Most auction sellers consign property to auction houses rather than holding the auction themselves. In addition to charging sellers a commission on property that sells in the auction, many auction houses also specify buy-in penalties in auction contracts. This is an amount the seller must pay...

This research examines how individual differences and institutional practices influence consumer bidding in auctions. Bidders may be motivated by different goals, e.g., <i>thrill</i> (of winning the item, with minimal attention to what they pay for it) versus <i>prudence</i> (winning the item at a price at or...