We've never pre-registered, but it sounds like a good idea. I think just having the bidders name and phone number then assigning them a bidder number would make it move faster. Great idea guys.
Pre registration can only help. You get a count of how many people are coming, we do plain numbers pre assigned, ready to go with name tags and a packet. Also based on numbers you can tell how many items you will be able to sell. You can't have 3x the number of items that you have people so it helps to know we need to package items. you can not expect everyone to go home with 3 or more items.
You get money in hand
and the big thing is walk in registration takes a ton of time, you need more volenteers to help and it becomes less time you have people able to bid on items durring your silent auction.
the other thing that happens with pre registration is that people that can't come, will often send in the amount of a ticket to support your event and that is free money for you!
We require very minimal pre-registration - name, address and phone number - and bidders are asigned a number based on that. We have tried using name and using numbers and found that the latter worked much better. One group we know of assigned celebrity names to live auction bidders. Their padles bore the image of the celebrity. Once again, it helps to eliminate the "neighbor versus neighbor" element. One quick note, I would not recommend collecting credit card numbers in advance, it's an incredible liability. What if someone gets that info who shouldn't? Feel free to email for more input/info This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
When you hold a silent auction, do you require bidders to register or not? What factors affect that decision and what are the benefits either way? If you do registration, what information do you collect?
Here's what I've heard in the past:
Pro
Required if not a must-be-present-to-win situation
Required if collecting credit card information in advance
Better records of who bidder is
Provides a contact list for other uses/invitations
Some feel bidding will go better if only numbers (not names) recorded so people aren't bidding against friends
Easier to organize bid sheet/winners by number versus names
Cons
Unnecessary step for a close-knit group
Extra step of registration may discourage impulse bidders
If numbers (rather than names) used, bidders may not want to keep up with card/number
Seeing names on bid sheets encourages friendly competition
Note - even if you have registration, you don't necessarily need to use bid numbers.
