Schmalz Auctions is offering a phone app for its customers. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Sales are up

Online auction sales benefit from self-isolation

Apr 17, 2020 | 5:47 PM

The impact from COVID-19 has not been all doom and gloom. Saskatchewan companies involved in online auction sales have in recent weeks seen a bump in business.

Myron Schmalz, an auctioneer at Schmalz Auctions in Prince Albert, told paNOW their online auctions are live, and through their phone or computer, participants can see a live person selling the item.

“We’ve been really, really fortunate that we have gone this way because it has basically not affected our business at all, as a matter of fact it’s grown,” he said.

While the majority of items sold on their site come from Saskatchewan, Schmalz explained in recent weeks they’ve been receiving more items from other parts of the country. In terms of what the hot ticket items are, Schmalz said there has been a lot of interest in the smaller items.

“We’ve got a tremendous following of people that have coins, money or stamps, and also antiques and nostalgic things,” he said, adding he anticipates more interest in farm equipment in the coming months.

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Jordan Clarke is the sales Director for Western Canada with Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, and he said they have seen a bump in farm equipment bidding. Recent highlights have included one piece of farm equipment selling for $575,000 and a number of combines selling for over $500,000. Clarke attributes the increase in online activity to a combination of cold weather and COVID-19.

“You couldn’t do anything out in the fields or the yard, so a lot of people were isolating and their entertainment was actually sitting in front of a computer and watching the auction,” he said.

To meet the demand, Clarke explained on certain days they’ve had four or five auctions going on at one time.

“Rather than having to travel to a sale and see it live, customers can sit and watch multiple sales at one time,” he said.

Clarke said the price of new equipment is as high as it’s ever been, but there’s a lot of good used options available online. He added there’s also been a lot of interest in tools, trucks, and older tractors.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell