Odd that they would do essentially everything possible to keep prospective customers away from the auction, and thus have less bids on products. I understand the incentive to bid if you're going to lose $1,000 otherwise, but then maybe people just won't attend at all...
I think their hope is that a small handful of people buy everything up (or maybe just 1 guy will win it). Takes a lot less time and work to sell everything to 1 dude who is ready to put down a few hundred K to start his own gun shop.