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Buying at auction is a fun, easy way to get a bargain or find an item of special value to you. Auctions are the last frontier in free enterprise, and one of the most exciting ways to shop.

About Auctioneers
Auctioneers are professional licensed individuals who are bonded by the State to protect you. They must attend school. To better work for their clients they maintain their education through seminars, professional organizations and extended courses like CAT (Certified Auctioneers Institute) at Indiana University. There are laws and requirements auctioneers must follow to keep their licenses, so you are protected. We belong to the West Virginia and Virginia's Auctioneer's Association and the National Auctioneer's Association as well as many of the surrounding mid-Atlantic states.

How to Begin
When you come to our auction, you are made to feel welcome. You are invited to view all the items prior to auction. Auctions are one of the few places you are encouraged to handle and inspect the items for sale so that you know what you're buying. There are no resales, refunds, or returns - all goods are sold as is.

Registration
Before bidding register with the cashier who will ask for identification, usually a driver's license. You will receive a bidder card, which lists the terms of the sale. It is your charge card and contract with the auctioneer. Don't lose it, you are responsible for purchases made against that bidder card number. When the auction is ready to begin, the auctioneer will go over the rules, times certain objects will sell and anything else you need to know. The auctioneer will also answer any questions you have at this time.

Bidding
When you see an item you are interested in, set a price in your mind of what it's worth to you. The auctioneer will call out bids in certain increments, and you will decide to hold up your card to bid or drop out. If you are the high bidder, hold up your bidder card so the number can be recorded. See, you set the price.

No Hassles
Ask questions. Tell the auctioneer if you feel there was a bidding error. No one will take your bid when you don't want to bid. If you buy something that you feel was misrepresented, you can return it immediately and disclose the error or flaw. If a bid is disputed, that is, you think you have the final bid and someone else things they do, the bidding is simply opened again between you two.

Paying
Method of payment is usually cash or check (sometimes MasterCard and Visa). At any time during the auction or when it's over, you can go to the cashier, pay your bill, pick up your items and leave. You can also make arrangements to pick items up later.

Leaving Bids
Many auctioneers offer the service of "bids left". That is if you need to leave and your item has not come to the block, you can leave a check and the highest bid you would go to on the item. There will be an assigned bidder to bid as if you were there, getting the article for the best price, not necessarily the highest bid you left. Naturally, if another bidder bids higher than your last bid, you will be told and your check returned.

Requests
If there are items you want auctioned at a certain time, you can make requests from Greenway's personnel and they will do everything they can to get the item up for you.

Dealers
Delaers buy for their clients and for profit, so bidding against them is easy - their bid is less than what the item sells for in their shop. Remember, if you want an article, set your price in your mind beforehand, and you never spend too much.

Terms Used

Ringman or Bid Assistant: Person who stands in front and helps the auctioneer take bids, deliver items to the bidder and brings more to the block.

Clerk: Person who keys in all auctioned items, the final bidders' number and the bid, so the auctioneer will have a record and you'll have a receipt. Many auctioneers tape their auctions so if there is any problem they can run back the tape and listen to it.

Cashier: Person(s) who registers your name and give syou a bidder number, adds up your bill, and gives you a receipt after you pay.

Choice: Bidding on one item in a group, high bidder can take any item, each at the bid price.

By the piece: Buying all items at the individual item price. Example, you buy 6 glasses at $2 for 1 glass, total is $12.

Bid left: Bid in writing executed by auction personnel, from absentee bidder. Usually requires deposit in the amount of your maximum bid.

Reserve: Price wanted at auction

Chattel: Personal Property

Real Property: Real estate sold at auction

Confirmation: Owner agreeing to sell the item for the offered price.

Blue sheet selling: Items remaining in home with a number placed on item for inspection, then sold outside, usually one hour after auction begins.