EDMONTON – Business is brisk at Kastner Auctions. Many Albertans have lost their jobs or are working fewer hours and that means less money for toys.
“We’re seeing more trailers… some of the finer vehicles are coming in as well, SUVs, quads, all that kind of stuff,” Sean Kastner said.
His auction has been running for 28 years and he can’t remember when it was quite this busy. Kastner said, in some areas, they’ve seen an increase in consignments of up to 45 per cent.
“We’re seeing more and more assets here every week,” Kastner said. “We had to take an additional 10,000 square feet just to keep up with market demand.”
That new space is filling up with big trucks, sleds and other large luxury items people can no longer afford or don’t want to pay for.
“It’s tight every month at the end of the month,” Amber Proulx said. She’s a third-year welder but was laid off last year. She lives with her husband near Lloydminster. They’re both trying to sell their sleds.
“I’ll be taking a loss,” she admitted. “I just kind of want somebody to take over the payments or buy me out.”
“We have our toys – our quads, our sleds, our camper, our truck. We’re just trying to start eliminating things we don’t need so that we can keep floating,” she said.
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Proulx says the downturn in the economy has not only put her career on hold, it’s also putting the brakes on their plans to have a child.
“We want to start a family but it’s just not possible right now.
“I am working, but I’m working for less than half of what I usually make. I’m just taking odds and ends jobs, working as a labourer.”
Proulx has even considered selling the “dream truck” she saved up for.
She has friends who are thinking about moving back to Ontario. They’re not alone. Kastner says the recent influx in items is due to people moving away from Alberta, as well as job loss and bankruptcy. They used to hold one or two auctions a week. Now, they hold three.
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Gold ‘N Loan Pawn Shop is also acutely aware of the up-tick.
Ron Buryniuk says the biggest difference he’s noticed is a change in clientele.
“A lot of guys are bringing in tools they used to use for the job,” he said.
A big trend: tools and toys – at least for now.
“The number one thing to go is all your toys,” Buryniuk said. “Then it goes down to whatever your necessities are.”
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