Beware of Silent Auctioneers!

[ennazus]

DCL-Fan
Thanks for the warning.

The issue is that the CM that was monitoring the auction should have been more on the ball and not allowed one person to "hog" the bid sheet for any one item.

Ditto

Now as far as Ebay.... I think it's fair game to snipe.

 

[danacara]

Maybe you should write DCL a letter and suggest a blind auction, where all bids are opened at the end. That might be more fun, DCL could potentially make more money, and the system would surely be more equitable.

 

[mcoverv]

Maybe I am missing the point of this whole thing. But what I read was that the person who was holdiong the clipboard was doing it so NO ONE else could bid. It had nothing to do with who bid how much and everything to do with the person who had the clip board had their bid on there last and their bid was higher than everyone elses. Why was that? BECAUSE THEY HELD THE CLIPBOARD NOT ALLOWING ANYONE ELSE A CHANCE TO BID!

It was wrong plain and simple, and if you look in the dictionary under Auction it states it is a public sale with goods going to the highest bidder. In most cases this is done vocally, but in these type of auctions you MUST have access to the bids in order for it to be an OPEN auction. Otherwise it is called sealed bids.

Hey, JMHO!

 

[ripleysmom]

DCL-Fan and perhaps you are too touchy about the situation to get my message which was that perhaps you should have bid more.

Just as your post was intended as a warning and advice so too was mine.

Please note that not once have I made a snide comment to you about your post or what I read about what happened. I just said you should have bid more and been more insistent about getting the clipboard. Neither of those observations deserve the rude comments you have made to me on this thread.


As for you, Dan, thanks for your input. Yes I do know who outbid you. But how does my knowing who outbid you make me closer to DCL-Fan's situation? My advice to him is the same as my advice to you would have been and that is, if you had bid more perhaps you would not have been outbid either.

 

[dan and scott]

ripleysmom,

I really don't care if you know the person who outbid me. That was not what my point was intended to be! Also thanks for the great bidding tips! We all appreciate them.

This post was not meant to start a debate I'm sure, therefore I will refrain from posting anymore. It is a shame that someones warning has to be turned into something so negative!

Dan

 

[ripleysmom]

"I really don't care if you know the person who outbid me. That was not what my point was intended to be!"

Then why comment about my being close to the situation? I guess I am confused as to why I was brought into your comments about your being outbid.


"Also thanks for the great bidding tips! We all appreciate them"

Good. Glad to be of help.


"It is a shame that someones warning has to be turned into something so negative!"

I thought it contained some very good pointers and a good message. In fact, the only really negative thing I see are the rude comments which were made.

 

[Fawn]

DCL Fan

Thanks for posting about your experience. Anyone who attends silent auctions with any regularity knows that there are etiquette rules to follow. It's a shame Disney did not assure that they were. And yes, you did your bidding properly....the point of an auction is to try and get a good price on an item in a competitive setting.

These boards have always been a wonderful source of info, and I hope noone gets discouraged about telling their stories because of one "rude" apple. There will always be someone who just misses the point.

 

[Michelle]

Just a reminder to play nice.

Silent auctions bring out the worst in people, I think, I have run one as part of a school carnival for the past couple of years and it always amazes me the lengths to which people will go to win when bidding closes!

I do agree that no one should be allowed to PICK UP the clipboard, the CM should have stopped that immediately. There should be a rule that the sheets must stay on the table.

Thanks for the info, DCL Fan, and better luck next time!

 

[ripleysmom]

"There will always be someone who just misses the point."

Yes I guess there is.

 

[Colins Mom]

I think the whole concept of what was being said went right over ripleysmom's head...what about auction does she not understand...I have never been at an auction where someone is allowed to carry the bidsheet around until the bid closes...this has nothing to do with the max you will pay...it is the principal of the thing and I would be highly upset over that

 

[vickyBaby]

Originally posted by Colins Mom
I think the whole concept of what was being said went right over ripleysmom's head...

I doubt that.

She has the right to voice her opinion, just like you have yours. It's apparent that a few people might not LIKE her opinion. That doesn't mean she is wrong. It's just not a popular stance in some people's books.

 

[MnParrothead]

Ripley's Mom,
If you want to debate, go to the debate board. Enough already.

 

[Michelle]

Okay, enough already, no more personal sniping here, let it go please. The point has been made about the silent auction process.

 

[Doctor P]

As an experienced silent auction participant (and winner), I can say this is highly irregular and inappropriate behavior. The strategy of silent auctions requires one to not tip their hand too early, and thus holding the board is a deliberate manipulation of the auction process and, IMHO, should have voided the result (extending the auction for a while). A comment that one should just bid higher (or your maximum amount) to avoid this result shows an incredible lack of experience and knowledge of silent auctions and auction protocol.