What's up with the auctions recently?

[chris_todd]

Maybe it would help if I donated some of my plants with bladderwort and everyone will eventually have to tare down their aquariums and start over

Nah, Ghazanfar tried that with his "spirogyra ghorii"...it didn't work.

[chris_todd]

[quote="John G"]The rest would be put for sale by a silent auction. The items in the silent auction could have papers by them allowing people to write their names and bids on the papers, so others could see the bids and add a larger one if the wanted to. I image most plants would get as much at a silent auction as they would in the present set-up.

Of course we don’t want to replace the time now used by the auction with time setting up a silent auction, and getting the bids in. It might be necessary for members to email the “auction expertâ€

[krisw]

My concern about the silent auctions is as much about space too. One piece of paper per bag if going to need a lot of table space. I think if we met in a large facility every month, this might be a feasible option. Perhaps, the simple approach that Paul suggested is the answer?

As for online arrangements, I definitely support members postings "Wanted to Buy" or "For Sale" threads on the forum, for delivery at the next meeting. I wouldn't want to get into the business of online sales or enforcement though.

[finman57]

Auction prices are usually driven by the people who attend. I am not sure what GWAPA attendance is like during the summer as I have only been to one meeting but most clubs see a big dip in the summer. Things will pick back up when the weather starts to turn. People think more about their tanks then. As Kris mentioned, CCA has not had meetings for years during the summer. We are not the only ones. Look at the clubs in PA, NJ, DE etc. A lot of them take off. (decided that years ago because I needed a break. lol)
The same thing is true for the forums. I watch the numbers on a bunch of forums and all drop during the summer. CCA is down like 50 to 60%.
It will turn around.

[chris_todd]

OK, cool, didn't mean to kick a bees nest. Not having been in the club for a full year, I wasn't sure if it was a summer lull. This is such a cool club, and the auctions are a big part of that; I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something wrong that needs to be addressed.

[PaulS]

I still think a per person item limit may be a simple and practical solution worth trying.

[Ben Belton]

What about......

Could a couple people sort the stuff for auction into "rare" and "not rare" stacks before the auction? The rare stuff is auctioned off to the highest bidder and not rare stuff is sold $5 a bag (or some price) first come-first served. Everything not bought goes back to the person who brought it or the trash.

Some auctioned stuff might go for $1, but that's the way it goes.

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

Take excess plants, turn them into soup that's served at the meetings instead of the pizza. Reduce the size of the meetings in the same shot. Three birds - one stone.
Dang I'm good.

[Ben Belton]

Take excess plants, turn them into soup that's served at the meetings instead of the pizza. Reduce the size of the meetings in the same shot. Three birds - one stone.
Dang I'm good.

I'd rather have greenbeans.

[B Considine]

I haven't been bidding on too much at the meeting I've attended recently simply because I have what I'm looking for.

Next time I redesign a tank, I'll probably bid on what I want.

That, and I'm going on month 6 of unemployment. That'll put a cramp in spending.

Blaise