Sometimes the Market Knows Best

It's been one of those weeks in the auction business that reminds me why I love what I do. Between client appointments, consignment preparations, and having Motley supervise our daily operations, there's never a dull moment. And this week, I got to share one of my favorite auction stories during a client meeting - one of those tales that perfectly captures why you have to trust the process.

The $2,000 Panic Call

A few years back, I got one of those calls that makes you pause and wonder about human nature in the best possible way. We had a car listed for online-only auction – nothing fancy, probably worth somewhere in the $4,000 to $5,000 range. A real grandma car, the kind of vehicle that finds its way to auction for practical reasons, not because it's anybody's dream car.

The phone rang, and on the other end was a gentleman who had somehow stumbled across our listing. Now, this wasn't the seller calling. It wasn't a family member or friend of the seller. This was a complete stranger who had appointed himself the guardian of fair auction practices.

"Kara," he said with genuine urgency, "you can't sell that car for $2,000! You can't do that to someone."

I glanced at the clock and checked the auction status. "Long time until the auction ends," I told him.

"It ends in two minutes!" he shot back.

Here I was, trying to explain to this well-meaning stranger that we'd done everything we could. We'd advertised everywhere possible, followed all our standard procedures, and reached every potential bidder we could think of. Sometimes that's all you can do – put something out there and let the market decide.

"I understand your concern," I said, "but we've done everything we can do."

"You can't do that to someone," he insisted.

And then, as if the auction gods were listening to our conversation, something beautiful happened. People started bidding. The activity picked up, numbers started climbing, and that car that had this stranger so worried? It sold for just over $5,000.

The caller's tone completely shifted. "Fine," he said, and I could practically hear him smiling through the phone.

The best part? The winning bidder turned out to be a kid in his twenties who was absolutely thrilled with his purchase. He just loved these cars - sometimes one person's practical grandma car is another person's treasure.

Trust the Process

That story perfectly captures something I've learned over the years in this business: sometimes you have to trust that the market knows what it's doing. Yes, there are slow moments. Yes, there are auctions that start quietly. But there's often more interest brewing beneath the surface than you might think.

This stranger's call came from a good place – he genuinely didn't want to see someone get shortchanged. But it also showed how the auction process can look from the outside when you're not familiar with how bidding typically unfolds. Those final minutes can be magical, with bidders who've been watching and waiting suddenly springing into action.

Office Supervision

This week, while Campbell, Maya, and Kristen have been working on our upcoming consignment auction, we've had some extra help around the office. Motley, Campbell's dog, has been our unofficial supervisor while the team works on organizing our upcoming consignment auction. There's something about having a dog around the office that just makes everything feel more relaxed and human.

Motley has mastered the art of strategic positioning – always managing to find the perfect spot where she can keep an eye on everyone while still being comfortable. I managed to catch a great photo of her lying by my chair in a way that makes her look like she's floating. It's one of those candid shots that perfectly captures her personality and her role as our gentle office overseer.

Dogs make excellent auction house employees most of the time, it turns out. They're great listeners, they don't argue about lot numbers, and they usually bring a calm presence to what can sometimes be a high-energy environment. Though like all good supervisors, Motley does have her limits - after running around all morning, she needed some nap time this afternoon and got a little cranky with people when she was tired. Even the best office dogs need their rest!

The Stories We Carry

Days like this remind me that every auction, every sale, every phone call is potentially a story worth telling. That concerned caller probably had no idea he'd become part of a tale I'd be sharing, but his genuine care for a stranger's situation stuck with me all week.

In the auction business, we're not just moving merchandise from one person to another. We're facilitating moments, creating opportunities, and sometimes we're the setting for little dramas that play out in real time. Whether it's a last-minute bidding war, an unexpected phone call from a Good Samaritan, or simply a dog supervising the daily operations, there's always something interesting happening.

The market really does know best most of the time. And when it doesn't? Well, that makes for good stories too.

Happy Bidding!
Kara C. Belcher-Miller
Auctioneer