AUCTION info...

[Roper14]

Just wondering if anyone has any tips on any decent auctions in the ArkLaTex region that would be pretty good to go and try and buy a 40-60 hp tractor. I have been to about 5-6 over the past few months (on weekends) with no luck---- I heard -from here- about the Noon Day tractor auction in Flint, Tx (a monthly auction)......are there any others like that out there that are on the weekends...all the ones I have been finding in the middle of the week (enlow auctions around tulsa and brinkley auctions around ardmore)....not afraid of driving 4-6 hours but it needs to be on a Fri or sat...

thanks for any info......
for the "lookers"--- auctions are weird---the same tractor may bring $2-3k more at a regular farm auction than at a tractor auction only b/c there are more/less tractors to go around to the buyers...but then again you never know.....

 

[firedog]

The Horn auction in China, Tx. 1st Saturday of every month.

for previews see Horn Auction - Welcome

 

[sandman2234]

Brinkley Auctions is up in Idabel, Oklahoma, not too far from your target area. They have a sale once a month, and every third one they have a salvage tractor sale. Usually a two day sale, one for tractors, the other for farm and ranch equipment. They have a "sorta website" that has a calendar, but will send you a flyer if you sign up.
David from jax

 

[Harold_J]

...
thanks for any info......
for the "lookers"--- auctions are weird---the same tractor may bring $2-3k more at a regular farm auction than at a tractor auction only b/c there are more/less tractors to go around to the buyers...but then again you never know.....

I think prices are usually higher at regular farm auctions because the bidders are less suspicious of poor quality machines. If an individual farmer is having an auction because of retirement or going out of business I feel a little safer buying his stuff that he was using up till the end instead of a piece someone is trying to unload at a consignment or dealer auction. I have seen more of my friends get "stuck" with a bad buy at regularly scheduled or consignment sales than at individual farm sales. I prefer the latter except for smaller items(things without an engine!).

 

[patrick_g]

So, lets see, the consensus is... hmm, we have no consensus. Experience differs on type of auction with best prospects.

I have been to a several "farm" auctions where folks had died or were movin' to town and some that were just made up of goods available to the auction company. In the case of the death, movin' to town or whatever auction, the professional auction company usually has goods hauled in to be part of the sale. You are not at all assured that the tractor or implement you are bidding on was in use on THIS PLACE until recently.

Even the cardboard boxes of "personal items or toys" are not always part of the actual household being sold off but may be STUFF brought in.

About the only thing you can say for sure about the prices at auctions is that you can't say for sure. I have seen lots of used stuff (junk quality) sell for new or higher prices and good stuff sometimes go for a super bargain. You never know. Much depends on whether or not there are other serious bidders with interest in the items you are bidding on.

You better know what a fair price is as it sure can't be determined by the auctioneers comments, the crowds attentions, of the bidding action.

Pat

 

[Roper14]

I appreciate the info...I will take a look at the Horn Auction in Tx...I would have gone to the Brinkley Auction except they sell the tractors on Thursday and it is about 6 hrs away (meaning I would need to take off 3 days from work - 2 to travel and one for the auction)

The other poster was correct - there is pretty much no rhyme or reason why something will sell at a high or low value at different locations (bid runners, bad weather, people not paying attention, and people having no clue of the value of what they are bidding on)

Sorry for this story but this is a little petty but a perfect example --- one of the auctions ive been to they were selling plastic barrels that came from a car wash --they had 16 of 'em...they first offered them all at $2/each to anyone...no bites...so they decided to sell the whole group off...two idiots got after it...they sold for $45...when they were finished, everybody started laughing.......that is what you have to lookout for at auctions

thanks again for the info...any other will be useful

 

[flusher]

Just wondering if anyone has any tips on any decent auctions in the ArkLaTex region that would be pretty good to go and try and buy a 40-60 hp tractor. I have been to about 5-6 over the past few months (on weekends) with no luck---- I heard -from here- about the Noon Day tractor auction in Flint, Tx (a monthly auction)......are there any others like that out there that are on the weekends...all the ones I have been finding in the middle of the week (enlow auctions around tulsa and brinkley auctions around ardmore)....not afraid of driving 4-6 hours but it needs to be on a Fri or sat...

thanks for any info......
for the "lookers"--- auctions are weird---the same tractor may bring $2-3k more at a regular farm auction than at a tractor auction only b/c there are more/less tractors to go around to the buyers...but then again you never know.....

Basic info you need before bidding on a tractor: make, model, serial # to get the year of manufacture, and engine hours.

Make and model usually aren't a problem, but sometimes there may be a question about model if the ID markings on the sheet metal are missing or are hard to read.

You need to know where to look on the tractor for serial #'s and there's no guarentee that the info will be there. It took me several tries recently to find the serial number on an Allis Chalmers WD that was for sale in my neighborhood. The S/N was stamped in the axle housing and was barely readable.

With make, model and S/N you can find wholesale and retail prices from The Offical Tractor Blue Book. Makes sense to me to use the blue book (about $16 from amazon.com). The Blue Book also gives you tractor serial numbers and tells you where these on found on the tractor.

You wouldn't buy a used car or truck without blue book info. Same goes for a tractor.

Engine hours can be a problem unless you can verify that the tractormeter is working. Best way I know is to run the engine at pto speed and see if the hours indicator is moving. That may take a while if there's no tenths of an hour readout. I try not to rely on auction folks telling me that the hour meter works. They only know what they're told by the owner/consigner and the info may be inaccurate.

Once you know the wholesale price and the hours, you can make your own estimate of max bidding price. Of course you add or subtract bucks from this price depending on condition of the tractor, bonus features (extra remotes, FEL, implements included in the sale, etc) and your desire for this piece of iron.

 

[Harold_J]

...You never know. Much depends on whether or not there are other serious bidders with interest in the items you are bidding on.

You better know what a fair price is as it sure can't be determined by the auctioneers comments, the crowds attentions, of the bidding action. Pat

That sums it up pretty good Pat.

At one time I had a conversation with an equipment dealer who attended a lot of auctions and there was one thing we both agreed on:
If you want to do well buying at auctions there is no substitute for attending a lot of them.
It will give you the experience and exposure and of course you will be there when the occasional very good buy or unexpected comes up.

I would say also get there early, not only to look around and check things out but to listen to what some of the locals are saying and get an idea of what kind of operation the seller had and if all the stuff is really his, was he a trader, etc.

It's good to understand your own personality also. If you tend to be cheap and then have later remorse about not bidding enough, then go one or two bids higher and you will usually feel better even if you don't make the buy. Conversely if you tend to be too "enthusiastic" then best pick a top price and stick to it.

You got to remember it costs money these days to attend an auction. If any distance you have fuel, tolls, time, do you have to take a truck/trailer or come back later. Do you need someone with you to keep an eye on small items you purchase which sometimes tend to disappear. It all adds up.

 

[capt jack]

Catching brothers are having a big auction on Fri. 2-29-08 in Sherman Tx.
(60 miles north of Dallas). the site is on hwy 82 on the west side of Sherman. I've been by a few times and they have several tractors in that size range.
Catching Bros. auctions should have a web site.
Jack

 

[sandman2234]

I understand the travel problems of Brinkley Auction. It takes me a little longer than that to go to Idabel, but I have done it before. I am on their flyer list, but the flyer usually gets here too late for me to make plans to go. I use the calendar they put out a lot more, but realistically, the only reason I go is because it is only 50 miles from Daddy's and I like to drop by there if an auction is in process while I am visiting Daddy. He also enjoys watching the bidders make fools of themselves, lol.
David from jax