| An auction vulture can be either male or female; it | | | | is in the audience ready to reap the fruits of his labor. |
| doesn't matter. This particular vulture is a male. He | | | | Just at the right moment, he places a bid at the |
| makes sure that he arrives at an auction about an | | | | amount he said he was willing to pay, which was one |
| hour before the sale starts. For those of you who | | | | third of the fictitious amount. With no other bids |
| attend a lot of auctions, you know who he is. The | | | | forthcoming, the auctioneer drops the hammer and the |
| person can vary at every auction but it only takes a | | | | high bidder is - the vulture. Since he passed himself off |
| couple of minutes to spot him. | | | | as some sort of expert, no one else would bid higher |
| The first thing the auction vulture will do is to determine | | | | because they didn't want to get stuck paying too |
| which items are of interest to him. Once he has done | | | | much for it. |
| this he then patiently awaits his prey. Although he looks | | | | One of the vulture's victims had toyed with the idea of |
| upon everyone as a potential mark, he more often | | | | bidding anyway but he remembered what that "nice |
| than not concentrates on the newer auction attendees | | | | man" had told him. Once the item was sold, he realized |
| - they are the most susceptible to his rhetoric. He | | | | that the "nice man" had been absolutely right! |
| especially focuses his attention on those people who | | | | The vulture, also known to some as that "nice man," |
| show real interest in the items he has already coveted | | | | ended up stealing that item without benefit of a gun or |
| for himself. | | | | a mask. Since the item really didn't have any of the |
| Suddenly several people are attracted to something | | | | problems the vulture said it did, it was actually worth |
| he wants. The vulture will join them in previewing this | | | | twice the phony value he initially claimed. |
| item. He will immediately find fault with the item and | | | | The vulture honed in on four different items in all during |
| verbally outline all of the problems he sees with its | | | | that particular auction's preview. As he previewed |
| condition. The vulture's list of issues will most likely | | | | each one, he gave an award winning performance to |
| include some of the following observations: there is a | | | | a new and unsuspecting group of victims. By the time |
| piece missing, it has been repaired, the finish is all | | | | he was finished, the vulture had scored on three of the |
| wrong, the signature is not right, the hardware has | | | | four pieces he had targeted. Each was purchased for |
| been replaced, etc. | | | | an amount way below its actual worth. All in all, the |
| The vulture's main talent here is his ability to speak with | | | | vulture had a pretty good day. |
| such authority. After he has presented all of the | | | | Don't confuse what the vulture does with regular |
| negative points about the item, he will then come in for | | | | auction goers who comment on merchandise to their |
| the kill. He will quote a false amount of money that he | | | | friends, family or business partners. They are just |
| would have been willing to pay had the item been in | | | | participating in the normal previewing process. They |
| good condition. Following this he announces that, | | | | are not out to intentionally deceive bidders, consignors |
| because of the imperfections, it is not only worth a | | | | or the auction house. |
| third of that. | | | | Next time you attend an auction be on the lookout for |
| Those who considered bidding on it now start drifting | | | | the vulture. He probably won't be wearing a red |
| away. One or two people are still somewhat | | | | carnation in his lapel but you will still be able to find him. |
| interested but their initial passion for the item has | | | | Don't forget that he might very well be a she. If you |
| noticeably waned. They will just wait and see what | | | | don't locate the vulture right away, don't worry. He or |
| happens when it comes up for sale. | | | | she might find you instead. |
| When the item finally does reach the block, our vulture | | | | |