Top: Business: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: Business Services: Auctions


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Dutch Auctions

Dutch auctions involve the auctioneer starting from a high price and changing that price to fit what people are willing to pay. Typically, the price will be reduced. Dutch auctions get their name from the auction of Dutch tulips which use the method.


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General Information

An auction is a process by which products are bought and sold, with the highest bidder being able to purchase the product. In economics, an auction can be considered to be a type of market and a way to decide upon a price for a specific product. While auctions can lead people to get the highest possible price for a product, a minimum reserve price may have to be specified to prevent the product from selling at a price that is too low.

Forced auctions may occur in certain legal circumstances.

One common need for auctions is in the selling of real estate. Antiques, art work, jewellery and collectibles are usually sold by auction and auction catalogs may be produced to detail products being sold. Yearling thoroughbred horses are typically sold at auction. Other products often auctioned include livestock, cars and boats.


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English Auctions

English auctions are the most common type of auction. It starts at a lowest price and the price is changed until only a single bidder is willing to purchase the product. In most cases the price will increase, and a minimum reserve price may be set to prevent the product from selling at a lower price.


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Silent Auction

A silent auctions is an auction in which a person will view and product and write their bid on a piece of paper. After a certain amount of time the bids will be collected and the highest bid will pay the price they offered.


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Sealed First-Price Auctions

Sealed first-price auctions involve a variety of bids taken all at once with no knowledge of what other participants are bidding. The highest bidder pays the price offered.


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Vickrey Auctions

Vickrey auctions are very similar to sealed first-price auctions in that all participants bid at the same time. However, the highest bidder will only ever have to pay the second-highest price bidded. This type of auction gets its name from American Professor William Vickrey and may also be known as a sealed second-price auction.



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