OVAS Auction rocked!!!!!

[BermudaBorn]

Hey there all you aquarium aficionados!!!  Well, that was my first auction and I had a lot of fun, the darn thing lasted forever, I left at 5:30pm, I am sure it went on for at least another hour.  The highlight of the afternoon was meeting other members on this board, who were shocked that I didn't look the way my name sounded!!!  HEHE!!!  That is just the way it is, what can I tell ya.  

All in all, a great time had by myself and all the others at the auction, what a fun time!!!  I bought some Phalloceros caudimaculatus, cool looking live bearers.  I also picked up some plants, which were hot sellers, anyone who grows plants for a living will make a killing at these auctions

If there are still any people selling Endler's livebearers, please give me a shout.  I gave that dude from Carleton University a few emails, but I guess he decided I wasn't worthy of owning his Endler's.  Maybe I'll give Dr. Endler a call at USC, see if he can jet me over some.  In any event, if anyone within driving distance has some they would like to unload, please give me a shout at .  

Cheers for that!!!

Jeffrey!!!!

[cerickson]

Actually..

Too bad i couldn't make it.. I really wanted to go.. but speaking of Carleton University, I am a student there, and I'm thinking of starting a fishkeeping club there.. hmmmmm

[aidensmomma2000]

I'm at Carleton as well  

I couldnt make the auction, stuff came up  :roll:

[gvv]

Thanks OVAS!

The auction was great (even I didn't buy much :lol: )
This event should be held more often...

[Rick]

I agree and auction should be held more than once a year

[dpatte]

We have an auction at every monthly meeting.

[zapisto]

The aunction was great , but i have some comments.

First , the auctionner have to understand , that it is not their job to determinate at which price an article will start.
that scandalous , that for some items , they start them a5 or 10$ and some other they start them at 2$.
and most of the time the item they start at 5 or 10$ is item sold by their friend.

if they cannot follow the rules change them

on the paper i got at the entrance , it is write the aunction start at 2$ and not , " the aunction at the price the aunctionner decide"


other than that, great Aunction, nice set of plant and good people there

Thanks Ovas for this great Aunction

[Ron]

Zapisto,

We had well over 600 lots to sell yesterday, and as one of the auctioneers, I can tell you that if we started each item at the minimum $2.00 bid, we would have been there until midnight.

The opening price has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO THE VENDOR IS; to suggest otherwise is incredibly insulting. We make an effort to get the best price we can for each item being sold, within the constraints of time limitations.

When an auctioneer feels that an item will sell for a higher price, we will ask for a higher opening bid. In cases where nobody was willing to start the bidding at the original asking price, we continue to lower the price until we have a bid. That is not scandalous: it is how an auction works. To make an extreme example, can you imagine the waste of time of starting the Eheim wet/dry cannister filter donated by Aquarium Services at a $2.00 bid? The same principle applies to all items up for auction.

It was an error on our part to suggest that each item would start at $2.00. What we should have said was that there would be a MINIMUM $2.00 bid for all items. We will be sure to clarify this in the future.

I'm sorry if you feel that our conduct was somehow underhanded, but that is simply not the case.

Ron Barter

[zapisto]

Zapisto,

We had well over 600 lots to sell yesterday, and as one of the auctioneers, I can tell you that if we started each item at the minimum $2.00 bid, we would have been there until midnight.

The opening price has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO THE VENDOR IS; to suggest otherwise is incredibly insulting. We make an effort to get the best price we can for each item being sold, within the constraints of time limitations.

When an auctioneer feels that an item will sell for a higher price, we will ask for a higher opening bid. In cases where nobody was willing to start the bidding at the original asking price, we continue to lower the price until we have a bid. That is not scandalous: it is how an auction works. To make an extreme example, can you imagine the waste of time of starting the Eheim wet/dry cannister filter donated by Aquarium Services at a $2.00 bid? The same principle applies to all items up for auction.

no offense,
i use to be direct all the time
and always say what i am thinking.
that doens't mean i am in the absolute true
it is just the way i talk , direct and  straigth

By the way , at montreal we do 1400 lots in the same amount of time

no my opinion is , if the seller didtn't think his lot worth a minimum bid, by respect to the buy and the general rules of an aunction , you must start at the minimum, and if you see lof of buyer go after direct to 5$ or ten as you do sometime (and this way i can say is very good) yesterday.

it is just frustration see you start some lot at 2 and some at 5 or 10 , only because you think it worth it.
when you think something value must start at 10 doesn't mean at all for somebody else it is the same. on top of that if the seller didn't put a minimum you can decide for him.

It was an error on our part to suggest that each item would start at $2.00. What we should have said was that there would be a MINIMUM $2.00 bid for all items. We will be sure to clarify this in the future.

I'm sorry if you feel that our conduct was somehow underhanded, but that is simply not the case.

Ron Barter

You are absolutely rigth.
and i am agree

just my 2 cents with absolutly no insult

[dpatte]

Great auction. My new tiger barbs and pearl gouramis look great

By The way, if people where successful at selling or buying items they already had listed in the classifieds here, please let me or marc know so we can delete those classified ads.

You can contact us by send us private messages (P.M.) or direct emails using the interface on this board if you like.

[Marc]

I don't have much to add to what Ron said except to say that I agree with him.

I think we should change next year's auction literature to state that the minimum selling price (not the starting bid) for a lot is $2.00.

The auction literature should also state that when auctioning a lot the auctioneer will suggest an opening bid appropriate to the anticipated selling price of the lot.  If that opening bid is not met the auctioneer will lower the suggested opening bid until a bid is obtained or the minimum selling price is reached.

Another note:  I will be asking the OVAS executive to consider changing the minimum selling price of a lot to $4.00 or $5.00 as most lots sold for at least that and because I believe that lots which sell for less than that should be bundled with other items in order to reduce the number of lots and thereby reduce the length of the auction.  I'd like to hear your opinions on this matter.

[zapisto]

well
if the rule is clear ... so no confusion

but i am not really agree hehehe just my opinion
the decision is own by the OVAS executive hehehe

can i Repeat  : GREAT AUNCTION

felicitation for all the efforts

[Marc]

Zapisto,

Merci pour tes commentaires.  Ils nous aident à améliorer notre vente aux enchères mêmes si on n'est pas d'accord sur tous les points.

Que pense-tu de l'idée que le prix minimum d'un lot soit 4 ou 5$ au lieu de 2$ ?

Marc

[Julie]

The Auction was impressive -I especially liked the plants.  WOW!!  
I wasn't able to stay for the bidding; but out of curiousity what price ranges did they go for if I may ask?

[dpatte]

plants sold from $2 to about $30 each depending on type. And has anyone ever seen a larger ruffled sword mother plant in their whole life!?

[artw]

Did it end up in your tank?
I didn't see it.  I spent most of my time either behind the cash or bothering Claude in the kitchen. hehe

[Julie]

Massive it was indeed.  We were trying to figure out ways to fit it in our 55 gallon other than remove half the aquascaping.  :?  But when we replant we'll definitely know where to look.  
Someone has quite the green thumb.  
Thanks for the info Dave.

[Eirikre]

Ya that was one mother of a sword.  I wish I could have brought some Endlers to sell but I didn't have a car.  I also wish I could have afforded to buy more junk I don't need.  I will be better prepared next year.

The Auction was great.  Thanks to OVAS and all involved.  I think the Auctioneers did a great job.  They kept things moving but still kept things light and friendly.  I liked that.

I also like the fact that the minimum lot price is 2$  There are so many fish and fish related items that sell for a fair price between $2-$5.  If they were bundled I wouldn't have bid on them.  I do understand though that if the auction were considerably bigger you might need to raise the minimum lot price in the convenience of time but I see no reason to do so at this time.

Thanks again, and I'm hoping to make it to one of the meetings comming up.  Of course I've said that before but have failed to make it so far.

Chow,

[zapisto]

Zapisto,

Merci pour tes commentaires.  Ils nous aident à améliorer notre vente aux enchères mêmes si on n'est pas d'accord sur tous les points.

Que pense-tu de l'idée que le prix minimum d'un lot soit 4 ou 5$ au lieu de 2$ ?

Marc

ok
let me tell you my point of view.

start the bidding price at 5$ is good for seller ..... yeah they will be happy
but for buyer , i dont think so

as Eirikre says :

I also like the fact that the minimum lot price is 2$ There are so many fish and fish related items that sell for a fair price between $2-$5. If they were bundled I wouldn't have bid on them. I do understand though that if the auction were considerably bigger you might need to raise the minimum lot price in the convenience of time but I see no reason to do so at this time.

you will by this method remove the chance for a lot peaople to get some stuff.

and an other reason is , what is the reason of ths sort of aunction ?
- make money ? - hope not
- share fish and plant in the hobby? - i hope yes
- finance a bit the club ? - yes of course , but the club is a Non-profit organisation , get some money for the club ok, but make profit no
- give buyer a chance put their on some rare species ? i hope also
- give a chance to buyer make money ? - hope not, but some items have a value sure , put a minimum , if someone want it , he know the value.

all this to say , you have to find a just middle , if not you will kill the aunction, or reserve it to a elite with money

concerning the plant , wow amazing
i got some nice mother plant , i am happy

regards

[Marc]

Zapisto and Eirikre, thank you for your input on the $4 dollar minimum.  You have moved me from "for it" to undecided.  I'm still seeking out opinions.

- give buyer a chance put their on some rare species ? i hope also
- share fish and plant in the hobby? - i hope yes

Absolutely, the aquarium hobby is OVAS's reason for existing.

- give a chance to buyer make money ? - hope not, but some items have a value sure , put a minimum , if someone want it , he know the value.

Different vendors have different motives.  For most of them the money they make reimburses them only for a fraction of the money they have spent on the hobby.

- make money ? - hope not
- finance a bit the club ? - yes of course , but the club is a Non-profit organisation , get some money for the club ok, but make profit no

To raise funds for the club. I don't think memberships dues even pay for rental for the room where the monthly meetings are held.   All money raised stays in the club.  Funds are used to buy books for the library, purchase equipement (such as the antiquated laptop the club bought a few years ago and the overhead projector).    When required funds are used to prepare the programs presented at the monthly meetings.  Funds are used to purchase the club's membership in CAOAC and to purchase insurance in case of an accident at a meeting.  Funds are also used for more mundane things like paying for the coffee and cookies we give away at the meetings.  

At the last meeting of every season the club treasurer makes a short presentation of the club's incomes, expenses and the year's balance.  The amount of money in the club's bank account is also shown.  Some years we spend more than we made other years less.  Any money left over is carried over to the next year.  At that meeting handouts of the financial details are available for those who want them.

All the rules are spelled out in the club constitution and club by-laws which have been presented to the members and will soon be on the website.

Hope this helps.

Marc

[ambushman2j]

I think it was good, tho I would have liked to have seen the rush/urgent thing used again, me and sylvie were feeling below the weather and were unlucky enough to have our last item on the 2nd last table...I was surprised how high some of the groups of cichlids went..I got outbid on almost everything, that was a little disappointing..but that's the life of the auction so it's all good..tho I think I personally helped art make a fortune!

I think perhaps jumping the opening increments slowly would be a wiser decision..perhaps 3$ next time?

perhaps as an added entertainment and a way to shorten time and ease the auctioneers presure a trial silent auction table be set up where maybe 1 or 2 tables of perhaps higher $$ goods be available for people to bid on paper until a certain time .. just a thought

I would like to thank everyone who volenteered their time and effort into making the auction and letting us have a good time

[Anubias]

For Jules' information, that mother of a sword is actually a grandmother. I bought her in 1980 in Oakville, Ontario. It was a large plant then. It only started producing young plantlets on the floral stocks about two years ago. These appear to correlate with the approach of Spring and Fall, i.e. a twelve hour day. Allow the plant stock to rise to the surface. The young plants will develop quickly there. You may have to cover the tank to maintain humid conditions as the planlets break the surface.
This species is a great plant insofar as it grows easily in low to moderate light conditions. CO2 is unnecessary, and too strong a light hinders it. Made sure that there is enough mulm or some source of root nutrition for growth.
I hope that you bring some of those many plantlets to next year's auction.

Regards,

[Rick]

I had a great time at the auction and would like to thank all the volunteers involved in making it possible; without them there would have been no auction!!! The auctioneers were great and I don't think many could have done better. The runners were fantastic and must have been tired at the end of the day.
Is there a way to have a separate auction for children where they could come with their own money and bid amongst themselves (no adults to outbid them)? After all they are the future hobbyists, the ones we want to encourage.  
Again thanks for a great day.

[zapisto]

I had a great time at the auction and would like to thank all the volunteers involved in making it possible; without them there would have been no auction!!! The auctioneers were great and I don't think many could have done better. The runners were fantastic and must have been tired at the end of the day.
Is there a way to have a separate auction for children where they could come with their own money and bid amongst themselves (no adults to outbid them)? After all they are the future hobbyists, the ones we want to encourage.  
Again thanks for a great day.

good idea
but difficult to do

and i would like also  to thank all the volunteers involved in making it possible; without them there would have been no auction!!! and no club

[Evan]

The auction was great.  I got a couple of nice plants. I had to rearrange my aquarium and now it looks wierd until some plants grow a bit more.    I even bought a club membership.

I also got an air pump that I needed.

IMO the volunteers did a great job.  Thanks everyone.

[tanksalot]

The auction was fantastic! My only regret is that it went on longer than we could stay, there was alot more I  wanted to bid on. I think the idea of having some stuff as a silent auction (on paper) would be great. Also when there are multiples of things (such as many of the same type of plant) is there not a way to say 'we have 10 of these Spiral Val. and they all get sold at the highest bid' ...it may speed things up.

Can't wait for next year! Congratulations to all the many hard working people it must have taken to pull off such a grand event!

tanksalot

[james]

Hi
To me the auction was run very well. To tag and organize everything
was a big challege. And as for the $2.00 min. I think it was necessay. And some of the item were at a higher starting point was because that was the min .put on it.

I manage to sell a lot of my excess equipment and got some very good deals on some fish..

As the club usually cut off in June every year I, I think that it would be a good time to have a summer auction as well! Any comments on this idea.

Once again  thanks for a job well done! Thanks!

James

[artw]

I think we just have larger than normal monthly auctions in May and September to cover the overlap

[james]

Yeh Art
Thats fine too !  But we should maybe advertise the last meeting auction as well, as the beginnig of the year meeting to get the ball rolling ie  last chance of the year auction or  a welcome back auction.

I notice that the beginning few meeting , the attendances were fairly low. Maybe a lot of regulars did not know  about them

James

[artw]

it is very expensive to place classified ads.  but yes i agree we need to start advertising our monthly meetings.

[Troy]

Thanks to everyone for the Auction it was great.
It had been a few years since I have been to Ottawa and my first time to the OVAS Auction.
I have also attended the large Auctions here in Montreal and also seen how things are processed. As well as my smaller monthly M.A.S meetings.

I would say starting at 2$ is fine no need to bundle items.  :wink:

The only thing I would suggest about the format to change is how you bid on an Item. At the large Auctions I have attended, you start at 2$ and start to increase slowly all bidders "must" keep there hand "with" the number up. The last bidder with his hand still up gets the Item. Put your hand down and think about it and you don't really want it the most!  There for you speed up the sale of all Items. I though things went very well, but this small adjustment might reduce the length of the auction. I know it does at the Very large Auctions here in Mtl.

I stayed until almost last table came up for sale and bid on some more of Arts Cichlids but was out bid by a lady who wanted the Cynotilapia afra White Top more than I did I guess. I still got Two of your other bags of cichlids.    Cheers..... Troy.  

[artw]

Are they doing well?

[Eirikre]

I like the suggestion of all willing bidders keeping their hand up until the last one standing takes it.  Same basic bidding concept but should speed things up a bit.

I suspect though, that it will also drive up the prices a bit.

[saltydog]

I agree about the bidders keeping their cards up. Also think increments could be higher, depending on item. It does not have to be a buck at a time.

Higher prices are not such a bad thing. Sellers will bring in more better quality stock & merchandise!

[artw]

actually that type of bidding lowers prices.  because the auctioneers don't actually SELL the fish.
(none of that anyone for 10?  10?  you? 10? really nice plant! going once, going twice).

[ambushman2j]

by the way art, I think you did so well because you did your homework and provided really good presentation of your products, ie) the pictures of adults..well done old chap

[Eirikre]

actually that type of bidding lowers prices.  because the auctioneers don't actually SELL the fish.
(none of that anyone for 10?  10?  you? 10? really nice plant! going once, going twice).

Good point

[saltydog]

I see your point, Art. However, the auctioneer can still "sell" the lot BEFORE he invites the bidding to begin. I concede that there would be less impulse bidding. But if the auction goes faster then there may be more bidders still around later during the auction which might make up for it.

[artw]

this is true too. since I worked cash I saw a LOT of people cashing out early and saying that Oh, I'd like to bid on x and x but we have to go ! etc.