RE: A Modest Proposal

[Kathy Olson <kathy@thekrib.com>]

I like the idea of a silent auction....for the early birds and then the
general.......sounds good to me.  I think a voluntary limit is good, I
know other auctions that do that.

The rest I save for the board meeting

Kathy


On Thu, 15 Feb 2001, Hess, Clay A wrote:

> 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
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
>