Re: [GSAS-board] Plant Auctopsy 2007

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

Right, just something like "no checkout in last 10 minutes of auction 
until all the tags have been recorded".  It was only a problem because we 
did the last half hour at an insane breakneck pace.

   - Erik

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007, DonaldR wrote:

> Thanks for all your work Erik!
>  I had to leave kinda early, and appreciated being able to check out  then. I 
> think you meant just close checkout near the end of the  bidding, right?
>  -Don
>
> Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com> wrote:  I always like to report back the 
> numbers from the computer, and put it in
> perspective with previous auctions...
>
>   2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
>
> bidders  42 28 39 43 30 34 39 38
> lots  244 267 242 322 264 259 231 260
> gross $  1977 1195 1299 1636 1327 1180 1624 1479
> splits $  672 146 194 453 265 150 403 413
>
> Way to go folks!  Susan posted the actual cash #'s (there are a couple
> additions...see below), but it looks like the club made $900-1000 on the
> event after ANW has been paid.  Even if we didn't consider the $200 tank,
> it would still be the highest GROSSING plant auction in "recorded
> history".  But more importantly, take a look at the splits, also a record.
> Lots of members sold things, the most ever since we started using the
> computers!  The plant auction has always been primarily a member service
> (as opposed to the general auction, which has historically been the club's
> big fundraiser).
>
> The runners adapted fantastically to the new system, even our younger ones
> who probably did not realize they'd be having to spell some nasty big
> words!  Rick and Josh kept the computers running without breaking a sweat
> (except at the end).  And we didn't tire out three auctioneers at the same
> time.
>
> Also, the usual bit of criticism...not much, but there are some areas we
> can improve:
>
> The items were recorded between 7:50 and 9:50, so that means about 2 items
> per minute, not the fastest auctioning we've ever done (which would be
> last year where we sold 267 items in 90 minutes...3 items per minute).
> We might want to pick up the pace a little at the beginning next time so
> we don't have to make up for it in the last 30 minutes.  This will be
> especially important in April where in past years there have been 300-400
> items!
>
> The computer system and the tags are backwards with respect to each other,
> so the ops read the bidder # and then sale price, but have to key in sale
> price, then bidder number.  I noticed this at the AGA auction, but totally
> forgot to fix it.  I will try and do this on the tags for the general
> auction.
>
> For the computer ops, it's very important that if you get a red tag and it
> brings up a generic bid (you have to enter the description), that you also
> enter the seller number.  Clay A showed up late, so we didn't pre-enter
> his items. He just put his seller # on the red tags and they got entered
> as they were bid on.  Perhaps I can modify the software to require the
> seller number if the tags are in a certain number range.  Any rate, we
> were OK becauase only one person did this.  If there were two, we might
> have been sunk.
>
> I was surprised that we still had the "run on the computers" at the end.
> Josh was still entering the last 10 or 15 tags, so Rick was having to
> check out everyone until they were done.  I have a couple remedies for
> this.  First, as the thing winds up (last 10 minutes), don't allow anyone
> to check out, and have both guys entering tags.  This will make sure that
> all items are accounted for.  Second, we should have that third computer
> to act as "swing" at the start and end of the event.
>
> Anyone else have any suggestions for improvement?
>
>   - Erik
>
>

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com
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