Selling to the highest bidder

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This article was published 11/12/2017 (3036 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A local business is out to put you behind the wheel of a solid set of wheels — if, that is, you can make it to the end of going once, going twice, sold.

Associated Auto Auction, now run by owner and auctioneer Jeff Noiseux, started with Noiseux’s father Phil in Winnipeg in 1971. Noiseux said he began working in the family business as a driver.

In 1987, he attended the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Manson City, Iowa where he learned to run various types of auctions such as antiques, estate sales, cattle and farm machinery.

He joked that auctioneer training involved having a mouthful of marbles, with one being taken out each day.

Eventually, the business needed to grow, necessitating a move in 1995 from St. Boniface to seven acres at 7130 Roblin Blvd. in Headingley.

“We were renting property and wanted to expand. This location offers storage space,” business owner and auctioneer Jeff Noiseux said. “The municipality’s been great to work with.”

He added that he owes a debt of gratitude to the Headingley municipal fire department, whose members helped to extinguish a grass fire that threatened his property about five years ago. “They saved our building.”

Associated Auto Auctions holds weekly motor vehicle auctions with cars, trucks and vans on consignment from government agencies, businesses, financial institutions, bankruptcy trustees and private owners. Auctions are held on Saturdays from September to the end of April and Wednesday evenings from May to the end of August.

“We’re selling good cars,” Noiseux said.

Owners are asked to declare any major problems with the vehicles they are selling and most carry a safety check. Potential buyers are able to view and test drive vehicles before the auction starts.

He said if he or his staff suspects that an owner is misrepresenting a vehicle, the deal can be cancelled and the owner is able to either withdraw the vehicle from the auction or proceed with the problem noted.

Noiseux said consumers are generally more educated now and the quality of the vehicles up for auction is higher. Potential buyers can watch the professional car dealers bidding and try to bid slightly more to get a good deal on a vehicle.

Associated Auto Auction has enough space to allow two simultaneous live auctions to be held. Online bidding is also possible, but Noiseux said about 80 per cent of the auto auction business is still conducted in-person.

“It’s not like buying a new car. People like to touch and feel,” he said.

Noiseux and his staff are also kept busy with off-site auctions for businesses as far away as Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and Calgary, Alta.

He said his company usually doesn’t deal in antiques as other local companies specialize in this area.

The Winnipeg Police Service’s unclaimed good auction was recently held at Associated Auto Auction with over 500 items on the block.

For more information on Associated Auto Auctions, see http://www.associatedautoauction.com