Market Tries to Turn Used Yellow into Green

摘要

A man of faith, outgoing equipment owner Arnie Richter smiles, extends his hand, and immediately offers a comfortable seat to a visitor. As he deliberately discusses what has brought him to a heart-wrenching crossroads in his life's work, his face remains pleasant and he speaks with grace and humility. He hails from a family of contractors, for whom the blue skies on this morning represent the optimism of a day's work that most every single morning prior has brought. Hey, it's California after all. But as the big iron continues to rumble across the auction ramp below, surrounded by the fast-paced pitches that envelope every Ritchie Bros, sale anywhere in the world, Rich-ter's eyes briefly shift downward and his voice momentarily tails off. "I am," he manages, "just disappointed." Others around him would be and are angry; still others disillusioned, frustrated, panicked or even distraught. But, in this case, "just disappointed" seems entirely appropriate. It's California, indeed.