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Grocery Auctions; A Concept whose Time has arrived in Colombia?

Out of toilet paper? Need to pick up a few things for dinner? Take a number and start bidding.

Many bargain hunters these days are trading supermarket aisles for the auction circuit in search of deep discounts on everything from cereal to spare ribs. Past the sell-by date? Bidders are happy to ignore that detail if they're getting a good deal.

As consumers seek relief from the recession and spiraling food prices, grocery auctions are gaining in popularity as an easy way to cut costs. The sales operate like regular auctions, but with bidders vying for dry goods and frozen foods instead of antiques and collectibles. Some auctioneers even accept food stamps.

When Kirk Williams held his first grocery auction in rural Pennsylvania last month, nearly 300 people showed up. Astonished by the turnout, he's scheduling auctions at locations throughout northeastern Pennsylvania

http://www.nbcmiami.com/around_town/shopping/NATLShoppers-Bid-on-Expir...

By miamimike on May 16, 2009, 16:25 in Friendly Talkzone.


RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 16:59:

Why do you think it would be great in Colombia...?

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on May 16, 2009, 17:14:

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 16:59 (today): flag

Why do you think it would be great in Colombia...?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wages are Low and People are looking for a deal! I guess a better question would be, why wouldn't the concept work? The idea seems to catching on Bigtime with people of all nationalities here in the US.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on May 16, 2009, 17:16:

Bill Turley (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 16, 2009, 16:52 (today): flag

That would be great in Colombia why not come here and start them?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The problem I see in doing that is that would be; would the incountry distributors in Colombia let an unconnected outsider buy their overstock/seconds (if they even exist in Colombia)? If you have to import them from Miami, the import tariffs might eat up any profit to made doing this. That's why Uribe needs to drop those usory import taxes on US products entering Colombia. As we allow products like Col cut flowers to enter Tax Free in Miami,,,Quid Pro Quo

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 17:21:

Miami................The reason I posed the question was it brought back memories. I'll tell the story in a moment. I'm driving..............cruise control set at 73.............so it takes a while to tell the yarn.

In the meantime, whilst I write, don't we all know by now, just because a concept works somewhere else, doesn't mean it will work in Colombia.............usually the opposite.

Now to write my little tale of woe......................it'll take 10 minutes.

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miguel_Clavo says on May 16, 2009, 17:30:

Great role model for us PBH posters, RAAAY.....drinking, driving, AND posting on PBH......that has got to be a record.....jajajaj

RVW orderded me to remove my tagline congratulating the PBH Mods New Golden Boys. Lame.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 17:53:

So anyway..to my story..............Furniture auctions are very common and popular in Europe and the US. Almost every city has some form or another of auction every week. Just do a google.

None in Colombia. Shit, I thought, Colombia would be perfect for this. So, I set about organising a furniture auction. Several meetings with the auctioneer who does the cattle auctions at the big sales operation in Medellin. Real sharp guy, very professional and very nice guy. Worked out his fee and a suitable date.

Advertising was going to be key. Four nights per week for four weeks prior to the auction I had six teams of folks handing out full color flyers at strategic locations around the city. I also had full color posters done up and placed all over the place, including ALL the neighboring towns within 50 mile radius of the city. I advertised in ALL the newspapers.

All literature had a telephone number, for anyone that might want additional information. The foookin phone didn't stop ringing. I was already beginning to have grand plans of having auctions in every city in the country.

The response was so good that I rented stacking chairs and organized a load of refreshments. I was concerned that parking was going to be a problem.

So, auction day arrived. The auctioneer arrived two hours early to get set up. He and I went across the street for a beer. Not one, not even one solitary Colombian soul showed up for my auction..............not fookin one.

Me and the auctioneer stayed in the bar. I lost a few thousand dollars. Lesson learned.


.
burp

.

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 17:54:

Miguel_Clavo says on May 16, 2009, 17:30 (today): flag

Great role model for us PBH posters, RAAAY.....drinking, driving, AND posting on PBH......that has got to be a record.....jajajaj


............and smoking a cigar


.

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Catfish35 says on May 16, 2009, 18:34:

RAAAY..why 73? Hoping for a break?
Always pushing the envelope right?

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 18:50:

I'll see you during the week...............you're not far from Bowie MD.....right...?

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 19:24:

Great idea..............but, where would you find them. Ohhhhhh, hold on, we could import them in from Ireland.


,

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Catfish35 says on May 16, 2009, 19:40:

Bowie is not terribly far. I am Northwest of Baltimore City. Biggest towns close to me are Westminster and Reisterstown, Maryland.
You got GPS?
2320 Hanover Pike Hampstead Maryland 21074
Still got my cell number?

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 19:52:

I'll find it...........

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Catfish35 says on May 16, 2009, 20:02:

Call me if your coming so I can rest my liver...

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 20:18:

I WILL be there.......................there is the urgent matter of the beers you undertook to settle for Gringoloid..........................................Ohhhhhhh yes, I WILL be there.........................

no moretyping............dark now

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miguel_Clavo says on May 16, 2009, 20:19:

and hide the womenfolk and livestock as well.....jajajaja..

RVW orderded me to remove my tagline congratulating the PBH Mods New Golden Boys. Lame.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 20:22:

MC.............it's Maryland for fooks sake......................the womenfolk have no teeth and the livestock are already spoken for...

.

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miguel_Clavo says on May 16, 2009, 20:25:

just your type of state!! jajajaj....no videos or followup reports on the internet of your prowess or accomplishents, though....


discretion is the better part of valor...jajajja

RVW orderded me to remove my tagline congratulating the PBH Mods New Golden Boys. Lame.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Catfish35 says on May 16, 2009, 20:31:

Try and make it Wednesday night..I'll show you how we grow them here..
And make sure your empty..these Fokken Sicilians around here will try and Hijack your ass!

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

0 funny, 0 helpful.

whitewidow says on May 16, 2009, 20:32:

i can read the headlines now. man by the name of catfish files charges against stalker after posting home address on colombian website. police suspect shipments of illicit contraband after catfish and irish trucker get tossed out of gentleman's club claiming to live in medellin colombia. details to follow.....

I'm no doper! I just play one on TV.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Catfish35 says on May 16, 2009, 20:39:

WW
Thank god thats not my home address..its my biz..anyones welcome to come..we already have our share of inhouse stalkers.
You don't even think i would give him my house address did you? I have to remember to turn the bag of snipes loose the day before Raaay gets here so I can take him hunting for them the next night...

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miguel_Clavo says on May 16, 2009, 20:45:

is RAAAY traveling via truck or submersible?

RVW orderded me to remove my tagline congratulating the PBH Mods New Golden Boys. Lame.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 20:53:

Just crossed the Mississippi...........weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee


burp


.

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

whitewidow says on May 16, 2009, 21:04:

LOL

I'm no doper! I just play one on TV.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Catfish35 says on May 16, 2009, 21:14:

I40? if so, isn't West Memphis just fokken beautiful? Stop in at the Blue bell and get your chrome detailed.. and some friendly conversation with no obligation.....!!! jajajaja Damn I miss those days..

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RAAAY says on May 16, 2009, 21:28:

What's chrome.......? Is that another word for rust...?

It's useless to argue with ignorance...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Catfish35 says on May 16, 2009, 22:24:

What are you driving? What ya got ? damn Volvo 770 no Chrome? All Plastic.

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

0 funny, 0 helpful.

El Expatriado says on May 16, 2009, 23:43:

Thats the ultimate in being a tacaño. Things are already extremely cheap in Colombian supermarkets. The day I get into bidding wars on toilet paper is the day I think about euthenasia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on May 16, 2009, 23:44:

RAAAY says "In the meantime, whilst I write, don't we all know by now, just because a concept works somewhere else, doesn't mean it will work in Colombia.............usually the opposite."
=========================================================================================

Good post you made RAAY and Point well taken. You speak from Experience!

Another story; I was in Puerto Rico for the Xmas Holidays and Subway Shops were just taking off good in the US. I remember asking a friends father how the concept would work in San Juan/Ponce and He said "It would never work, we Puerto Ricans don't like cold sandwiches" ( Subway didn't toast their bread then) well fast forward to 2009 and Subways seem to be doing quite well in PR--fact of the matter out on the strip by the Old San Juan Hotel(isla verde), the place is a mecca for Subway. And Subway Franchises then in that Era then went for a Paltry $35K more or less, depending on the location.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Catfish35 says on May 17, 2009, 11:23:

Be very very careful introducing anything NEW into the Colombian culture. The "No brainer" ideas most likely will only result in you sitting in a corner and licking your wounds.

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

0 funny, 0 helpful.

whitewidow says on May 17, 2009, 16:43:

or all the ice cream you have left over ;)

I'm no doper! I just play one on TV.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on May 17, 2009, 22:05:

NJC--Its a Good idea for those consumers here in the States in this time of an economic crisis, like to save as much as 75% on their Grocery Bills,,,Its catching on in many locales and of those who like the concept, they stated they would never return to the traditional way of purchasing food. Think of it as a Food Co-op on Steroids,,,Bargainwise/pricewise

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on May 20, 2009, 10:40:

Mike, did you receive my PM?

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

0 funny, 0 helpful.

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