Auctioneers Speech Style

joko | 00:29 Fri 20th Sep 2013 | Society & Culture

9 Answers

why do some auctioneers seem to jibberjabber when they are working?

such as that fella from storage hunters - he just says brrrrrah bbbrrraahh bbbrrrraaah every few words

i have heard the odd few others in the past do similar

why? whats the point of this? doesn't it just make it actually harder to understand and more likely to confuse people.

is there any purpose'?

thanks

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Mamyalynne

It can to the beginner seem quite incomprehensible, but they have to keep a flow going - any pause will slow down proceedings.. Auctioneers develop their own style as they go along.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auction_chant

Buenchico

It's meant to instill a sense of urgency into the proceedings, so that potential bidders (who might be hesitant about actually committing themselves to a bid) become concerned that they have to act soon or risk the auctioneer's hammer coming down. It also tends to focus attention on the auctioneer, whereas experienced buyers at auctions know that you should never watch the auctioneer. (You only listen to him, while watching the body language of rival bidders).

beso

It is a bit like barbers in my youth (1960s) who kept snipping with the scissors even when they were not cutting hairs.

Do any barbers still do that?

joko

Question Author

ive heard of that beso, it was apparently because many people would moan and say they hardly did anything, even if the cut looked right
so people felt they got their moneys worth - probably just a habit nowadays though.
dont know if it worked, sounds kind of stupid really.