If you’ve ever driven down Barber Hill Road in late April, you’ve seen it. Thousands of pieces of yellow iron, rows of tractors, and more pickup trucks than a Texas stadium parking lot. This is Teitsworth auction Groveland NY, though if we’re being technical, the mailing address says Geneseo.
Most folks just call it "the Groveland auction."
Honestly, it’s a bit of a local legend. Roy Teitsworth, Inc. (RTI Auctions) has been running this show for over 50 years. It’s not just a business; it’s a massive logistical machine that moves millions of dollars in heavy equipment in a single afternoon. But for the uninitiated, showing up to a Teitsworth event can be a total sensory overload. You’ve got auctioneers chanting, people waving cards, and the smell of diesel hanging heavy in the air.
If you think you’re just going to walk in and snag a cheap bulldozer without a plan, you’re probably going to leave frustrated—or worse, with a piece of junk you can’t fix.
Why the Groveland Location Matters
The RTI auction yard is basically the "home base" for their biggest annual event: New York’s Favorite Consignment Auction. It usually happens the last Saturday of April.
Why Groveland? Because you need space. Lots of it. We’re talking about 2,000+ items ranging from compact tractors and zero-turn mowers to 40-ton excavators and municipal snowplows. The yard at 6497 Barber Hill Road is designed to handle the massive flow of both iron and people. In 2013, they actually set a record with nearly 3,000 people attending the Groveland Hill site. That's a lot of boots on the ground.
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It’s a specific kind of ecosystem. You have the "regulars"—the contractors and farmers who have been coming for decades—and the "newbies" who saw an ad on Facebook and want a "deal" on a pickup truck.
The Municipal Connection
One thing that makes Teitsworth auction Groveland NY stand out is their relationship with local governments. They are basically the go-to guys for New York State municipalities.
When a town highway department in Livingston or Monroe County needs to cycle out their fleet, they call RTI. For a buyer, this is gold. Why? Because municipal equipment is usually maintained by professional mechanics on a strict schedule. It’s not some beat-up machine that’s been sitting in a swamp for five years.
The Bidding Game: Online vs. Live
Back in the day, you had to be there in person. You’d stand in the mud, hope it didn't rain too hard, and keep your eyes on the auctioneer.
Things changed.
Now, RTI uses a hybrid system, often powered by platforms like Proxibid or their own NetAuction site. This has fundamentally shifted the price floor for equipment. You aren’t just bidding against the guy standing next to you anymore; you’re bidding against a contractor in Ohio or a dealer in Canada who is watching the same lot on a screen.
How to actually win (without overpaying)
- Do the "pre-check": RTI usually has inspection days, often the Friday before a big live sale. Go. Use your hands. Check the oil. Look for hydraulic leaks. If you wait until the bidding starts, you're buying a mystery.
- Factor in the "Premium": This is where people get burned. There is almost always a buyer’s premium (usually around 10-15% depending on the auction type and whether you bid online). If you bid $10,000, you aren't paying $10,000. You're paying $11,000 plus tax.
- The "As-Is" Reality: In the auction world, "As-Is" is the law of the land. Once the hammer falls, that machine is yours. If the engine blows up when you're loading it on the trailer, that's your problem, not Roy’s.
The Seasonal Rhythm of Teitsworth Auctions
It’s not just the big April blowout. Teitsworth manages about 40 to 50 auctions a year.
They do the Monroe County Municipal & Contractor Equipment Auction in October (usually at the Paul Road location in Rochester). They do the Eklund Farm Machinery sales in Stamford. They even do 4-H livestock auctions in Hemlock.
Basically, if it has a motor or a hull—or in the case of 4-H, a pulse—they probably sell it.
What most people get wrong about "deals"
There’s a common myth that auctions are where you find "steals."
Kinda. Sorta. Not really.
In a "hot" market (like we've seen in the last few years), used equipment prices can stay shockingly high. Sometimes, a used machine at a Teitsworth auction Groveland NY will sell for nearly the price of a new one because the buyer can take it home today instead of waiting six months for a dealer delivery.
You aren’t looking for a "steal"—you’re looking for availability and fair market value.
Practical Logistics: Getting Your Stuff Home
If you buy a massive John Deere tractor, you can't just throw it in the back of your Subaru.
RTI is pretty strict about checkout times. They usually give you a window of a few days to get your items off the lot. If you don't have a lowboy trailer or a heavy-duty hauler, you need to have a transport company on speed dial before you bid.
- Payment: They usually want cash, wire transfers, or certified checks. Don't expect to put a $50,000 excavator on your personal Visa card without checking the rules first.
- Loading: They usually have loaders on-site to help you get equipment onto your trailer, but the responsibility for securing the load is 100% on you.
Why Jesse and Roy Still Matter
RTI is a family-run operation. Roy Teitsworth started this in 1970, and Jesse Teitsworth (the VP) has been a fixture since 2008.
In a world where everything is being bought out by giant corporate conglomerates, there’s something different about a local outfit. They know the equipment. They know the soil in Groveland. They know the highway superintendents. This expertise matters when they are writing descriptions or doing appraisals. They aren't just reading a script; they actually understand why a specific Cat 259D track loader is worth more than the one sitting next to it.
Your Move: How to Prep for the Next One
If you're looking to jump into the next Teitsworth auction Groveland NY, don't just wing it.
- Register Early: Don't wait until Saturday morning. Get your bidder number online or at the office during the week.
- Set a Hard Ceiling: Decide the absolute maximum you will pay—including the buyer's premium—and stop there. The "auction fever" is real, and it’s expensive.
- Bring a Mechanic: If you’re spending more than $5,000, bring someone who knows what "blow-by" looks like in a diesel engine.
- Watch the NetAuctions: Sometimes the smaller, online-only "NetAuctions" have less "fever" than the big live events. You can find some great support equipment (generators, pumps, attachments) that gets overlooked in the madness of the main yard.
The Groveland auction is a piece of Western New York culture. Whether you're buying or just there for the spectacle and a greasy burger from the food truck, it’s worth seeing. Just keep your hands in your pockets unless you're ready to own a backhoe.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Current Calendar: Head over to the official RTI Auctions website to see the specific dates for the 2026 spring consignment.
- Audit Your Financing: If you plan on bidding on high-ticket items, contact your lender now for a pre-approval letter; RTI often requires "Letters of Guarantee" for large purchases.
- Scout the Inventory: Use the "NetAuction" portal to browse current listings and view detailed photos/videos of equipment before you make the drive to Barber Hill Road.