Dear Lee,

Watching antiques and collectibles auctions online or in-person is fun and educational, but some things can be very confusing for a first-time auction-goer at a pricey auction. How do I bid when sitting in the auction room? Which item are they on? Who has paddles? Who are on the phones and computers who keep calling “Here”? What tells the auctioneer where to start the bidding? Can you go to the food table and help yourself? Is it free or do you pay for food?

Here are some suggestions for those who have never been to an auction.

If you plan to bid in an auction, look at the catalog online or buy a printed catalog ahead of time. Mark what you want and what you want to pay. The estimated price is in most catalogs, along with a picture and description. When you get to the auction, sign in and get a bidding paddle. You can bid by waving the paddle or motioning or even arranging a special sign that only the auctioneer will know is a bid. We sat next to a dealer at an expensive jewelry sale and the auctioneer pointed to us each time he said “Sold.” We learned later the dealer behind us tapped his pencil on his catalog to bid.

The starting bid is based on the estimate, the bids that came in online or by email before the sale, or the reserve price. It is an educated guess. Too low and bidders wonder why it is so cheap. Too high and it scares off some bidders. Auction staff are walking around and at phones and computers helping to spot in-house bidders or to bid for those who have placed absentee bids. They bid like you would, a small increase each time, so often an absentee bid wins for less than you authorized.

Feel free to examine any items on display. You can open drawers, check the backs, etc., carefully, of course. The auction gallery wants you to stay and bid so they usually have free food, sometimes a feast. And if you buy something when you leave, a staff member will help you pay, check out, arrange transportation if needed and answer any questions about storage or use of credit card, etc.

Don’t expect the winning bid to always be like the estimate. Here are some unexpected winners in auctions the past few months. At a Christmas toy auction, a small belsnickle (Santa-like figure) holding a tiny feather tree branch was estimated at $800 to $1,500. After 10 bids, it sold for $5,230. An antique German Little Red Riding Hood on a wolf toy estimated at $1,500 to $2,500 sold for $5,230.

It could be that two rich collectors got into a bidding war, or maybe a museum that needs the picture for an exhibit, but not even the auctioneer can explain why some bidding goes wild. And if it is a cross-over item, say – a rare Popeye doorstop – both the doorstop and the comic collectors keep thinking “Just a few more bids and it will be mine.”

If I scared you off, try a farm auction where there is no catalog ahead of time, but perhaps a list of items that will be sold in no special order while you walk around to where they are displayed. Bidding can be just a yell, but you must check in to pay and collect the item. Have fun! You might get a bargain.