Have visited a few auctions over the years but either clearance sales or charity ones.
In both you can be sure that there will be some genuine pigeons, but obviously some far better than others, yet all seem to have a buyer.
I have seen some auctions in Blackpool where I would not have wanted one free.
If I fancied a pigeon I would consider what it may offer towards improving my present set up and what it was worth in that manner to me.
I would then decide what I was pepared to go to to obtain it and not go a penny above that figure because I would then be paying what someone else thought it was worth.
Over the years I have obtained some very good pigeons in this manner but also the odd ????.
Regards.