Scheduled Auctions

[Nocshadue Balbozar]

Good Points Winter! I have my own criteria as well in deciding to attend a certain auction or not. Here are mine:

1) Is the Auctioneer both entertaining and knowledgeable?
A- If the auctioneer is spouting misinformation and is not well versed in what can or cannot hide what etc, I will not be back.
B- If the auctioneer has no clue to how to talk about breeding possibilities and display a cat to it's best advantage, I will not be back.
C- I understand that auction length is an issue for some, but if the auctioneer is frantic and calling for a first time before even giving opening bid, I will not be back.

2) Is the overall atmosphere friendly and fun, or do you feel like you're being circled by vultures?

3) The quality of the cats on the panels. This does not mean that all cats must be 4 generations all bred by breeder or all 9T, or all new triats. After a while, you get a feel for these things.
A- Do I get the feeling that the breeder put a little thought and care into making that cat? I've seen too many auctions where it seems people are trying to get a few bucks for a cat they would otherwise just menagerie. There are many other means of selling these kitties (chat auctions, bid boards, shops) and I really think they do better that way too.

B-I've also seen too many that exclude some great cats due to trait count or lineage (meaning breeder doesn't own grandparents etc). None of that ensures quality.

4) Age of the cats on panels. I really think that a cat over 30 days old has no place at an auction. To me, auctions are a place to showcase a special cat, not move one on that you are done with. I want to make clear though, that I find nothing wrong with selling off cats you no longer need, I just don't feel they belong on an auction panel. And in my time, I've seen people selling off 100+ day old cats at auction. Collector cats are an exception of course.

So that is what I look at regarding auctions for the most part. Time of day is also a factor for everyone. I wish there were more late night auctions but when they were tired in the past, there was just not enough support for them.
With this being said, I have no problem with auctions overlapping times. Unless of course they are both great and I'd love to attend both, but those things usually work themselves out.
Also, as an auctioneer, there is no shame in saying you are not sure of something. Its so much better to check, or get someone to check for you than to guess and mislead your buyers.
Its a very competative business, especially auctions, and I'd actually love to see a few that just can't hack it weeded out to give more potential buyers to the better ones.