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I need some help regarding auctions. Every year we host a silent auction. We put out bidding sheets, and post rules stating they are not allowed to stand over the bidding sheets. Regardless of the rules, we end up with a crowd standing around the tables, trying to beat the other person out. If bidding ends at say 9, we always get people who start to write a higher bid at 8:59, but takes their sweet time writing. This leads to upset parents, and guests.
This year, we thought of putting a sealed box out, and slips to write their name, phone number (if the person ends up not staying) and their high bid. But now that the date is getting close, I worry this will not work out.
Please share your tips!!!
(we are not in the type of area to hire a company to over see the auction, or hire a private auctioneer)
Having multiple bidders going after the same item is a good problem, so congratulations to you! You are providing a popular item that can really make your fundraiser profitable and fun!
The way I avoid the problems that you are having is to include in my auction rules that upon closing of the silent auction, some popular silent auction items could be placed in the live auction if there are multiple bidders interested in the item. This forces all interested parties to have their money do the talking....You are guaranteed great results every time.
For people who are unable to attend the event but are interested in bidding for our items, I offer absentee bidding where I have a committee member place bids for the absent parent. You will need their name, phone/cell number, address, credit card info, signature, and date, and maximum bid amount for each item requested.
We use a bid box at our silent auctions. Anyone can put in a bid on any item up to about 30 minutes prior to the close of the auction (we don't want a last minute rush to up a bid that the slow person you mentioned is dragging out), and the rules clearly state that the winner will be the highest bid on the bid sheet or from the bid box.
I like the idea of taking the items that are receiving furious last-minute bidding to the live auction - we may try that this year. We typically just have 4 or 5 live auction items, but in the last few years, we've had people practically fighting to get a few key items, and then bitterly complaining to everyone involved in the auction if their last minute bid doesn't win. That would solve that problem - thanks, Ninja4Good!
