The auctioneer started off by introducing the rules of the auction.
Once the auctioneer announced the starting price, the first person to raise their paddle indicated their wish to bid for the item at the starting price.
If no one else raised their paddle to compete, the auction would conclude with the bang of the gavel after calling the price three times.
Meaning, the auction item would then belong to the person who first raised their paddle.
Of course, it was similar to placing an order.
The subsequent paddlers would still need to sign a contract with the auction organizer and pay the money before the auction item officially became theirs.
However, situations with only one person raising their paddle were very rare.
Unless other people had no interest in the auction item.
Or perhaps the price of the item was so high that the average person didn't have the financial capacity.
