Live internet bidding set for machinery auctions

Progressive auctioneers Halls plan to introduce live Internet bidding at the company’s plant and agricultural machinery collective auctions in Shrewsbury in the new year to appeal to buyers both in the UK and around the world.

Tom Jones, who manages the bi-monthly auction at Shrewsbury Auction Centre, says the company will be the first area to offer the live Internet bidding, which will make it more convenient for buyers to bid wherever they live.

The auction already attracts buyers from across the UK, Ireland, Eastern Europe and as far away as New Zealand.

"The live Internet bidding will open up our auctions to a worldwide audience, something our fine art departments has been doing successfully for some time," said Mr Jones.

"The advantage to buyers is that they will not need to stand around at the auction or wait at the end of a telephone to bid. They can be sitting in the comfort of their home or office listening to the live auction and watching pictures of the lots being sold.

"It is a service that is already provided at fine art and car auctions but is fairly new to the plant and machinery scene."

He said Halls was keen to embrace the latest technology to maximise the benefits for both buyers and sellers.

The wintry weather impacted on the company’s final plant and machinery auction of 2010, with many of the promised lots failing to arrive on the day. Around 700 lots went under the hammer and Halls fielded a lot of post sale enquiries from buyers who were unable to attend.

Although the big freeze chilled the atmosphere, the auctioneers were satisfied with the trial of a mobile rostrum at the auction.

Mr Jones, Halls’ chairman Peter Willcock and fellow auctioneer Nick Hyne conducted the auction from a specially designed rostrum on a JCB Groundhog vehicle, which was made by S. P. Holding of Telford.

Reflecting on the second year of the collective auctions at Shrewsbury Auction Centre, Mr Jones said Halls was delighted to have built on the success of 2009.

"During 2011, we will be increasing the scope of the bi-monthly auctions from regional and national to worldwide with an international audience," he said.

He also revealed that the auction had increased public awareness of the full range of services provided by Halls. "The auctions have introduced a number of new clients to Halls who are now taking advantage of our property, professional and fine art services," he added.