In an economically challenged world, people may need to acquire a host of additional skills, even when it comes to carrying out simple or mundane tasks. In fact, based on the following USA Today report, "Food Auctions Thrive During Recession," the extra training that might soon be required to go grocery shopping could include how to bid at an auction, which bidding strategies work best, and how to avoid getting scammed.
Food auctions are a growing hit in communities slammed by recession and layoffs.
Marvin Mason, who runs grocery auctions in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, tells the Associated Press that more and more shoppers use credit cards and food stamps instead of cash, indicating more people are showing up out of necessity.
In Pennsylvania, the AP quotes Kirk Williams as saying nearly 300 people showed up at his first grocery auction in one rural area in February, prompting him to schedule more throughout the region.
"Right now, people don't have a lot of spare pocket change," says Williams, who operates Col. Kirk's Auction Gallery near Bloomsburg, Pa. "They're looking to save money."
In Michigan, Kalamazoo's WWMT-TV reports full houses at food auctions in Bedford Township, especially from families with layoffs.
Chris Crepeau, of Michigan Auctions Sales, in Holt, Mich., tells WLAJ in Lansing that he sees more and more families showing up to save as much as 50 percent on bulk items, or those nearing expiration date.
Here is what his auction house has on the menu for May:
Fresh and frozen meats, snacks, fruits, pies, seafood, pizzas, steaks, ground beef, kielbasa, sausages, chicken fingers, chicken nuggets, cereals, Lunchables and much more! All in-date items and all items are guaranteed! You can bid on items by the piece, and take either just one piece, two pieces or the whole case. You do NOT have to bid by the case.
It also recommends that would-be buyers "bring a cooler."
(Photo of food auction in Dallas, Pa., by Matt Rourke, AP)
Not so naive:
Taking into consideration the environment you spent
your life in I would say that you are doing just fine.Some
tinges of national prejudice/pride (very minor)do show up in
When giants fall I know by personal experience its very hard to
shed he early years of brain whashing
Posted by: roger | April 13, 2009 at 09:26 PM
I'm waiting for the trophy wife auctions.
Posted by: Hangtown | April 13, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Everything is as it was. No breadlines or riots. Only a fantasy collapse created by a zealot. The stock market rallies, real estate rises and this site says nothing. In the NEW world only markets matter. People are an afterthought. People have always been starving. Who care that they happen to be in the US vs Ethiopia?
No one who matters in this country is hurting.
You have to realize some people are just trash.
When I see Bill Gates on the street with a cup in his hand I'll say something is amiss. You sir don't matter.
Posted by: Frome | April 14, 2009 at 01:31 AM
When they control our food, they will have complete control over us.
You might be interested in a post by Anna Van Z at the Big Brass Blog http://bigbrassblog.com/index.php?itemid=2647 concerning the hideous details in HR 875 and S 425.
Her post is entitled "They can have my organic crops when they pry them from my cold, dead hands."
Posted by: Peter of Lone Tree | April 14, 2009 at 10:57 AM