the opening bids were set at a nice, low value. But when each auction lot was "called" with a high bid, the auctioneer asked another gentleman on the stage whether he could accept it. Turns out the other man held a reserve amount (not specified in advance and the reserve not stated to the audience) and most often shook his head "no."

I did not bid on any item. Many of those lots were in sunny desert areas but they all seemed "shady" to me.