Specific Purpose: To inform my audience how to buy things at an auction.
Thematic Statement: To inform my audience how auctions work, how to find them, and how to make good buys.
Intro
I. Story of pricing wheels at antiques stores, being shocked, and deciding to find another way to make the purchase.
II. Auctions are another way to make purchases.
III. (Ethos) Today, let’s look at how auctions work, where to find them, and tips on making purchases at auctions.
Body
I. Auctions operate like any business.
A. Quote national association of auctioneer’s definitions of auctions
B. Rules of auctions: Merchandise goes to the highest bidder
II. The right type of auction for you is easy to find.
A. Show auction section in local Sunday newspaper as a way to find the auction.
B. Describe types of auctions.
1. Estate auctions
2. Farm auctions
3. Other kinds of auctions that aren’t for the average person
C. Fit the type of auction to your personal needs by following two steps: making a wish list and reading the auction listings.
1. Example: my list wish contained wagon wheels and canning jars
2. Read an auction listing for an estate sale with jars and wagon wheels.
III. Now you are ready to go to the auction and learn how to make good buys using these four tips.
A. Arrive early to inspect the merchandise you’re interested in.
1. Determine if the merchandise is in good shape and is really what you want.
2. Set a maximum amount on what you are willing to pay for this specific item, consider its condition.
B. After inspecting, be alert to when your item goes up for sale.
C. Pay attention to the “terms of sale.”
1. “times the money”
2. “choice” item
3. “roundup”
D. Bid up to your limit, then stop
Conclusion
I. Today we’ve learned how auctions work, how to find them, and how to make good buys at them.
II. Story of wagon wheel purchase and description of how it looks in my