What Is an Auction?
An auction is a sales event wherein potential buyers place competitive bids on assets or services either in an open or closed format. Auctions are popular because buyers and sellers believe they will get a good deal buying or selling assets.
Key Takeaways
- An auction is a sale in which buyers compete for an asset by placing bids.
- Auctions are conducted both live and online.
- In a closed auction, for example, the sale of a company, bidders are not aware of competing bids.
- In an open auction, such as a livestock auction, bidders are aware of the other bids.
- Examples of auctions include livestock markets where farmers buy and sell animals, car auctions, or an auction room at Sotheby's or Christie's where collectors bid on works of art.
How Auctions Work
In an open format, all bidders are aware of the bids submitted. In a closed format, bidders are not aware of other bids. Auctions can be live, or they can be conducted on an online platform. The asset or service in question is sold to the party that places the highest bid in an open auction and usually to the highest bidder in a closed auction.
Example of Auctions
Open Auctions
In an open auction, parties come together at a physical venue or online exchange to bid on assets. An interested party is aware of the competing bid amounts and continues to raise their bid until they are either declared the winner of the auction (i.e., they submitted the last highest bid within the auction time limit) or until they decide to drop out of the bidding.
Examples of auctions include livestock markets where farmers buy and sell animals, car auctions, or an auction room at Sotheby's or Christie's where collectors bid on works of art. Leading online marketplace eBay is a host of online auctions.
Price is not always the deciding factor when assets are sold by auction; a company that is for sale might choose a buyer who will provide the best terms for its employees.
Closed Format Auctions
In many business transactions, including the sale of company assets or an entire company, auctions are conducted in a closed format whereby interested parties submit sealed bids to the seller. These bid amounts are only known by the seller. The seller may choose to hold just one round of bidding, or the seller may select two or more bidders for an additional auction round.
In a situation wherein a division of a company or the whole company is up for sale, price is not the only consideration. The seller, for example, may want to preserve as many jobs as possible for its employees. If a bidder does not submit the highest price but can offer the best terms for continuity for employees, the seller may select that bidder.
Government Auctions
Property may become government-owned property through normal purchases or if it is foreclosed on for any reason. Investors interested in land and other assets can attend an auction of government-owned property, which may ultimately be sold at attractive prices.
For example, suppose that a manufacturer declares bankruptcy. If the manufacturer also owes a substantial amount of taxes, the government may seize its capital equipment, including buildings, machinery, equipment, vehicles, and tools, and auction it off to other manufacturers. There is an incentive for other manufacturers to buy these capital goods at auction because they are able to pay less for the used equipment than they would if they purchased brand-new equipment.
Traditional Auctions vs. Dutch Auctions
A variant of the traditional auction is a dutch auction. Google (since renamed as Alphabet Inc.) used this process when it issued its initial public offering (IPO) in 2004. In this form of auction, prospective buyers submit bids including the number of shares desired and the amount they are willing to pay for those shares.
In the case of Google, after the auction, the underwriters sorted through the bids to determine the minimum bid they would accept from buyers. The IPO was priced at $85 per share.
A Dutch auction also refers to a type of auction whereby the price of an item is lowered until there is a bid. The first bid made is the winning bid and results in a sale, assuming that the price is above the reserve price. This is in contrast to typical options, where the price rises as bidders compete. Dutch auctions are rare in the pricing of IPOs.
How to Buy a House at an Auction
Most individuals who are interested in buying a property start by browsing online real estate listings or working with a real estate agent. However, there is a third option for those interested in purchasing a home: You can also purchase a property at an auction.
There are two ways that a home can end up being auctioned off: foreclosure or property tax default auctions. In the first scenario, a foreclosed home is auctioned because the homeowner has not paid the mortgage for at least a few months. After their mortgage falls into default, it may end up in foreclosure. The homeowner's lender can put the home up for auction and force the homeowner out for nonpayment. The home is then auctioned off by bank-hired trustees.
Similarly, a home may end up being auctioned if the homeowner does not pay the assessed property taxes. In this case, the unpaid tax authority rather than the bank seizes the property. The auction is conducted by a local sheriff, clerk, or the county or local tax authority’s comptroller’s office.
You can find home auctions through local governments, real estate agents, and various online sites. While there are significant risks to buying a home at auction, one of the potential benefits is that you may be able to purchase at a discount. You may also face less competition when buying a home at auction (versus buying a home in the traditional way).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Auctions
There are both advantages and disadvantages of auctions. Sometimes people can find rare items at auctions. And there is always the possibility that a buyer can purchase an item at a discount at an auction.
In the case of purchasing property through an auction, this process can deter some potential buyers because of its competitive nature.
When it is the sale of company assets or an entire company, there are many advantages for the seller because they control the entire auction process. They can create a competitive environment in order to maximize their bargaining power, and, ultimately, achieve a higher price.
On the other hand, the price of running an auction sale can be significant. The seller must have a strategy for the auction process, and this requires the service of both financial and legal advisers.
While securing a bargain is always a possibility, if there are multiple bidders, it is also possible that the buyer in an auction will actually pay more because of the potential competition of other bidders.
Seller controls process
Find rare items
Buy at a discount
Seller can maximize bargaining power
Competitive process can deter some buyers
Cost of running an auction is significant
Competitive bidding process can drive up price
Who Is Featured on the Most Expensive Baseball Card Ever Sold at Auction?
A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card (Mint+ 9.5) sold for $12.6 million in 2022.
Can You Back Out of an Auction Bid?
If you make a bid and you realize quickly that it was in error, the auction house may let you out of the bid and go to the next highest bidder. However, this is not always the case. At a live auction, a bid represents a legal obligation. It's also possible that you could get sued if you try to back out of an auction.
When Are Auctions Illegal?
There are certain activities at an auction that are considered illegal. In some countries, ring bidding, which is the practice of bidding on one's own object in an effort to increase competition. Some countries also forbid chandelier bidding, which is the process of raising false bids at crucial times in the bidding in order to create the appearance of greater demand or to extend bidding momentum.
Collusion may also occur in the bidding process, which is when a small group of bidders come together and form a pool, and, thus, manipulate the auction result. At the end of the official auction, the pool of bidders may come together for an unofficial auction. This practice is also illegal in some countries.
What Happens if No One Bids at an Auction?
If no one bids at an auction, a vendor bid may be made by the auctioneer. If no bids are placed on a property at an auction, the vendor may decline to put the property back up for auction. In this case, the owner may instead negotiate with potential buyers.
What Is a Reverse Auction?
A reverse auction is a type of auction in which sellers bid for the prices at which they are willing to sell their goods and services. The buyer puts up a request for a required good or service. Sellers then place bids for the amount they are willing to be paid for the good or service, and at the end of the auction the seller with the lowest amount wins.
How Does a Silent Auction Work?
At silent auctions, items that are for sale are displayed for attendees to place bids on and purchase. There is no auctioneer present at silent auctions; participants place their bids silently and anonymously on a bid sheet using a bidding number.
How Do You Win an eBay Auction?
On eBay, individuals can create listings for items they want to sell. These listings typically include the item description, photos, and payment and shipping options. There are two different ways that you can purchase items on eBay. Some sellers offer a "buy it now" feature so you can buy and pay for the item immediately. Other listings are auctions where the highest bidder wins the item. If an item is an auction, the seller chooses a starting price and interested parties can bid against other buyers.