The Bid League

Joan Johnson’s habit of collecting beautiful items at bargain prices started small--a bowl here or knickknack there, all picked up at local thrift shops.

But five years ago, when Johnson saw the sign for Abell’s Auction Co. in Commerce, she moved on to larger items--big-screen television sets, curios, entire racks of clothing, dining room sets, bedroom sets and couches.

And now Johnson’s hooked--a regular and enthusiastic bidder at weekly auctions.

“It’s so nice to look at things and know, even though you could never afford them retail, you have a real chance here,” she said.

Johnson, a bus driver for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, is one of a growing number of Southland residents who have found auctions to be a way to furnish their homes at a fraction of the cost of retail shopping.

And Los Angeles and Orange counties are home to a variety of independent auction houses that sell everything from frying pans to fine art at reasonable prices.

Those who love to prowl flea markets and garage and estate sales will find an even greater variety and quantity of merchandise at auctions.

“Since the majority of our merchandise comes from estates, going to auction is the equivalent of hitting four to 20 estate sales in one day,” said Maureen File, of File’s Auctioneering & Fine Art in Santa Ana.

But unlike estate sales and flea markets, everyone has the same shot at a coveted item, not just the person who happens to stroll in first. And, depending on who is competing for an item, auctions offer an opportunity for bargain prices.

The “bargain bug” first bit Adams District resident Johnnie Solomon more than five decades ago, when Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles was crowded with eight auction houses in a four-block stretch.

Solomon still treks weekly to Orrill’s Auction Studio, where he views merchandise, socializes with friends and keeps an eye open for “can’t-live-without” deals, like his most recent purchase, a 1978 Cadillac Sedan Deville.

“You just need to buy one thing at auction and then, I can guarantee you, you’ll be hooked for life,” Solomon said.

Solomon’s half-century auction habit makes other devotees, like 10-year auction shopper Nancy Thomas, seem like newcomers. Thomas, a former interior designer, derides both the high prices and cookie-cutter appearance that can result from retail shopping.

“Not only do you get more for your money [at auctions], but your home starts evolving into something that is warm and filled with character,” she said. “When each piece has a story to tell, your home becomes a very interesting place.”

Thomas still gets teary when she tells the story of how her son successfully bid for an antique rocking horse when he was 3 1/2 years old. Almost every item in her family’s Mediterranean-style home in Altadena, from a 16th century South American chest (for which she paid about $600) to an antique commercial stove, came from an auction.

“I believe that when you create a home, every piece in the home should appear to be handed down,” Thomas said. “Patina and scratches are marks of character, evidence of life and history.”

Len Aten, a vocational education program manager for four school districts, has a similar approach to furnishing his Santa Ana home.

After years of acquiring antiques through dealers, Aten made his first purchase at Files Auctioneering in 1986. His home is now overflowing with turn-of-the-century Eastlake Victorian (“a little less fussy than Queen Ann Victorian”) furniture, lamps, carpets and art objects purchased at auction.

“You’ve got to be prepared to take the time,” Aten warned, “but the benefits are lower prices and the ability to get something you won’t see anywhere else.”

Aten has paid as little as $25 each for a set of six Victorian chairs in need of reupholstery and as much as $4,000 for an elaborate, hand-carved Eastlake Victorian bed. He has a similar bed, purchased in his pre-auction days from an antique dealer for $8,500.

But, as Joan Johnson discovered, auctions are not just for antique lovers. Ever since Johnson’s first purchase five years ago--a 52-inch big-screen television--she’s been a devotee.

“You name it, and I’ve found it at auction,” said Johnson, a weekly regular at Orrill’s Auction Studio in Los Angeles. “Sooner or later, whatever you’re looking for is going to show up. You just have to be patient.”

Her patience and persistence have been rewarded with a home that is almost entirely filled with furnishings and accessories from auctions.

She once paid $4,000 retail for a brand-name bedroom set with headboard, armoire, dresser and night stands, only to later find the same set at auction. “When I saw that bedroom set, I just had to get it for my son and his wife, and I walked away with it for $800.”

Her “best deal,” however, was a like-new, walnut dinette set with three leaves, two armchairs and four side-chairs she purchased for $200.

“In life, it’s not how much money you make but what you do with it that counts,” she said. “For me, auction shopping is stretching to the maximum what I am able to do with the money I make.”

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How to Shop at Auction * Shop around. Before bidding at an auction, check retail stores and antique shops to determine the prevailing price ranges. “The first time, bring your notebook, not your pocketbook,” cautioned auctioneer John Moran.

* Always preview carefully before bidding. Look for imperfections that could affect the amount you wish to pay for the item.

* Calculate refurbishing costs. The three Rs--reupholstering, refinishing and renovating--can turn an inexpensive item into a costly one.

* Get help. For high-end items, consult an expert to verify value.

* Set a price limit and stick to it. Don’t forget to factor in a “buyer’s premium” of at least 10%. (A buyer’s premium is the surcharge added by the auction house to cover its costs.)

* See and be seen. Make sure the auctioneer can see you and your bidding number. At most auction houses, bidding numbers are provided.

* Auction action. Listen carefully to the auctioneer and the bidding. One auction shopper sheepishly tells how she doubled her own bid from $100 to $200 for an art print. Most reputable auctioneers won’t allow this to happen, but it can.

* Sale strategy. Find out if the auction house has a scheme for bringing out items for bidding. Some houses start with inexpensive items and move up to pricier pieces.

* Tools of the trade. As you become more adept at auction shopping, bring a “bag of tricks,” including a magnet (to determine if an object is bronze or base metal), a flashlight (to look under a piece) and a magnifying glass.

* Compare auction houses. The merchandise, atmosphere and levels of amenities and services vary greatly.

* All yours. Remember, when the auctioneer yells “sold,” the sale is final.

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Southland Auction Houses

Auction houses vary widely in merchandise, services, frequency of sales, comfort and willingness to accommodate customers. In most cases, buyers must arrange their own delivery and often there are people with trucks at the auctions who are available for hire. But be sure to ask ahead of time. Some houses are flexible about storage, others require that the item be picked up by the next day.

* Abell’s Auction Co., (213) 724-8102, 2613 Yates Ave., Commerce. Auctions are held every Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Previews are every Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Offers a wide range of items, including appliances and used furniture, in all price ranges and styles. Holds a special Sunday auction of fine antiques four to five times a year. Accepts written absentee bids but not telephone bids. Street parking and limited seating available. 10% buyer’s premium. Cash and checks only.

* Butterfield & Butterfield, (213) 850-7500, 7601 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Monthly estate sale of furniture, paintings and decorative arts. Sales start at noon on selected Sundays. Previews are on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon. Listing of auction items provided before sale. Accepts silent bids and telephone bids. Parking lot and ample seating are provided. 15% buyer’s premium. Cash and checks only.

* File’s Auctioneering & Fine Art, (714) 547-1415, 143 S. Lemon St., Orange (American Legion Hall). Specializes in antiques and artwork from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Monthly sales start at noon on selected Sundays. Previews are on selected Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 10 a.m. to noon. Accepts silent bids and telephone bids. Parking lot and ample seating are provided. 10% buyer’s premium. Credit cards, checks and cash accepted.

* J.C. Ames Auctioneers, (818) 895-4675, 16705 Roscoe Blvd., North Hills. Specializes in antiques and fine arts. Monthly sales are held at 7 p.m. Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. Previews for Monday or Tuesday sales are noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Previews for Sunday sales are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Accepts silent bids and telephone bids. Parking lot and ample seating are provided. 10% buyer’s premium.

* John Moran Antique & Fine Art Auctioneers, (818) 793-1833, 735 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena. Specializes in antiques, fine art and fine furnishings. Sales are held on Tuesdays nine times a year. Call for dates and previewing times. Accepts absentee bids and telephone bids. Parking lot and ample seating are provided. 10% buyer’s premium. Credit cards, checks and cash.

* Orrill’s Auction Studio, (213) 734-3123, 1910 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles. Offers a wide range of merchandise, including appliances and televisions, used furniture and casual furniture, in all price ranges and styles.

Weekly auction is held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday. Previews 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. Written absentee silent bids accepted; no telephone bids. Children are not allowed at sale. Cash and pre-verified checks only.

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Auction Lingo

Buyer’s Premium: A surcharge, usually 10% or 15%, added to the final cost of an item to cover the auction company’s cost of running the sale.

Absentee Bid: A buyer who cannot attend an auction may fill out an absentee bid sheet indicating her or his highest bid. Some auction houses let the buyer do this over the telephone, others require the bidder to fill out the form in person.

If the absentee bid is higher than the last live bid, the absentee becomes the winning bidder but does not pay more than an increment above the second highest bid. For example, an absentee bids $100 for a piece. If the next highest bid is $65, the absentee will purchase the item for $75, not $100.

Telephone Bid: Some auction houses will arrange to take bids over the telephone while the live auction is taking place. An auction employee on the floor bids for the item at the direction of the telephone caller.