | | easily people are fooled by this. Sometimes no one |
| they could be a theft recovery. Regardless of how | | | | bids against me at all and I get the item for half of my |
| they got there, it's safe to say the insurance company | | | | initial limit! |
| wants to get rid of them and if you're careful and | | | | 2. The Penny Bid. While you may not actually be able |
| smart, you can get a real deal. | | | | to bid one penny at a time, the idea behind this |
| As I caution in my article the 4 Worst Mistakes Made | | | | strategy is to bid the minimum increment very quickly |
| At A Salvage Motorcycle Auction - First Do Your | | | | after your opponent bids. After a few times, your |
| Research! Now, I'm assuming that you did your | | | | opponent may just give up, thinking that no matter |
| research and if you haven't, go read that article before | | | | what he or she bids, you will always top her. At the |
| you go any further or you might find that you've | | | | very least you may push the price past your |
| purchased a dud rather than a gem. | | | | opponents limit this way. Beware. I have actually had |
| With that out of the way, and your research complete, | | | | people that I was bidding against this way, come up |
| you show up all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on the | | | | and give me an earful for my "poor sportsmanship". |
| scheduled auction day - ready to make your first deal. | | | | People hate to lose and they hate to lose even more |
| If you've never been to an auction before, take some | | | | when it's only by a few cents. |
| time to look around and of course check out the | | | | 3. Watch and Wait. This is my favorite strategy. |
| various bikes on which you might bid. Always have a | | | | Basically you just sit back and let everyone fight it out |
| back-up as you might not get the first one you bid on, | | | | until the auctioneer calls out, "Going once, going twice..." |
| or the second...but eventually you will go home with a | | | | - then shoot your hand into the air and bid. At this point |
| two wheeler...or at least have learned enough from the | | | | you will only be bidding against one person and will |
| experience to try again another day. | | | | have watched his or her bidding habits and might be |
| Register at the auction desk, put down your deposit if | | | | able to determine when he/she will stop. The caution |
| required, and find a seat. I'm often asked if it matters | | | | here is to make sure the auctioneer sees you - even if |
| where you sit at an auction. The answer is yes and | | | | you have to yell. I have missed some great buys |
| no. Sitting up front allows you a great view of the bike | | | | because I was a hair too late. Timing is everything with |
| for sale, and the auctioneer is not going to miss you if | | | | this strategy. |
| you raise your hand to bid, however, if you have | | | | I hope you find these three auction strategies helpful in |
| privacy issues, this is not the best seat as everyone | | | | your purchase of the salvage motorcycle of your |
| behind you can see what you do, but you can't see | | | | dreams. Slightly modified these same strategies will |
| them. Sitting in the back gives you the anonymity, but | | | | work at an online salvage motorcycle auction. If you |
| your view is limited and you might not be seen at a | | | | didn't find your dream machine this time, that's OK too. |
| crucial point in the bidding process. | | | | There will always be another salvage motorcycle |
| I prefer to sit at a mid point near the side. I can see | | | | auction in the offing and next time you will be even |
| and be seen fairly well and can move forward easily if | | | | more prepared. Happy Bidding. |
| I need to see an item more clearly. Ultimately it | | | | |