Spring is in the air and it is that time of year when our thoughts turn to spring cleaning. As we look around we see clutter in the kitchen cabinets, the bathroom cabinets, the closets, the basement and the garage. Where oh where did all this "stuff" come from?? I'm sure someone broke into our house while we were asleep and cluttered it up; we could never have done this. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it)
I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets a few days ago and was amazed that I packed up 7 boxes full of items I had not used in years. Some items were brand new - take the pasta machine that I used one time. Remember the day when everyone had to have a pasta machine to create more nutritious meals ~ they make it look so easy on television. My husband was helping me carry the boxes to the basement (to deal with later) when he commented he was amazed the cabinets even stayed on the walls. As much as I wanted to get mad, I have to admit I was pretty impressed myself...who would ever imagine nails and glue could be that strong!
After you gather all the clutter into one spot, then you are faced with what to do with it. With gas prices and groceries sky rocketing most of us are looking for ways to bring in a little extra income. We've tried several approaches that ultimately led us to develop an auction web site. We tried having yard sales, and I don't think I have ever worked so hard for so little money in my life!! We tried eBay but by the time we paid the listing fees and the final value fees, which we never understood, we made almost as much as we did having yard sales. I'm sure we are not the only ones who have had these experiences. Since I have been involved in web design for many years, we decided to try our hand at an online auction site where basic listings would be FREE. The site is called Insider Auctions and you can list everything for FREE. Optional features are available but the fees are very low. When the item sells, you pay a low flat rate final value fee of 2%. If the item doesn't sell, simply relist it, again for FREE.
As you do your spring cleaning, make a digital picture of items you want to list on http://www.insiderauctions.com/. At the end of a hard working productive day, go to Insider Auctions and register to buy and sell. Once registered, click on Sell and the listing process is very user friendly and easy to use. If you have a lot of items you are interested in selling, open a store. Send me an email to let me know you read our blog and I'll waive the cost of the store for the first month and it will be FREE. My email address is linda@insiderauctions.com.
Remove the clutter and make a profit! What have you got to lose??
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The History of Auctions
The exact date auctions were first organized is not known; however, it is generally accepted that auctions were recorded as early as 500 B.C. The Babylonians held wedding auctions annually where women were sold for the purpose of marriage. Of course, the most beautiful women received the most vigorous bidding and the prices paid were high. Owners of the less attractive women had to add dowries or other monetary offers in order to make the sale and the price could actually be a negative figure for the buyer.
The Romans were the first to organize sales of goods at auctions. They used the auction process to liqudate personal property as well as selling items seized in wars with rivals. Auctions were held at the “Atrium” for the purpose of selling the “spoils of war” for the soldiers after a military victory. Business agents were said to have accompanied warriors into battle in order to facilitate and promote expected sales.
The Chinese used auctions to sell surplus property to raise money for religious leaders and temples. It appears they used a similar process in planning and managing a sale as we do today.
During the 15th century, King Henry VII of England instituted some of the earliest auction laws, including auction licenses. In the 1600’s the British organized regular auctions of books and art at “public outcry”. Auctions were held in taverns and coffee houses in the seventeenth century in Great Britian and announcements of sales devoted to land appeared in the London Evening Post in 1739.
The methods of the English came to America with the English immigrants in the 1700’s; however, the economy was struggling and there was very little place for auctions and auctioneers. It appears the only time auctions were necessary was when property needed to be sold to satisfy debts for nonpayment of taxes. The stigma of selling at “forced sales” attached itself to the auction business for centuries. In addition, slavery did not help the reputation of auctioneers. Public sales of slaves helped fuel the largest slave market in the western world. Selling slaves at “public outcry” began in Virginia and quickly spread south.
After the Civil War, auctioneers traveled to larger cities and ports to sell goods off merchant ships, dispose of damaged goods and sell estates. Auctioneers sold anything they could get and were successful in making money, but not in helping their reputation or image.
The auction business continued in the same rut through the 1800’s and the first half of the 1900’s. After World War II, auctions started to make great strides when businessmen began to see an opportunity to use auctions as an alternate marketing tool. The sale of goods and real estate at private sales boomed in the post war period; in fact there was a need in many cases to move real estate and property faster than the private market would allow. Businessmen in business suits and ties began to nurture the auction business and raise the reputation of the auctioneers to a higher degree. By this time auctioneers had business links to banks, attorneys, accountants, the court system, government agencies and the public.
Today, auctions fill the buying and selling needs of millions of people around the world and have become part of the American way of life. There are auction houses, local auctions, private auctions, estate auctions and internet auctions just to mention a few. Auctions are recognized as an excellent means of selling goods, services and real estate to buyers who are willing to pay the highest price.
The Romans were the first to organize sales of goods at auctions. They used the auction process to liqudate personal property as well as selling items seized in wars with rivals. Auctions were held at the “Atrium” for the purpose of selling the “spoils of war” for the soldiers after a military victory. Business agents were said to have accompanied warriors into battle in order to facilitate and promote expected sales.
The Chinese used auctions to sell surplus property to raise money for religious leaders and temples. It appears they used a similar process in planning and managing a sale as we do today.
During the 15th century, King Henry VII of England instituted some of the earliest auction laws, including auction licenses. In the 1600’s the British organized regular auctions of books and art at “public outcry”. Auctions were held in taverns and coffee houses in the seventeenth century in Great Britian and announcements of sales devoted to land appeared in the London Evening Post in 1739.
The methods of the English came to America with the English immigrants in the 1700’s; however, the economy was struggling and there was very little place for auctions and auctioneers. It appears the only time auctions were necessary was when property needed to be sold to satisfy debts for nonpayment of taxes. The stigma of selling at “forced sales” attached itself to the auction business for centuries. In addition, slavery did not help the reputation of auctioneers. Public sales of slaves helped fuel the largest slave market in the western world. Selling slaves at “public outcry” began in Virginia and quickly spread south.
After the Civil War, auctioneers traveled to larger cities and ports to sell goods off merchant ships, dispose of damaged goods and sell estates. Auctioneers sold anything they could get and were successful in making money, but not in helping their reputation or image.
The auction business continued in the same rut through the 1800’s and the first half of the 1900’s. After World War II, auctions started to make great strides when businessmen began to see an opportunity to use auctions as an alternate marketing tool. The sale of goods and real estate at private sales boomed in the post war period; in fact there was a need in many cases to move real estate and property faster than the private market would allow. Businessmen in business suits and ties began to nurture the auction business and raise the reputation of the auctioneers to a higher degree. By this time auctioneers had business links to banks, attorneys, accountants, the court system, government agencies and the public.
Today, auctions fill the buying and selling needs of millions of people around the world and have become part of the American way of life. There are auction houses, local auctions, private auctions, estate auctions and internet auctions just to mention a few. Auctions are recognized as an excellent means of selling goods, services and real estate to buyers who are willing to pay the highest price.
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