Going once. Going twice. Sold...

By Andrew Ehinger

    Sometimes you can get a great deal. Sometimes you'll pick up a lemon. That's what you can expect at a auction. But more and more Long Islanders are turning to auctions to save some bucks.

    It was shoulder to shoulder people at the David R. Maltz & Company auto auction today. On the block, about 100 bank re-possessed and government seized cars and boats. Some people think these auctions are filled with Corvette's, Mercedes', BMW's and Porsche's - OK there were a few of those - but really it's just average every day cars and trucks that people couldn't afford any more.  Thing is, these auctions are usually filled with used car dealers and a few home mechanics looking to fix a car up and sell it for a profit - but today there were lots of every day people looking for an inexpensive car. Call it the sign of the times - some people are doing what ever they can to save a buck.

    Hidden in the crowd I saw Khedaja Rahim holding her bid placard and some notes. She was eying a Mercedes sedan longingly. However, the final cost -- 15 grand -- was a little too much for her budget. She only wanted to spend 6 thousand but at the auction she felt she could get something a little better than she could at a dealer. This was her first car and she wanted it to be nice. Auctioneers say they are seeing more and more people like Khedaja bidding on cars and they've got more cars for folks like Khedaja to bid on. There are more bank repossessed cars coming up for auction because more people are defaulting on their car loans. Some of the regulars at the auction say that means newer and better maintained cars are rolling on to the auction block. Funny thing is they say with more cars, the perception of getting a steal that means more bidders per car and then the final price goes up. That's good news for the bank's and the auctioneer but not for the professional car buyer. Several complained to me that it's getting harder to buy cars at a discount so they can turn them around for a decent profit to keep their businesses afloat.

     Wow you just can't please everyone!

    So how can you make a good bid at an auction? The experts tell me NEVER bid with your heart - always bid with your wallet. Or in other words, if you find a car you like, do your research, establish your maximum bid to what the car is worth and NEVER go over that limit NO MATTER WHAT. If someone else wants to pay more than the car is worth, let them. There are always other cars. - That's some good advice.