Few Takers at Moscow Bachelor Sale

Nearly everything is for sale in changeable Russia these days including the right man for a woman.

But Moscow’s first “Bachelors’ Auction” fell flat--fewer than 100 women turned up to view the charms of the 10 eligible men on offer.

Two of the bachelors suffered the indignity of having to appear a second time in the early July sale before any woman would bid for the chance of a night on the town with them.

The idea was dreamed up by a Russian services company, largely as a publicity stunt, and succeeded in drawing almost as many journalists as potential buyers.

The serious buyers sat in a small cluster close to the stage, pictures of each “lot” clutched in their hands.

Most had come equipped with lists of questions, note pads and some with mother-of-pearl opera glasses.

All 10 lots were unattached and willing--more or less--to find a steady partner, aged 22 to 52. Bids started at 200 rubles ($1.50).

Each potential “Mr. Right” was expected to keep 20% of the final price, spend 30% on a present for his “buyer” and take her out for the evening on the remainder.

Each lot was introduced in turn, by a thunderclap trumpet fanfare and a booming voice over a crackly loudspeaker: “This is the Bachelors’ Auction.”

As multicolored disco lights swirled and each man bounded across the vast stage of Moscow’s Izmailovo Concert Hall, the mostly female spectators ogled, nudged their neighbors, giggled and applauded.

The bachelors sat with the master of ceremonies beneath two giant red hearts and answered questions from the audience.

Some displayed their talents--singing love songs or playing the accordion. Two who were lawyers gave legal tips and one, a doctor, medical advice.

It was something between a television game show and a beauty contest--of men.

The concept was new for Russia and has a potential market since, according to 1989 statistics, there are 114 women for every 100 men in Russia.

Over the preceding two weeks Moscow had been saturated with publicity, posters, radio advertisements and newspapers articles for the event.

The turnout was disappointing. “I think there are more journalists than bidders,” commented lot number nine, 31-year-old Dr. Andrei, pointing to the photographers and cameramen who charged en masse when anything caught their eye.

“What do you understand by the word ‘sex’?” master of ceremonies Vladimir Filipov asked, in a bid to put some life into the show. But Andrei was having none of it and passed the question.

A middle-aged woman crept up to the stage and furtively delivered a note: “I’ll give you 5,000 rubles for four hours.”

Nellie, 34, and her friend Tanya, 32, said they had come with 15,000 rubles and $200 to buy all of the lots and asked if they could have a discount.

They planned to throw a party for themselves and the 10 bachelors. “We’ll take all of them,” Nellie said. “At the end of the evening we’ll throw out the ones we don’t like.”