Regarding bidding on expensive items, we see the opposite. People are eager to bid on the expensive items - hoping for a real bargin!
On the issue of items not being bid on or not being used... I agree you should encourage participants to use their items. But my experience is that the donors expect many of the certificates they provide will never be used. It's very common. (I bought a gift certificate to a restaurant I really like a 11 months ago and it's still sitting on my dresser.)
If they are realistic the donors understand that 1) they are participating in a community event and 2) the benefit derived is from the hundreds of people who see their item/name, not the one person who buys the item.
Michelle B, I had not heard of that problem. I myself like knowing the value.
If you have a minimum bid on the bid sheet, shouldn't that resolve the worry of someone looking cheep? You're just creating a starting place. If no one else is bidding, that's not the first bidder's fault.
I've noticed that during our auctions, the expensive things are the ones that get bid on the least. It appears to me, that it is the value that gets intimidating and no one wants to look too cheap. I know that it's a double edged sword when you don't list the value but if it is worth a lot, let the description be the teller. I've noticed more bids when the value isn't listed.
I too just went to an auction this weekend and thought of the SAME thing!! There was a Lord of the Rings package valued at $2,000! Now we had a live auction and it did sell but for about a 10% of the worth! Heartbeaking. Now in the silent part I believe the "no-winning" items are returned to the donater or given away, but there are items like homemade babydolls and such, nothing like a day at the spa! If I may our basket went for $265 and voted best theme by the other clubs there ($50 for the club ) and ours was worth $400! We beat Lord of the Rings! Couldn't believe it, of course we thanked New Zealand, heard was the cool thing to do!lol
Anyho, that's a cool idea...never thought about it, if anything it could get the bidding going!
hahahaha I'm sorry I couldn't help but laugh at your post simply because I just got home from our carnival an hour ago and we held a silent auction. We had some items not bid on and just kept them to give to the teacher appriciation staff to use during their week. It never doned on me about what your talking about. So now after reading my first thought was 'don't tell them' (I think I'ma also a bit slap happy sorry) Yea i do realize some of them ask for how much theirs went for.....oh lemme pray noone asks us
our basket went for $265 and voted best theme by the other clubs there ($50 for the club 
) and ours was worth $400! We beat Lord of the Rings! Couldn't believe it, of course we thanked New Zealand, heard was the cool thing to do!lol
