Auctions--Need Advice

Personally, I wouldn't be embarrassed to have a RedBook with me, but each to his/her own. If you know what coins you'll be bidding on in advance, just make a list of coins, grades and maximum price you're willing to pay and bring that along. It'll be small, and easily held in your hand.

Best wishes!

Wow, I've worked both sides of an auction and I can tell you that no one laughs at someone who brings a price guide. People who don't have price guides are not necessarily smarter than you. If you're looking for a download, you can get the current grey sheet to get a reasonable idea of the wholesale bid/ask prices for types and specific certified coins, or you can download the (usually high) retail price guides from pcgs.com.

You really have to have your own plan for an auction, like jim. Ultimately, every auction item you don't buy presents you with a free education. Pay attention and you will be rewarded.

Do you really care what they think?
You would probably never see them again anyway.
Best thing to do at an auction if the auctioneer will
allow it, is sit back and wait to see who bids.
Let them fight it out as much as possible before you get involved.
This way you don't bid up your coin unnecessarily. But... this can be a double edged sword as sometimes the auctioneer won't let you
get involved after there is a heated battle between two bidders.
Best advice - get a copy of Coin World's Coin Values Magazine and use it.
The advice above about writing down the coins you want to bid on and then checking out their values is right on. But set your limits on how much you will pay ahead of time and stick to them unless you believe that the coin will go up in value in the future.

A simple piece of advice, get there early and don't leave. I went to a public auction and the advertisement said coins sell at 1:00 p.m. I got there at 11:00 and coins started selling 5 minutes after I got there. So much for their advertising. There were 4 other people there with books in hand, besides me. It's not uncommon. I agree with the others, go to the open house and look in advance.
LeAnn

I have been to 100's of auctions, mostly antique / collectable type. I always bring reference books with me mainly for glassware which tell me about patterns, prices and fakes. You should never be ashamed to bring a book with you. Also bring a loupe.

Always try and make it to the preview and check things out. Note condition, lot number,and price that you might pay in a little note book. ALWAYS ask to see the coin in hand, not just thru a glass showcase. If there are a lot of coins or alot of people waiting to look also, then only ask to see the ones you are most interested in. As suggested above, take a seat and get a cup of coffee and go thru your reference books to compare prices and conditions.

An auctioneer will always take a higher bid, if they see you and you don't try to jump in too late ( after the hammer falls ). Always set your max price before bidding starts, getting caught up in the auction rush is fun, but do not spend more $$$ than you can afford.

Good Luck.