Those who have little or no experience in the auction world are usually unaware of the strange and absurd items–some of which look like garbage–that can bring high prices on the block. So our mantra is “don’t throw anything away before we come and look.” That is our golden rule, one we ask all who call us about liquidating an estate to follow, lest they make a tragic mistake and send marketable items to the landfill. However, all good rules have exceptions, even golden ones.
Boxlot Post No. 1
So what exactly is a boxlot? Well, every estate has piles of tchotchkes that aren’t necessarily garbage, but that aren’t good enough to stand on their own. Individually, these bric-a-brac are worth $10 and less. Trying to sell each of these things individually during an auction is boring and inefficient. However, these items still have value, and as auctioneers, we are obligated to produce every dollar we can for our consignors. So we make boxlots: literally cardboard boxes loaded with miscellaneous items that are sold together for one price. Boxlots are a win-win situation. The consignors get the value out of usable items that may have been otherwise disregarded, and the bidders get the opportunity to buy those items in an efficient way.
Bed Cutting: An American Tragedy
If we are to take an honest look at the history of this great nation’s furnishings, we Americans cannot deny that we have been less than noble in our pursuits of interior design. Indeed, our forefathers have been guilty of conceiving such atrocities as throw pillows, slip covers (both fabric and clear plastic), bean bags, and particle board. The absurd and gruesome nature of these inventions are deeply imbued into the psyche of the American consumer, who are well aware of the pain and misery that they have and continue to cause.
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