04/02/2024
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ RE: AUCTION RULES (REVISED APRIL 2023):
For the benefit of those who haven't been to a meeting in a long time, as well as those who are new around here and haven't been to one of our events, here are some of the procedural changes we implemented to our event auctions as of April 2023.
*** TEN-TABLE SYSTEM ***
Upon arrival at the meeting, sellers should take note of the “ten-table” signs upon all the auction tables. There will be 10 ‘standard’ tables, and sellers should place each of their auction items on the corresponding table, based on the item ID number.
Example: If seller ABC is selling 20 items in the auction, their items ABC-01 and ABC-11 would go onto “Table 01”, because the ID number ENDS in the digit “1”. Similarly, Items from the same seller such as ABC-05 and ABC-15 would go onto “Table 05”.
The only exceptions to this logic would be for HAP, BAP, and DON (Donations) items – which have their own tables (tables 11 to 13) specific to those special item types.
HAP, BAP, and "Standard" items have customized auction forms (revised as of April 2023), and sellers should complete them accordingly.
Due to our web site being under construction at the moment, please send us email to [email protected] and we can provide the current forms as PDF attachments.
*** TOTAL NUMBER OF ITEMS FROM SAME SELLER (ONE EVENT) ***
ASW member-sellers are limited to 20 (twenty) total items in any one monthly auction. All existing item labelling requirements will be enforced and item placement according to the Ten-Table System (see above) will be mandated. Once items are registered (via auction forms) with the Auction Chair, items cannot be withdrawn or delisted from the auction under any circumstances.
Exemptions to 20-Item Limit: Member ABC's HAP and BAP table submissions DO NOT COUNT against their 20-item limit. i.e. if ABC sells 5 BAP items (BAP table) and 5 HAP items (HAP table), while these items do carry their seller initials, they can still sell up to 20 'standard' items on the 10-tables system. The spirit of this exemption is to encourage participation in the HAP and BAP programs.
Since a seller can only earn their BAP or HAP on any one species once in a lifetime, there will be no limit as to the number of UNIQUE (BAP and HAP) submissions from a seller at any one auction event.
(a) Seller's 20 (limited twenty, or less) 'Standard' items would go on the "Standard" Auction Form;
(b) Seller's BAP (unlimited) items would go on the "BAP Auction" form; and
(c) Sellers's HAP (unlimited) items would go on the "HAP Auction" form.
All items within one auction, from one same seller, should use unique auction item IDs - If seller listed 5 BAP items and 5 HAP items, those would be their ABC-01 to ABC-10 items; their standard items should now resume the seller's numbering schema at ABC-11 and counting.
*** AUCTION PRICES AND PAYMENTS ***
All items start with a minimum $1.00 CAD bid, and bidding will proceed whole-dollar incremental amounts. Sellers are allowed to specify a minimum bid on the face of the item prior to listing in the auction. Once listed, items cannot be withdrawn or changed in any way whatsoever.
Regardless of the realized selling price, $1.00 or $99.00, ALL items sold will net 75% of the realized selling price to the member-seller, with the remaining 25% retained by the ASW itself.
Example: $1.00 sold price is $0.75 for the member-seller and $0.25 for the club; $25.00 sold price is $18.75 for the member-seller and $6.25 for the club.
Items listed as “DON” (Donations) will result in 100% of the realized price being retained by the ASW. UNSOLD items can be claimed by the labelled member-seller at the end of the auction; any unclaimed-unsold items will be disposed of at the discretion of the Auction Chair.
MEMBER BUYERS: If you are a member, you should ask for your assigned numbered-paddle upon entry to the event. This will allow you to buy on credit – and if you are selling, to offset your amount owed for purchases, against your 75% proceeds from anything you sold.
VISITOR (NON-MEMBER) BUYERS: Please request a “BLANK” bidding paddle upon arrival at the meeting. You will NOT have credit privileges and must pay for each item you win in CASH, immediately as your runner brings you the item.
SELLERS: If a seller must leave the auction before the end of the auction, their accumulated 75% seller proceeds can be e-transferred to the member upon request, or paid out via cheque - both methods subject to a $5.00 administration fee deducted from the proceeds – but only when pre-approved by the Auction Chair prior to the member-seller leaving the event for the day. We recommend that sellers stay for the entire duration of the auction and then collect their proceeds before leaving for the day!
Upon arrival to all our events, all members should sign-in at Security, then stop at the member services table so we can validate your membership status. Non-Member (Visitor) access is NOT free-of-charge and does cost $5.00 per meeting for any visitors (non-members) over the age of majority. Only members can SELL in the auction, but anyone can BUY. Members will receive their assigned (numbered) bidding paddle at arrival sign-in; non-member visitors (upon paying their $5.00 visitor fee) will receive a white (un-numbered) bidding paddle.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS LONG MESSAGE. See you in 14 days at St. John's-Ravenscourt School (SJR).