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Most people today have heard about the allure and success of the online auction site eBay, where people sell a huge variety of items directly to each other, often at bargain prices. However, due to the mailing charges that are added to winning bids, eBay and online auctions like it are not ideal choices for budget-savvy consumers searching for furniture, which can cost a great deal to ship. A more traditional auction, however, can yield great treasures at affordable prices.

Traditional auctions work about the same way as online auctions, but with the excitement of being there in person and the benefit of being able to inspect each item carefully before bidding. A quick look in the phone book or an online search can provide you with a list of auction houses near your home. A great place to start is www.auctioneers.org, which contains a searchable database of auction houses across the country and beyond.

Keep in mind that different auctioneers specialize in different types of auctions; for example, industrial, farming, real estate or personal estates. You may find it helpful to call ahead to ask about the specialties of particular action houses. The quality of merchandise and degree of expertise about the merchandise also varies widely between auction houses, so it's worthwhile to chick out several auctioneers.

What kinds of bargains can you expect? As a general rule of thumb, auction prices tend to be about half of retail value. But be careful: Overzealous bidders can sometimes exceed an item's worth in a bidding war. In addition, be sure to rely on your own research rather than the auctioneer's statement about an item. There are lots of reproductions out there, so even a very honest auctioneer can inadvertently misidentify an item.