Everyone is welcome! Our auctions are open to the public. Well-behaved and supervised children may attend.
It’s FREE! There is NO cost to attend or register for a bid card.
Preview – Preview – Preview
Come early to look over the merchandise. Preview is from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. the day BEFORE the sale AND the day of the sale. The day before the sale is a good time to talk with one of our helpful staff members, get registered, and take a good look at the merchandise.
Catalogs
An auction catalog is a list of items and the order in which they will be sold. You may pick up a free catalog at the preview. The auction moves at a brisk pace (approximately 100 items per hour). Knowing this will help you determine approximately when your item will be sold.
Register
All bidders MUST have a unique bidder number. You will need your government-issued photo identification to register. (Driver's license, military i.d., etc.) We issue “permanent” numbers; however, you must check in at the office at every sale. If you are buying for resale and are exempt from sales tax you must complete a resale certificate when you register. Your resale number may be verified with the Department of Revenue.
Need not be present to “win!”
Absentee bid forms are located near the entrance. The minimum absentee bid is $20. Bids are in $2.50 increments after $20 (e.g. $75.00/$77.50/$80.00/$82.50). Incorrect bids will be rounded UP to the next increment (e.g. $21.00 will be entered as $22.50). The auctioneer will bid on your behalf, starting with a percentage to be determined at the discretion of the auctioneer (at least 50% of your high bid).
Phone bids
We do not accept phone bids. However, we may accept absentee bids over the phone from registered bidders.
How to bid
To bid in person, make your desire to bid known to the auctioneer by holding your (bright yellow) bid card up high with the number facing the auctioneer. (If you can see the number, the auctioneer can’t!) We make every effort to recognize all bids; however, the ultimate responsibility to be seen by the auctioneer is yours. Don’t miss out by failing to make your presence known! (You have to say “HEY!”) If you are the high bidder, leave your card in the air until your winning bid is acknowledged by the auctioneer.
Don't worry, the auctioneers are experienced at recognizing bids. You won't accidentally buy a cow for $1,000! (To avoid confusion, try not to use your bid card to fan yourself or wave down a friend.)
Pay for your merchandise
You must pay in full the day of the sale.
Appropriate forms of payment are: CASH – Debit Card – Visa/Mastercard
(We only accept checks from known bidders or with approval by the owners. Debit cards preferred to checks.)
Please wait 15 minutes after your last bid to approach the cashier and settle up. (This is a good time to turn your bid card in. We will save it for the next auction.)
Payment will be: Price bid plus a 10% buyer’s premium and applicable sales.
(e.g. Bid price $100 + $10 (10% buyer’s premium) + $9.24 (sales tax @8.4%) = $119.24 total due.)
Pick up your merchandise
The cashier will give your receipt to an auction employee (called a “runner”) who will fetch your items and bring them to you.
Large item pick up is at the big roll-up door after the close of the auction OR Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – noon. (We leave promptly at noon on Saturday.) If it is impossible for you to pick up the item immediately after the sale or on Saturday, please make an appointment with Lori or Jeff.
We DO NOT move large items and/or any items that would disturb the flow of the auction during the auction.
Buyer’s Premium – what is it?
A buyer’s premium is an additional percentage added to your bid. The purpose of the premium is to allow the auction’s commission to be split between the consignor and the bidder. 10-12% is the industry standard in our area. (Our buyer’s premium is 10%). The buyer’s premium is nothing to be afraid of, just keep it in mind when you are bidding (e.g. If you want to spend no more than $100 on an item, bid $90, your bid will be $99, saving you $1!)
A final note
Still have questions? Give us a call or talk with us in person at the preview. Our friendly staff members want to make the auction experience fun for you. It’s a fun, exciting way to buy merchandise at considerable savings. Know your spending limits and enjoy!
Personal experience by Lori Menger
Jeff and I met about 10 years ago and got married January 1, 2001 (the “real” new millennium). When we were dating, I mentioned I’d never been to an auction and was kind of scared/intimidated by auctions. Jeff assured me auctions were fun and nothing to be scared about, so we had a date at a local auction.
At first I didn’t want to bid, but after seeing things I would have paid much more for at an estate sale or from a newspaper ad (a VCR for $5??? WOW!), I got up my courage and held up my card. I don’t think I "won" anything that first night, but I was hooked!
Then Jeff introduced me to eBay and our auction-going intensified.
When we’d been to all the local auctions we drove out to Hoquiam to try out the Druzianich auction. We liked it so much, a couple years later we decided Thurston County needed a similar one. (I vaguely recall Carol and Daryl telling us holding auctions was a lot of work. . .they were right!)
It’s great to be able to include our kids, step-kids, grandkids, and friends in a family business. We hope you enjoy it too!
