Auctions have been around since about 500 B.C. First recorded in Babylonia as wedding auctions, they didn't really take off till the Roman times. The Romans were the first to use the components of the auctions we have today. Players such as the consignor, buyer, and auctioneer (promoter, advertiser) were first used in Rome. The "Spoils of War" were auctioned off as well as personal property. The Latin word for auction is auctus, meaning to increase.

Auctions continued to evolve through the centuries. In fact, Sotheby's was established in 1744 and Christie's was founded in 1766. Sachs 5th Auction isn't quite as old. It was founded in 1998 by Lorraine Sachs Garcia and Anthony Garcia. End of history lesson.

Auctions not only are a venue to buy and sell, they can be wonderful entertainment. Our talented auctioneers keep the pace going. It's fun to watch two bidders vying for an item. It's even more fun to win an item, especially if it is a bargain. Our "Live & Online" auctions are simulcast with audio on the internet. So, those of you on the internet can experience the auction fever as well. For those of you that can attend our auctions on-site, we have a relaxed atmosphere, clean restroom facilities, and food is available provided by the Breakfast Optimist Club. It should be noted that Sachs 5th Auction receives no proceeds from the Optimist's concession sales. We are now also holding timed auctions that are online only. For our local buyers we will have a pickup time the day after the auction closes. As with our "Live & Online" auctions, shipping is available for our out-of-town buyers.

Of course, Auctioning is a serious business. We are obligated to obtain the highest price possible for our consignors. We are also obligated to our buyers to represent the items as accurately as possible.

We are very proud of our auction house. Although fast paced, we don't go so fast that someone new to auctions can't follow. If you scratch your nose or wave at a friend and we take that as a bid, we will back out that "bid" upon your request. Just jump up and down, immediately, and let us know you didn't mean it! Auctions are fun, and you can find items you can't find anywhere else, sometimes at a bargain!

Seriously, It is a good idea to know something about auctions, how they work, and about the merchandise you are bidding on. Take a bit of time to read the Terms & Conditions. If you have any questions, contact us! We love to introduce new people to our auctions, and let them know how fun and easy it is. We post the lots in our catalog with photographs on Proxibid at least a week before the auction. We describe the lot as accurately as possible and include at least one photo. This being said, we may not scrutinize lower priced items as much as the higher priced items. For example, a large lot of old mismatched china dishes may have a few chips or cracks. This is not a high ticket lot. For us to examine and note every defect is, well ... insane. It costs us a lot to put up each lot. We are a business and need to make a profit to survive. However, for example, if it is a fine piece, we will endeavor to describe it in full detail to the best of our ability.

Hint: When looking at our catalog on the internet, click on the photo to see if there are additional photos to view. Whether you intend to bid on-site or online, looking at the photo(s) and description gives you an opportunity to do some research on your own about the item. We also post some preview photos on our Catalog Page as items are inventoried.

The first thing you need to do to bid, is to register. On-site you fill out a form with your name, address, and phone number, plus an email address if you have one. You are then issued a bidder's card (also known as a bidder's paddle) with your bidder's number. Online, you need to register with Proxibid. We ask for a credit card number for our online bidders. We ask that you register a least the day before the auction. If there are any problems, this gives you time to resolve any issues. We don't want you to miss a chance to bid. Proxibid has outstanding customer service. They are available online and by phone. They will walk you through the registration process if need be. Please note that we, United Country Sachs 5th Auction and Real Estate, do not have access to your credit card number. To charge you for your winning bid, we have to go to a third, secure, party to charge you for your purchase. How cool is that!

Want to bid online? You do not have to register to watch an auction. You may find it useful to watch a few auctions on Proxibid before you actually register and bid. Naturally, we want you to register and bid at our auction! However, we don't want you to miss bidding at our auction because it appears to be foreign territory. Proxibid has a great Help Page that answers many questions you may have.

We do listen to the issues of those of you who bid online. A hint from one of our online bidders is that if you really want an item, pre-bid at the opening bid. This gets you in immediately, so evidently the "delay" factor is gone. She said this really worked well for her.

We try to be as fair as possible to both our on-site and online bidders. So if you have any issues, please email us, both negative and positive. We would like more "tips" for others that are online bidders!

Absentee Bids

If you can't make it to the auction, or have to leave early, you can place an Absentee Bid. Sachs 5th Auction requires a bid of at least $50.00 per lot. The bid you make will be the maximum you are willing to bid. We will start the bidding at 2 increments below the bid over $50.00. $50.00 bids will start at $50.00. We require a credit card number to accept an absentee bid. Absentee bids cannot be withdrawn after the start of the auction. Absentee bids accepted during the auction cannot be withdrawn. Absentee bids are subject to all of the Terms and Conditions as the on-site & online bids.

Description of Condition of Items

Any Condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, it is only an opinion & should not be treated as a statement of fact. Sachs 5th Auction shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Furthermore, the absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear & tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging.

Our auctions are On-site and Online in Real Time. This greatly expands the buyer base, exposing your consignments to buyers from all over the world. Visit our page at www.proxibid.com/sachs to view some of our past auctions.

It is in our best interest to attract as wide a buyer base as possible, and get the most money. Your consignor's fee covers basic advertising, both in print & online. We advertise in publications all over the State of New Mexico as well as in several prominent online directories, which get approximately 10,000 views. However, we will charge the consignor for any special advertising or appraisals. Sachs 5th Auction also sends email to several thousand prospective buyers before each auction. We mail postcards to our buyers that do not have internet access.

Your consignor's fee also includes the preparation of the catalog. Photos and a description are included with each lot. We attempt to do research on unique items. However, time constraints may not make it possible to research an item as thoroughly as we would like. Provenance is important for the description of a valuable item. It is important to attach a note and/or appraisal to the item so we may describe it better.

We all have our family heirlooms & treasures. The emotional value to a seller may not be what the market price will bring. Keep this in mind when you put such items up for auction. Your Grandpa's chair is not anybody else's Grandpa's chair! Do some research on your own, if you feel an item is of particular value, let us know. Is it antique (over 100 years old) or vintage? And many items from the 30's 40's 50's and even the 60's & 70's may have value. It just depends on what the item is. We are an auction house, we don't make the values, we just try to get the highest price we can. Again, that is in our best interest! However, an item may not get the money you expected. If that is an issue with you, you have the option to place a reserve on any item, before the auction. And please, do not come to the auction and bid on your own consignments. This, even if innocent, is considered "shilling' or "bid rigging" and is highly illegal. The auctioneer will stop the bidding immediately, if this is detected, which it will be.

Another issue is collectibles. Through savvy advertising, many "collectibles" have been sold to individuals with the promise of their increasing in value. Most were, and are, mass produced. A good example is the "collector plates." Although very lovely, most have little value in the resale market. It's a great marketing ploy to entice someone to buy something as as "investment." That means, we can not get very much for them at auction. The re-sale value is just not there. You have the option to place a reserve on any item.

Math Lesson: - C<V maybe even C<0 - The word "Collectible" is not a synonym for "Valuable". Everything these days is "collectible." We all have our favorite "collectibles." We may love them, but if someone else is not willing to pay a price for them... they are what they are.

Tupperware & the Land of Oz - There are some items that are just not suitable for auction. These include, but are not limited to: Tupperware, we get a ton of it. Unless it belonged to the Tin Man or Dorothy, and you can prove it, it just doesn't have the value appropriate for auction. Other items include: Clothing, shoes, & accessories: even new with tags. Exceptions would be antique or vintage clothing (in acceptable condition), or anything extraordinary. Furniture: that is in a questionable condition. Even some antique or vintage furniture with major condition issues can have little or no value. Other unsuitable items may include: knick knacks, prints, bad art your great aunt did, walkers, wheelchairs, linens, small appliances, dinnerware, kitchen stuff, old computers, suitcases, & anything that smells really bad... the list goes on. There are exceptions, and it is our prerogative to determine what is suitable for auction. However, we promise to give special attention to Dorothy's dog, Toto.

Many of these items are best suited for donation to a worthy charity. You may well get a tax deduction. Please do not bring these items to us. Also, some items need a permanent visit to the dump. We will dispose of items in the best interest of the auction house. If we accept an entire estate, we understand we may have to deal with such items. However, if you are an individual bringing us a few select items & also cleaning out your closets, please, don't bring us dump, or yard sale items. We will dispose of them in a suitable manner & we may well charge you a "disposal fee" if necessary.

Inventory of Items - Sachs 5th Auction does not itemize each and every single item sold at either the Live & Online Auction, Timed Auction, or those items disposed of as described above, (items we deem unsuitable for auction). Same type items will be categorized together. For example: Miscellaneous Small Appliances; Miscellaneous Kitchenware; Miscellaneous Glassware; Miscellaneous Linens; and so forth. That being said, we do look at each and every item, sorting them into appropriate categories and weeding out those items that may be valuable or suitable for auction. A case in point:31 pieces of sterling silver flatware was "weeded out" from three boxes we received of miscellaneous kitchen & other items. These were big boxes! This silver was mixed in with all kinds of stuff, mostly just old used kitchen stuff. Probably stuff like you have in a drawer or two & in the dark depths of your kitchen. Think about it! It is doubtful the heirs of the estate even knew it was there. This silver was sorted out and sold for $300.00 at a recent auction of ours. Umm?

Condition-Condition-Condition - A crack, a chip, paint loss, a moth hole, fraying, any of these, and other condition issues, can make a drastic reduction in the value of an item. It can take a $400.00 piece down to $0. Believe it or not, this happens all of the time.

When we accept items for auction, we reserve the right to determine which items are suitable for auction. Those that are not will be disposed of to the auction house's discretion. The Consignor's Contract describes this in more detail. Contact us and we will send you a copy of the contract. Again, it is in our best interest to get the most money we can for your items.

That being said, you may have that old tin sign from your great uncle's dairy. Let's take a look. May be worth something. If you have his old weathervane, we will really talk! .

We charge a minimum of $50.00 per item for a reserve. If you feel there is a minimum price you want on a consignment, you can place a reserve. If not, it sells for whatever it sells for, period.

We are always seeking select consignments. Of course, what is "select" to a consigner, may not be what the Auction House feels is suitable for auction. Please contact Lorraine Sachs Garcia to discuss whether Sachs 5th Auction is the best venue to sell your items.

There is a tremendous amount of time involved in sorting, inventorying, photographing, lotting, and uploading each lot into the catalog. Not everything we receive is suitable for auction. Of course, when receiving an entire estate, we realize that many items will not be suitable. We reserve the right, as described in our contract, to dispose of such items in the best interest of both the consigner, and the Auction House.

Some insight for those of you bringing a few items to our Auction House. We don't make miracles. And, it costs us money to try to sell something that is not of auction quality. For example, the sofa you bought for $1,500.00 ten years ago may not bring very much money. Hey, IT'S TEN YEARS OLD! If It has some worn spots or is soiled, however slight, we must disclose that to our buyers, and it will get even less. It is very likely that it costs us more to put such an item up for auction then we receive for our commission. Of course, this is just an example. This applies to all kinds of items. Please be objective about your expectations. Also, it is not in ours, or to your interest, to accept "Yard Sale" or "Flea Market" items. They are what they are, & we will not get a dime more for them at auction. In fact, these type of items do better at a flea market. In other words, don't think that the auction has some magic that will get you more money for these type of items. It won't, and that's why they will not be put in the auction.

Take a moment to read our Terms and Conditions. If you have any questions, please contact us. We strive to hold the best, most professional auctions possible, held anywhere.

We will be adding more information to Auctions 101 in the future.

Click Here to view a glossary of common auction terms. It requires Adobe Reader which is a free download from the Adobe site.