Entry bubble Sold to the Highest Bidder!

By: Nancy | October 18, 2007 | Category: Money

As an extension of Colleen's post on online shopping, I would like to introduce you to the dress that was not meant to be: blue 1950s dress

Trying to be proactive, I’m planning to stage my midlife crisis rather than letting it catch me by surprise. Determined to get it all over with in one day, I’m ushering in my 40th birthday (more on that traumatic milestone in a future post) with a 1950s-style party. I'm doing up the house in kitschy retro decor, serving 'back in the day' food like pigs in a blanket  and am dressing for the role of the happy hostess.

I stalked this fifties frock at an online auction site, staying up past my bedtime to bid on it right to the nail biter ending. And with five seconds to go, somebody who did not NEED this dress like I did beat me out by a dollar. A lousy buck.

Not that I’m bitter.

Now I know online auctions aren't new. But there are still millions of people who have never tried one. And there are lots of others, like me, whose bidding skills could use a little finessing.

Internet Auctions: A Guide for Buyers and Sellers lays out the basics of the online auction world with tips on bidding, listing items you want to sell, and keeping from getting ripped off by unscrupulous dealers.

If you collect anything, from velvet Elvis paintings to Fiestaware and don't want to pay antique store prices, or can't stand to fork over half your paycheck at the mall for new things like designer shoes (hello, Samantha!), there's somebody at an online auction site willing to sell it to you for a better price. And one of those somebodies, it turns out, is Uncle Sam. The Government Sales and Auctions page is one of the most popular destinations at USA.gov. When I first heard about government auctions, I envisioned outdated furniture or 20th century computers. But a look at some of the things up for bid online from the government put my imagination to shame and forced me into the 21st century. Government auction sites are filled with modern computers and office furniture; late model cars, trucks and boats; jewelry, clothes and home decor; art and collectibles; houses, farms and commercial property and more. Everything's been seized by law enforcement or used by the government, and it's up for bid online at fair prices.

So why buy retail when you can save a bundle and enjoy the hunt in an online auction?

As for me and my dress situation, all is not lost. In fifties fashion, I dried my tears, smoothed out my apron and dove back into that auction site, scoring a little periwinkle number, circa 1955.

This was the dress that was meant to be.

 

 

 

 

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