MOSSEL BAY NEWS - One would expect many people to be selling off household items or putting them on auction after the crippling economic effect of the lockdown.

But this is not the case. Geldenhuys Auctioneers' Johan Geldenhuys says: "Our business is continuing as usual. We did not expect this. I am not experiencing at all that people are selling off many items.

"The last few auctions were due to people who were retiring and selling their goods. That is the type of business we are doing, not with people who are battling financially. There was also a woman who was moving to a furnished place in Cape Town and she wanted to sell all her furniture."

Vredebest Auctioneers owner Selwyn Barnard says: "It's the opposite of what we expected. Not many people are selling off their possessions. It is surprising.

Mainly pensioners
"Perhaps it is because Mossel Bay people are mainly pensioners and not dependent on a salary, so they have not been knocked by the lockdown. That is probably the reason."

Barnard says: "Second hand shop owners say they are battling to get stock. Also, the buyers' market is not as bad as what we expected. We are getting good prices on auctions and we have had enough stock to sell. Our lots are smaller than usual, however - 140 items or lots as opposed to the usual 200," Barnard says.

Lize van Rensburg, an auction consultant at Van Rensburg Auctions, said: "We have not experienced many people selling their goods. It is mainly restaurants and coffee shops which have shut down because of the lockdown that are selling catering equipment and furniture. We have had few private people contacting us.

"We've been selling the catering equipment online and it fetches excellent prices on auction. There is buying power out there."

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