Junkyard Dogs

From: Julian Burke (julianb@esper.com)
Date: Thu Oct 26 2000 - 14:21:51 PDT


For many of us, we love to hit every auction we possibly can. For MOST of
us, you can tell by how packed our buildings are! I have seen about every
trick in the book what people do to "degrade" whatever comes up for auction
in hopes of it not bringing a higher price. One time at a university
auction, I was high bidder on a forklift. Auctioneer announced it had a key
in it but it's not there now. After the sale, some guy walked up to me and
actually handed the ignition key to me and said, "It's an old trick". (I
don't think I myself would have the guts to do that!) Another common trick
is to remove the dipstick or oil cap and throw it under the vehicle or
somewhere else. This is all too common and everyone now should be aware of
these. (Only reason I mention these two) Another auction in the past, I
was at the city auction of impounds and wrecks. As always there are all of
the salvage yard operators present and yakking back and forth about what is
and what isn't. (Even a dummy can tell they're all full of it!) As I was
looking at an engine, one of these junkyard dogs (Never saw him before, all
bark-you know the kind that walk up beside you and say something like they
know that car and how bad it is) said/exclaimed "the dipstick is missing!"
I looked at him straight in the eye and said in a sincere voice: "IT IS? Is
that serious? Would it be expensive to fix?" They never know what to say
after that! I just play dumb and keep an eye out for the known crooks.
Julian



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