Articles & Blog

Buyer Premium By The Numbers

The Seller’s Bottom Line

Auctioneers and auction companies can charge sellers a sales commission or a buyer premium.  Working with an auction company that charges a buyer premium will benefit the seller because it generates more revenue when compared to a sales commission.

Increased Revenue

Selecting the right auctioneer will impact the revenue that is generated from a sale. An auction company that uses buyer premium will charge the buyer after the final bid.  Since the buyer is charged a fee, the seller is not responsible for paying any fees to the auctioneer.

Dr. Jonathan Wu’s research study states that every percent charged on a sales commission will actually reduce the revenue that is generated for the seller by more than 1 percent.  When the hammer price remains constant, Dr. Wu’s research proved that a buyer premium will generate significantly higher revenue for the seller.

Human Behavior and Revenue

Although research suggests that the revenue generated by a buyer premium will increase significantly when the hammer price remains constant, human behavior can impact the revenue that is generated.  Buyers may estimate their final bid after adding the buyer premium to the bid.

Even if buyers change their bidding strategy, the seller will benefit when an auctioneer charges a buyer premium.  To learn more about how the buyer premium impacts revenue generation, request to read the full report – Learn More

Skip Dreibelbis | May 11, 2017 | 0 Comments

Should We Have Auctions On Sunday?

Today in business it is considered the norm and “good” business to provide the consumer what they want, when they want and how they want.  Shouldn’t auctioneers make the most of the opportunities on weekends to have auctions as often as they are able including Sunday?  After all, the majority of buyers at auctions are off from work on Sunday so why not have auctions on Sunday?  Isn’t it just part of keeping up with your customer’s needs and adjusting to the market-place?  Isn’t going to an Auction on Sunday just another item on the menu for the day that you can choose from?

It is very much counter culture to not go along to get along and in fact many would say that it hurts a business to not be open on a Sunday. By God’s mercy and grace, we at True Blue Auctions will NEVER have an auction on the Sabbath – the Lord’s Day.

Why? We seek to honor the Lord with everything we do in this business. Even if it “hurts” our business to not be open and having auctions on a Sunday.

Keeping the Lord’s Day holy and not profaning it is something we take seriously.  We will NEVER conduct an Auction on the Lord’s Day.

Because of the importance of this day, I want to pass on and share with you just how important it is and why we will NEVER conduct an auction on a Sunday.

115. Which is the fourth commandment?

The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested in the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day and hallowed it.

116. What is required in the fourth commandment?

The fourth commandment requireth of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word, expressly one whole day in seven; which was the seventh from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, and the first day of the week ever since, and so to continue to the end of the world; which is the Christian sabbath, and in the New Testament called The Lord’s day.

117. How is the sabbath or the Lord’s day to be sanctified?

The sabbath or Lord’s day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day, not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful;  and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy) in the public and private exercises of God’s worship: and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day.

118. Why is the charge of keeping the sabbath more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors?

The charge of keeping the sabbath is more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors, because they are bound not only to keep it themselves, but to see that it be observed by all those that are under their charge; and because they are prone ofttimes to hinder them by employments of their own.

119. What are the sins forbidden in the fourth commandment?

The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required,all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them;all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself sinful; and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations.

120. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it?

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one for himself in these words, Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: from God’s challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: from the example of God, who in six days made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to us in our sanctifying it; Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

121. Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment

The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; that it cometh but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it; and that Satan with his instruments labours much to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.

We want to have a positive effect upon culture and upon the auction industry and this is why we will not, as the Catechism says, be used by “satan with his instruments labours much to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.”

Also, it is important for you to realize that we don’t profess to be perfect or keep the fourth commandment perfectly. By His grace, we continue to press on to please King Jesus with how we conduct business and ask for and thank you for your prayerful support and thank you for letting us share with you why we will never have an auction on Sunday.

Below is a very good sermon I heard titled, How The Church Celebrates the Sabbath by Pastor Geoff Gleason. (When we are conducting Auctions in Augusta, you will find us visiting Cliffwood Presbyterian Church – http://www.cliffwoodpca.com/ each Lord’s Day).  Pastor Geoff Gleason preached other sermons as well that are very good on the Lord’s Day/Sabbath – The Sabbath: Founded In Creation and Why Celebrate The Sabbath?

I hope you are encouraged if you are a Christian, share this timely message with other believers. May the Lord have mercy upon this land and use His people reach the lost where the fruit of redemption is manifested where you live by His people obeying the Fourth Commandment.

Yours in King Jesus,

Skip Dreibelbis

Skip Dreibelbis | Mar 23, 2015 | 0 Comments

Being A Good Steward Of Your Client’s Assets

Stewardship is not often thought of by many in business today – or should I say that it is when it comes to the business owner’s interests and not their client’s. Auctioneers are the fiduciary of their clients and are morally and ethically to always do what is in their client’s best interest. That is supposed to be… This includes everything from protecting from damages & theft, to the prices realized at auction, to the marketing of the items to be sold, and labor to conduct the auction.
The marketing of an auction is one of the most important aspects of the auction. Effective marketing is essential for success. If only a few people know about the auction then only a few people will show up for the sale. Less competition for the items sold will result in a lower return for the client. There are some auctioneers who market effectively and efficiently and others who do not. Some things to consider when interviewing an auctioneer about the marketing is the auctioneer also making money from you with the advertising? Some auctioneers offer “advertising packages” where a person can pick and choose from the auctioneers list of ways to market. What the client doesn’t know is the auctioneer is making money from each package. The client pays not only the price from the advertising vendor but also a price for the auctioneer creating the ad and submitting the ads for publication. Another thing you want to consider is, does the auctioneer know what advertising even works and what advertising is not effective? There are many auctioneers who take a “shotgun” approach and spend lots of money on every type of print media available. To these auctioneers it doesn’t matter if the media they publish in actually works or not. They figure it is their client’s money and it gets their name out there so they see it as a way to market their business at their client’s expense.
How can you know if an auctioneer actually cares about his client? You will know if you go to an auction and before you get a bid card they ask you, “How did you find out about the auction?” Auctioneers who actually track this information know what advertising works and what does not. Auctioneers are to give copies of receipts of everything to their client. This would include each and every advertising vendor they use. Each and every cost for the production of the auction must be accounted for by statue or the auctioneer could be brought up on charges and lose his license.
Print media is a dying industry and has been for years. Costs of publication are rising, rates keep increasing, and subscriptions keep going down! Just today (19 October 2012) in the Wall Street Journal was the article about Newsweek after 79 years of being in print will only be a digital publication in 2013. ( Read Article | View Videos – the Report  – the Implications – the changing landscape of the media) What does this have to do with auctioneers? Next time you see lots of ads scattered about in all types of print media you may want to ask yourself does this auctioneer care about saving his client money or does he care more about spreading his name anywhere he is able at the client’s expense? Many auctioneers still don’t get it and this is why you see them spending their client’s money. At True Blue Auctions, by His grace, we are “True Blue” to our clients which means that we are good stewards of our client’s marketing costs. We know that digital is the future and that is why you will always see the most robust website able to be built, as well as the latest marketing methods used for our clients. If there is any print media used it is because we know from years of tracking everyone who comes to our auctions just what advertising works and what does not. In fact, every auction we have ever conducted has tracked every bidder as to how they found out about the auction. We have done some very high profile auctions for distinguished celebrities where we auctioned their mansion, automobiles and all the contents of their homes and used zero print media. One was a three time Super Bowl player and at his auction there was not even standing room available. Over 200 people attended and it was in February we had just had 18 inches of snow and had to have the place “plowed out” for people to attend. I was told by several of our auctioneers, “Skip, you must get something in the paper.” I said, “With the advertising rates they have and what little space they give you? No way!” Now did I care about my client? Absolutely! Enough to make sure I was not about to waste his money on what I knew did not work. His auctions were a huge success and he was very pleased with how we did all we could to save costs and make him the most money possible. Never be afraid to ask the hard questions to an auctioneer. They are to be doing what is right by YOU, the client. I hope this article gives you some insight into how you can know if an auctioneer is being a good steward of his client’s best interests. If you have any questions, always feel free to reach out to us from our website, www.TrueBlueAuctions.com and let us make certain your hope by faith through grace today.

Skip Dreibelbis | Mar 23, 2015 | 0 Comments