RE: auctopsy

[Kathy Olson <kathy@thekrib.com>]

Scott,

What I do is yell out to the auctioneer to make sure we have the auction,
or ask them to hold up so we make sure we get all the numbers.  I wasn't
here this one, but at the last plant auction there were a few times, that
I had to stop the auctioneer to get a number, I just had to be aggressive,
and then I gave the number to the computer people.  I did the book with
all written stuff, and then would make sure the computer people got it too
if it looked like they didn't.  Keeping up the communication between book
people, computer people and auctioneer was key.  THe computer and book
people served as a double check, sometimes the computer people got stuff I
didn't and vice versa and if not, then we nailed down the auctioneer.
Nothing was missed at the plant auction on the lists, but we had two lost
items in the handouts was all.  Not bad, something always happens, it is
just up to Murphy's law as to what.

Sounds like Sandy was obnoxius (or however you spell that word).

Back in town from snow in Philadelphia.....

Kathy


On Wed, 12 Apr 2000, Cartwright, Scott C wrote:

> Great job everyone and thanks for the help in setting up and running the 
> auction!  That was the most organized GSAS one I have seen so far!
> 
> Erik!  Great job and thanks a lot for your work on the "GSAS computerized 
> auction system" :) .  I think the system worked quite well.  There were no 
> major problems and I was able to fix most minor mistakes quickly with the 
> laptop.  I feel that the communication between the auctioneers and the data 
> recorders is the shaky link.  Everyone feel free to mention how the rest of 
> the auction activities went too.......
> 
> One idea to try for next time is for all auctioneers to state the information 
> about each item in a specific order every time (i.e. seller or donor id, 
> number of lots of merchandise (don't change this while auctioning :) ), start 
> bidding and then report like "SOLD to number(s) xxx for yyy dollars").  The 
> auctioneers can suggest some other ideas for the data recorders that may help 
> but one that comes to my mind is for the recorder that is entering the item 
> to raise their hand or otherwise acknowledge that they have the info (OR 
> DON"T have it) and are ready to proceed.
> 
> I forget how many people or how much money we typical bring in at the general 
> auction but it sure seemed like a good turnout!
> 
> Erik,
>       I will try to print the "splits" receipts out and I'll let you know how 
> it goes.  I think you have a good list of suggestions for the auction 
> too.......
> 
> BTW, I missed the beverage cart, Steve!  But thanks for setting some pizza 
> aside for Victoria and I....  I think we ate it all except for one piece.
> 
> > ----------
> > From:       Erik Olson[SMTP:erik@thekrib.com]
> > Reply To:   gsas-board@thekrib.com
> > Sent:       Wednesday, April 12, 2000 8:51 AM
> > To:         gsas-board@gsas.org
> > Subject:    auctopsy
> > 
> > I have the adjusted auction results now online at
> > http://search.thekrib.com/cgi-bin/auction
> > 
> > Our net after splits is somewhere around $1754.  Cool!
> > 
> > I need lists of donators.  I have so far:
> > 
> > Snubber's
> > Puget Sound Fisheries
> > Burien Pet Center
> > Amerpet
> > Pilgrim Pet
> > Midway Pets
> > 
> > African Northwest
> > Denny's Pet World
> > Flying Fish Aquariums
> > 
> > Aquarium Concepts
> > Maser's
> > Amazon Pet Place
> > 
> > Fin and Feather
> > The Fish Store
> > 
> > 
> > I think everyone did a great job!  Everyone kept cool even when things got
> > a bit hectic or sour.  Steve's beverage cart was hillarious.  Seems like
> > most of the software glitches we had in the Plant auction were repaired.
> > 
> > I was initially a bit bummed about the whole thing with a few of the
> > splits getting missed (Sandy was, btw, full of CRAP about being off by $30
> > -- There were only 3 items incorrectly marked unbid, total $16.. or $9.60
> > for her, and I found the remaining one by doing a "Find in Page" on
> > Internet Explorer (hit me upside the head, Bob -- we could have done that
> > last night!)).  But then I got to thinking... in the "Classic" GSAS
> > auctions, we've never dealt well with the splits.  In fact, we've just
> > kind of had them on the honor system if at all.  So now I feel a lot
> > better, especially after going through all the unbid items and locating
> > them. Next time, if we have someone demanding corrections, let them write
> > down on a piece of paper what they think they should be, and we'll do it
> > the next day without them breathing down our collective necks. 
> > 
> > Scott, what I did for the plant auction (for the splits) was to start with
> > the "people" page, then click on every person with a seller ID, and do a
> > "Print" (from the browser, not the Pay button. :) of the web page for
> > each. Then I took them, along with the checks you had written (or in this
> > cas will be writing) and stuffed them in envelopes.  If you want, I can
> > take care of printing out everything, and just drop them by your house
> > sometime this week.
> > 
> > OK, so without further ado, here's my list of suggestions for next time:
> > 
> >  - Start auction 1/2 hour earlier.> 
> >  - Bring big rubberbands in lieu of filling out multiple dots for same
> >    bidder.
> >  - Limit 20 lots per seller.
> >  - Way to somehow rebid on partially-bid lots later
> >  - Search function to locate lost items
> >  - "Merge" function when we find a generic item is actually
> >    supposed to be a "split" item.
> >  - Re-evaluate or restate primary purpose of auction: Benefit club, not
> >    sellers.
> >  - Add "No Whining" to seller form.
> >  - Have "Golden Handtruck" certificate for bidder #139 or equivalent.
> > 
> > That's all... good to put this thing to bed for another year.
> > 
> >     - Erik
> > 
> > -- 
> > Erik Olson
> > erik at thekrib dot com
> > 
>