Sold! Bargain-hunters buying groceries at auction

Kadie

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Tue Mar-24-09 05:44 PM
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Sold! Bargain-hunters buying groceries at auction

Sold! Bargain-hunters buying groceries at auction
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM – 1 hour ago

DALLAS, Pa. (AP) — 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.

"Right now, people don't have a lot of spare pocket change," said Williams, 50, operator of Col. Kirk'sAuction Gallery near Bloomsburg, Pa. "They're looking to save money."

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ihmEpbBCzbLRlWCJMoUPlC9BwqowD974KCGG2

Runner Janet Cool displays frozen meet during the grocery auction in Dallas, Pa., Wednesday, March 11, 2009. 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.
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A box of bacon is displayed by a runner during a grocery auction in Dallas, Pa., Wednesday, March 11, 2009. 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.
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People are seen during a grocery auction in Dallas, Pa., Wednesday, March 11, 2009. 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.
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Auctioneer Kirk Williams, center top, calls out to customers as runner Tom Howard displays an item during a grocery auction in Dallas, Pa., Wednesday, March 11, 2009. 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.
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Auctioneer Kirk Williams gestures as he calls out to costumers during a grocery auction in Dallas, Pa., Wednesday, March 11, 2009. 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.
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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soothsayer

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Tue Mar-24-09 07:20 PM
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1. wow, who knew?

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ColbertWatcher

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Tue Mar-24-09 07:25 PM
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2. WTF!? n/t

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ColbertWatcher

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Tue Mar-24-09 07:26 PM
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3. That bacon looks ... um ... inedible. n/t

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