Preparing for a Government Auction in Arizona

Many people can find great deals on stuff you can't buy in stores at government auctions in Arizona. This article is designed to provide you with the details on how to prepare for a government auction in Arizona and deal with competition. Specifics may vary from auction to auction; however, the following includes helpful and important guidelines from which everyone can benefit.

OK, I have to admit that I am baffled about the auction business. Not the whole business of auctions -- just auctioneers. Coming from a professional business background where competition and business are one in the same, I was not prepared for the wrath of my fellow, competing auctioneers.

Just like every other auctioneer, I have worked hard to establish myself in the business as honest and reputable. I built up my organization so that we could successfully bid and conduct government auctions. In the beginning, we lost quite a few contracts -- and when we lost I would call the winning competitor and congratulate them on their success.

When we began winning contracts, my competitors were not so nice. The first group called the government organization that I was to work with and made up stories of incompetence; which we had to run circles around and prove were not true. The second group who lost a contract to my firm sent out notices to their buyers stating that the government agency they were working for would no longer conduct auctions.

After I picked myself up off the floor from the shock, I was forced to wonder why such brutal competition exists. After all, there is enough business to go around and I guarantee you that neither one of my competitors have gone out of business, if anything they seem to be flourishing. I find it difficult to get away from the idea that friendly competitors breed more business and nasty competitors cut each other's throats where everyone is a loser.

The most unfortunate part of this story is that it made the auction industry look bad. It made all auctioneers look bad. Me, you and the people dishing the dirt. It added to the reputation of the auction industry lacking professionalism. That is not what I want and certainly it is not what you want. So the next time you lose a contract to a fellow auctioneer -- call them up, congratulate them and offer your help. Who knows, you may need help someday and if nothing else you will be seen as the professional that you are.

If the situation with your competitor is just too negative to even attempt to repair, you can try a very effective method -- Prayer. I pray for my competitors and for their businesses. I am sure that many of my competitors will need to be picked up off the floor to hear this, but it is true. I believe that prayer is extremely helpful in dealing with competitors. It is difficult to harbor ill feelings towards someone when they are in your prayers. It is equally challenging to say something negative about a competitor who you regularly discuss with God.

Most importantly don't make your determination of a competitor's business practices based upon the tales of your fellow auctioneers. There are so many stories that I have heard about other auctioneers that simply aren't true, yet they have circled through the auction community for years. So for the new millennium make a resolution to pray for your competitors. And don't forget to pray for yourself and your company - it will change your business and maybe change you too!


About the Author

Deb Weidenhamer is President of Auction Systems, the Southwest's most active auction and appraisal company. Learn more about what a police auction is and check out our government auctions in Arizona. Visit us online or call 800-801-8880 for more information.

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