From the Publisher — October 2026 Auctions Magazine

Welcome to our October issue, where we explore the world of online auctions and the stories that shaped it.

We have some really interesting stories in this issue, including a few you probably have never heard before.

We look at how eBay helped move auctions onto the Internet and changed the way people bought vehicles, starting from the very beginning when sellers listed cars in the miscellaneous section because eBay Motors didn't exist yet. Today, buying a vehicle online feels normal. Back then, people were bidding on cars they had never seen in person and mailing checks to sellers they had never met.

We also cover military tanks, Jeeps and other government equipment that eventually made its way into civilian hands, including cases where contractors used retired surplus battle tanks to knock down old structures and demolish buildings—turning decommissioned military hardware into heavy-duty work machines. Some of it became collectible. Some was restored or displayed. Some was simply put back to work. Every piece has a history that goes far beyond its final auction price.

Then there are the government lighthouses. These are historic properties in some of the most recognizable locations along America's coastlines. Some have been transferred to preservation organizations, while others have been sold through public auctions. There are not many places where an ordinary person can say they bought a lighthouse from the federal government.

We also examine the auction platforms that failed.

Yahoo once operated an auction site that competed directly with eBay. Yahoo had millions of users, enormous name recognition and plenty of money, but its auction business still failed.

Amazon also entered the auction business, invested more than $45 million and teamed up with Sotheby's. Even that combination could not make Amazon Auctions successful.

Those failures are every bit as interesting as the success stories. They prove that money, traffic and a famous name are not enough to build a successful auction marketplace. Buyers and sellers need trust, selection and a reason to keep coming back.

That is what this magazine is about—the stories behind the auction world.

We cover the companies that changed the business, the ideas that failed, the unusual property sold by the government and the people who experienced it firsthand.

I have been around auctions for a long time, and there is always another story waiting to be uncovered. You never know what will come across the auction block next—or what happened behind the scenes before it got there.

Take your time, look through the issue and enjoy the stories. I think you will find quite a few things you never knew before.

Welcome to The Online Auctions Edition.

Terry O'Connor
Publisher
Auctions Magazine