No interest at auction

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NewLondon88

NewLondon88

Local Chapter Leader
Joined
May 15, 2008
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Location
Claremont NH
My dad is an auctioneer and he asked me to scribe the auction tonight.
I'll do that once in a while..it's different, not hard work. Just keep track
of who bought which item and for how much.. then make sure that nothing
leaves the auction without getting paid for. It pays OK for a couple of hours
work. and it was close to home.

I donated a fountain pen, rosewood box and leather carrying case. It was
for a women's shelter, so it was for a good cause.

Lots of interest in the pen, a lot of comments. I was surprised that they
didn't put it in the live auction, they had a silent auction before we even
got there. The woman had called me to get details about the wood and
value, I gave her the name of the website and company name.. hoping to
stir up a little interest.

I checked the program and she used my name, not the company name, not
the website, so no chance of getting any website hits that way. AND the
wrong name, to boot.

THEN I looked in the program where it said that I had generously donated
not only the pen, but my time working the auction as well.
First I heard of it..

So .. how much would you expect a Jr Gent Fountain pen to go for? The
kit was the Platinum series (rhodium & gold) with a rosewood display box
and leather pouch. And the provenance card (pen type, signed & dated)
The pen was in dyed and stabilized box elder burl

It went for $30. :confused:

I donated it, so I shouldn't care. Ego thing, I guess.. but it surprised me.
 

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I wonder if it was because it was a fountain pen. Perhaps a lot of the people wouldn't know much about them. Perhaps a rollerball would have done better.

I hope you got paid for your time and didn't end up donating that as well.
 
I agree! It SHOULD have gone for much more. I would think $60 to $75 would have been a reasonable expectation. I know everything has it's time and place, though. I have been to shows where people have vocally (and loudly, I might add) said "$50 for a pepper mill, I'm not paying $50 for a pepper mill" and the next show I sold 8 pepper mill for $50 each in the first hour of the show!! Go figure!?! Anyway, I know it stinks when people don't realize how much work and money go into producing the things we sell, but just shake it off and keep on turning. Best Wishes,
 
That is a gorgeous pen.

But, for me, I would of expected a much more elegant looking pen for an auction of a fountain pen. I agree, a rollerball would have done better. JMHO
 
Somebody got a real bargain at that price. It's unfortunate that it didn't raise more for the womens shelter, but I think you should feel good that you made your donation.
 
Yeah.. I probably should have gone with a rollerball. OR maybe a Jr.
Statesman in a Tru-Stone or something. But I was surprised at the low bids
on a lot of things. A 10 day vacation for 10 people in Jamaica only brought
in $2,000. Art went for next to nothing. But a hand thrown pot valued at
$50 (generously valued by the artisan) went for $75. Hard to figure. And
a case of wine brought about 25% above retail. :confused:
 
JimB said:
I hope you got paid for your time and didn't end up donating that as well.
Click to expand...

LOL . .I found out that my time was donated .. by reading it in the program!
Hard to go back on that in the middle of a Saturday night function. It was
one of those champagne & hors d'œuvre deals with all the 'movers and
shakers' making their appearance.

I suppose I could have made a scene, but that's probably not the best idea
when I was looking to generate some interest in the pens. I just didn't know
I was donating both till I read it in the program.
 
I submitted some pens for a recent charity auction and was surprised as well by the odd prices things went for.

High bid on my pens was $60 for a BOW Fishers of Men, while a Black Palm Baron Rollerball went for only $26. Another guy submitted a beautiful maple burl bowl and it only went for $47. Some lady made some knit slippers that only went for $6 to $11. The best selling crafted item was subject to a furious bidding war, a chair made from wrenches welded together went for $175!
 
I cringe when I am asked for a donation of a pen for a silent or regular auction. While I get the publicity the pen goes for a fraction of its real worth ( what I would sell it for at a craft market or on my web site). To me the auction method devalues the worth of my craft. However there are other venues to use. Two weeks ago the promoter of a craft show sold tickets on items donated by the vendors and the proceeds go to a charity. The pen is valued at its true market value and the prize winner perceives that they won an item worth $50.00 even though they might not have wanted the item or would have paid $50.00 for the pen.In some instances I perfer to make a cash donation to the cause rather than see my pen devalued in an auction. Darrell Eisner
 
NewLondon88 said:
LOL . .I found out that my time was donated .. by reading it in the program!
Hard to go back on that in the middle of a Saturday night function. It was
one of those champagne & hors d'œuvre deals with all the 'movers and
shakers' making their appearance.

I suppose I could have made a scene, but that's probably not the best idea
when I was looking to generate some interest in the pens. I just didn't know
I was donating both till I read it in the program.
Click to expand...

Oh well. Hopefully some of those 'movers and shakers' you met will turn into customers. At least it was for a good cause.
 
I've volunteered at a number of charity auctions and donated items for others. I find no rhyme or reason to the prices some things fetch. A lot depends on the audience and what other things catch their interest. OF course, with the current economic situation, even the movers and shakers are watching their money.

In any case, someone got a real bargain on a beautiful pen.

-Barry
 
I think the pen should have gone for more, but with a silent auction it is tough to know what to bid. Just write yourself out a receipt for the value of the pen and take it off your taxes.:biggrin: Doesn't hurt to give to a good cause sometimes.
 
Thanks for the replies, and thanks for letting me gripe/vent/scratch my head.

They did list the value at the auction as $100. (I added $ for the burl, the
leather case, the box etc) and I donated it, so I haven't lost anything. I was
just surprised. I thought it might go 60-70% of value anyway.. people do go
to auctions looking for a bargain..
 
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