Follow these tips to avoid making these common mistakes and make the best of buying online. Buying livestock online can be daunting and somewhat overwhelming if it’s not something you have a lot of experience doing. We know it may feel as though there are many unknowns and risks involved, and the team at Showpig.com wants to help take the mystery and confusion out of the process. Here’s a list of things that can make bidding online harder than it needs to be and strategies you can implement to make the bidding and buying process smoother.
Waiting until the last minute to communicate with the sellers about lots you are interested in. For many of our sellers, the time the auction is close to or in extended bidding is jam-packed, with many people needing information or assistance from them. It’s almost like they are at a live auction, sitting on the block next to the auctioneer, trying their best to focus on the animals in the sale and buyers who are at their farm, but also having three or more phones receiving messages requesting info and help. You’ll get much more personalized and in-depth assistance if you communicate with our sellers as far in advance as possible.
Not communicating with the sellers AT ALL before purchasing. This happens more than you would think. Each breeder and animal has a unique story that can’t always be summed up in a picture, description, or video. As a buyer, you invest in an animal you will raise in your barn for a future show or as an addition to your seedstock program. If things don’t go how you expect, it’s much easier for sellers to know how to make things right when they understand your goals at the outset instead of after the fact.
Not taking advantage of open houses, on-farm viewing hours, or setting up a time to see the livestock in person. We know that with the geographic scope our sellers offer, an on-farm visit isn’t always feasible. But in our experience, the best selection results tend to occur when you or someone you trust has seen the animals in person and made an evaluation with your own specific selection criteria in mind. If you aren't able to travel to preview the livestock yourself, contact the breeder or call a trusted source who has visited to get an in-person perspective.
Not having a bidding strategy or mental map in place. It’s a good idea to have Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C lists ready with your budget in mind before bidding. Set a value for each animal you’d be willing to pay, and when it gets past your budget, move to your Plan B list, and so on. The horserace-style auction is awesome because it allows you to move around as needed to fulfill your goals, but it requires you to do some legwork and planning ahead of time to ensure you don’t get shut out.
Not utilizing the watchlist on our auction platform. Did you know you can select lots from multiple auctions you want to follow and potentially bid on in one place? And that you don’t have to jump from auction to auction and scroll endlessly to see how they are progressing and put in your bids? The watchlist helps you narrow your focus and stay locked in on the lots you are most interested in. To add items to your Watchlist, click on the eye icon at the bottom right corner of each lot (on grid view) or on the left side of the screen near the photo (on catalog view). As items are successfully added to your Watchlist, a green box will appear in the right hand corner of your screen with this notification: Lot x has been added to your watchlist. To view your entire Watchlist, click on Watchlist on the left hand side of the screen in the navigation/menu bar.
Waiting until extended bidding starts to register to bid for the first time. We ask you a handful of questions before you put in your first bid, and it takes about 30 seconds to a minute to answer them. It’s entirely possible you could miss the opportunity to bid based on how much activity is happening on the auction you’re interested in.
Waiting until the last minute to bid, resulting in a small number of auctions lasting well past the time they could have closed otherwise. We know that a handful of our auctions garner much bidding attention that can cause them to run late into the night, and while we are in business to make the most money for our sellers, we don’t like it when they stay open longer than they need to any more than you do! So be a good neighbor to our entire Showpig buying and selling community, and put your best bids in as early as you can.
Not utilizing the max bid feature. When we make our plan of how we are going to allocate our spending for animals, we know that we are going to be using the max bid feature so we can go to bed at night knowing that we have made a decision, set a budget, and are willing to let the chips fall where they may. It is safe and secure and allows us not to be chained to our computers or phones all evening.
Failing to follow up with sellers after the purchase is made and received. Almost all sellers want to know how their animals are doing once you get them home. They are invested in your success and want to help you achieve your goals. Oftentimes, they have wisdom on how a certain genetic line will feed, how to address any concerns you may have, and tips and pointers that can give you an edge along the way. Sending weekly video updates, feed ratios, and weights will go a long way in building rapport with sellers so they know how much you care and the time you are investing in their product. They may also be reaching out to you, but don’t be afraid to ask your seller if this is something they’d like you to do or would be willing to help you with.
Patience is a virtue. If you buy an animal online from four states away across the country, or even four hours away, let the animals adjust when it gets to your trailer and your farm. The animals must rehydrate, eat, and get comfortable in their new surroundings. Sometimes, they need a booster shot and transition feed with antibiotics to help them adjust. Give it a few weeks before making a judgment, and do not overreact when they come off the trailer. Feeding, fresh water, dry bedding, and TLC are sometimes all they need.
Written by Megan Wendt
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