YEP, YEP, YEP

Yep, yep, yep, yep barked the Auctioneer, like a couple of coyotes talking to each other, as he encouraged the bidder to bid just one dollar more.

The occasion was the Friday auction at 157 E. Broadway, in Mesa.  I had been invited by a friend to accompany her to the adventure.  "It will be fun," she promised.  And it was fun.  I took along my folding chair, having been warned that there would be constant standing.

the Mesa Auction has been in existence since 1958, though I had just recently heard about it.  They have two auctions every Friday. The morning 9:00 A.M. auction is for misc., tools, and collectables.  6:30 P.M. auction is for home furnishings and appliances.  An interested costumer may visit the facility on Thursday or early Friday morning or on-line, at www.mesaauction.net to view the available items that week.

My friend and I arrived about 9:00 A.M. , where she immediately paid a $50.00 cash refundable deposit for a bidder's paddle.  All sales would be final.  The Auctioneer stands behind, or sometimes, on top of the table where small items are collected in card-board boxes, and begins the bidding.  I watched in fascination, as box after box was sold to the highest bidder, with just the nod of a head.  When two or more were bidding on the same item, the Auctioneer began his Yep, Yep, Yep pointing from one bidder to the other.  It was apparent that most of those bidding had done this before, as they knew when to hold up the bidder's paddle and nod, and when to keep their hand down and their face straight.

The Auctioneer moved from table to table filled boxes, and the crowd moved with him.  If they were in a section , like toys, for instance, those not interested in those particular items, moved on to another more interesting section.

When a bidder tired of the whole deal, and if he/she had been successful in buying an item, they went to the office, turned in their bidder's paddle, and applied their $50.00 registration fee toward the purchases, or receive a refund if their purchases were less than the registration amount.

It was an eye opening experience for this old lady, and one I would recommend to the Snow Birds some Friday this coming winter.  Who knows?  You may buy a precious antique, or maybe even a manure spreader!