RE: A Modest Proposal

["Hess, Clay A" <Clay.Hess@PSS.Boeing.com>]

Hmmmmm, Guess I could not resist adding a bit more to this issue.  
If we go to a strict plant sales approach, we may risk upsetting a number of 
Tropical Fish stores in the area.  That was always the nice thing about an 
Auction, it was understood not to be a Sale, which might be misconstrued to be 
direct competition for some Fish Stores.  
I believe that an entry fee idea would certainly limit the people in any kind 
of event.  This may eliminate some of those that we may wish to actually have 
participate, for example: kids.
As for defining spending limits for others, this too is a feasible idea.  
However, I am not sure that the Club wishes to become "Big Brother" and keep an 
eye on all individuals spending habits.  Especially in the event that many 
people set their limits low and we have to spend more and more time letting 
Buyers know that their limits have been reached.  It would make the Auction 
very awkward I think.

Having the benifit of having seen many of your suggestions, I would like to 
offer another possibility for review.  How about we keep our Auction as is?  
However, we add a second twist to it.  We make half (or some other percentage) 
of the plants available through a "Silent" auction?  We could use the "Silent" 
auction as a way of getting plants to the masses, by setting a limit to the 
number of plants any one person could bid on in the "Silent" auction.  Then, 
the General Plant Auction would be held the same way it has always been done.  
This way we could have our typical "Split" percentage with Members that bring 
plants, and give everyone, that might be interested, an opportunity to buy some 
plants in one Auction or the other.  This has the added benefit of keeping the 
Auction simple, I think.  And, in my mind simple is good.  ~~wondering what 
that says bout me~~

I would like to discuss this whole issue at the upcoming Board Meeting and then 
vote on how we wish to continue our Plant Extravaganza.  Hope to see you all at 
the Board Meeting at Erik and Kathys.
> ----------
> From:         Sam[SMTP:sbeavin@gte.net]
> Reply To:     gsas-board@thekrib.com
> Sent:         Thursday, February 15, 2001 4:32 PM
> To:   gsas-board@thekrib.com
> Subject:      RE: A Modest Proposal
> 
> Much as I hate to agree with him;>)  Steve is exactly right. (just kidding
> Steve).  How about if we have an entry fee- Say $5 - that gets you in the
> door and a nice package of plants.  How about a nice potted Amazon and a
> bunch plant (any of a number of choices).  Cost for the sword is 3.20 to
> 3.60 and the bunch plants are a buck to a buck 50 each.  We break even,
> every bidder leaves with a couple of plants.  Just an idea to ease the pain.
> If we get to many we auction them - if not enough well, there is always
> plenty of stuff around.
> Sam
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gsas-board@thekrib.com
> [mailto:owner-gsas-board@thekrib.com]On Behalf Of Steve Avenell
> Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2001 8:49 AM
> To: gsas-board@thekrib.com
> Subject: RE: A Modest Proposal
> 
> 
> Hey ya'all
> 
> Well, I have been reading and thinking about the auction.  Yes, that guy was
> a real dork, but it seams that there is always some one who is a dork in one
> way or another.  Last year it was.... well you all know.  I don't think that
> that dorks are the fundamental problem you guys are having.  I think that
> the real problems is one of philosophy.
> 
> What exactly is the purpose of an auction?  It is an exercise in the raw
> forces of supply and demand.  The goal of an auction is to get the highest
> price possible for what ever you are trying to sell.  If someone wants that
> $2 plant more than they want their $10, they will get the plant and we will
> get the $10. We get our money and the person who wants that plant the most
> gets it, even if their wants are unreasonable. The only real way to lower
> prices at an auction it to increase supply (buy more plants) or reduce> 
> demand (have less people)
> 
> I think that any kind of limit, special rules or anti-dork clauses will get
> too hard to enforce and piss people off.  If our goal is to get the plants
> to the people who want them the most or to get the maximum return on our
> investment in plants then we should put up with the dorks and stick with the
> auction format as it is.  If our goal truly is to get plants in the hands of
> people, then perhaps we need to consider a whole different format entirety.
> A straight plant sale for example, or perhaps some sort of strange plant
> swap meet where people pay $10 to get in we give them $10 worth of plants
> then they go and trade them with other people.  Something entirely
> different.
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
>