posted on September 19, 2001 11:02:15 AM new
Jay and I are working on an alternative FOR US for the current AFA charity auction system. We have sketched out the following and would appreciate comments and input. Remember, I do not take Billpoint and so cannot participate in the eBay system.
(As an aside to amy and others, who suggested that participation in AFA is completely voluntary: yes, for most sellers that is so. We, however, are receiving phone calls from eBay soliciting our participation (two different departments so far), and a small number of emails from regular customers and/or muckrakers asking what we are doing to help. There is also the subtle but definite sense that everyone MUST participate, just as is laid out in an office where the United Way and office management are encouraging 100% participation for all employees. Jay was in an office where United Way was omnipresent. Everyone WAS expected to participate.)
We are considering putting up a different CD BOX SET for auction on eBay each night for the next 100 nights (valued at around $40/each or so), with our regular 1 cent bid, 5 day settlement, regular s/h, etc. Payment would be by all regular methods we accept. Because of the weight o these box sets these auctions would NOT be offered to non - US buyers, as has always been our policy in the past on heavy items that are easily lost or stolen in customs.
Each nightly auction would contain some sort of wording in the title and / or body of the auction explaining the following: When you receive the item from us in the mail, taped to the front of the box set will be a postpaid and addressed envelope and an enclosed check, already written and signed by me and made payable and addressed to the Red Cross, for the amount of your bid. (This is done so the buyer has a very clear recognition that his money is going to charity. He, then, would simply mail the check at his convenience.) If the item was bid for, say, $40.00, he would mail us the regular $40 plus $5 s/h. I would mail him back the item plus my check made payable to the Red Cross for $40.
If I have thought this out correctly, then:
1. Buyer gets the item for $45 out of pocket, as he wished. He also gets the knowledge that he has helped out America and the unforunates in NYC / Washington DC.
2. I get a corporate tax deduction for $40, as evidenced by the 100 cancelled checks I will receive back over the coming months. I have absorbed the auction fees myself (not tax deductible under this plan). Buyer has paid shipping.
3. I have made it clear to my regular customers that we ARE participating in a meaningful way to this effort.
4. I demonstrate the same thing to the people at eBay.
Now, I have probably overlooked some very obvious things, so I hope members of the AW community can help me with guidance. How would you amend this plan? How would you word the title and/ or explanation I would put in the auction? Would you mention these auction in your OTHER regular auctions and/or EOA emails, or will this appear too self-serving.
posted on September 19, 2001 11:14:08 AM new
My understanding is that eBay is actually searching out (by keyword and otherwise) and pulling any auction outside of AFA by individual sellers that claims to be a charity auction, and that eBay's rules (updated minute to minute) demand that all "Charity Auctions" must be specifically "sanctioned" by eBay. I'm not sure that any of this is true. What I am nearly sure of is if you run the auctions, and it might violate ebay's TOS, you will have people falling all over themselves to contact Safe Harbor about them for a whole spectrum of motives.
posted on September 19, 2001 11:16:20 AM new
Greedbay, thank you. I would not execute the above program without first receiving clearance from eBay. Marie
posted on September 19, 2001 11:17:36 AM new
Hi Marie,
I'm not sure if I can give you advice on all of it, but I did see a few things I might be able to offer advice on anyway.
I would mention it in all of my listings-- personally I don't think that is self serving as it would direct more traffic to the fundraising auction. I think it is a good idea.
I don't accept billpoint either and won't. (The $10 chargeback fee and the fact that with these charity auctions there is no set plan on how this will be handled is enough to keep me away from it). I sure wish ebay had thought this out better, but I don't want to derail your thread so I hope others will have more ideas about the wording.
Good luck! I hope it is a success!
Edited to add a few things! :0)
[ edited by ashlandtrader on Sep 19, 2001 11:21 AM ]
posted on September 19, 2001 11:18:17 AM new
Maria...sounds like an interesting plan. Two things come to mind though
1) how many of the checks would actually be sent to the charity? Many people might easily forget.
2) the checks are open to being altered once they are out of your hands.
On your aside...yes, you are being solicited. This happens all the time to businesses and the more highly visible in the community the more they are solicited. You are highly visible in the ebay community.
Feelings of guilt are internally generated not the fault of an outside force. If you know you have nothing to feel guilty about there is no reason to cave in to requests for your help.
I don't know why you will not use billpoint but maybe there is a compromise here. Why not start an id that is a variation on your well known ID...something like onecentcdcharityauctions. Open a billpoint account in that name only. List your charity items on that id, point to them in your regular auction and end of auction notices. Then when the AFA drive is over you can kill that id and terminate the billpoint account.
But Marie...don't do anything because you feel pressured. Remember, only you can pressure yourself....all anybody else can do is ask you but the pressure comes from within.
posted on September 19, 2001 11:28:10 AM new
Thank you, ashland and amy! With regards to amy's specific questions,
<1) how many of the checks would actually be sent to the charity? Many people might easily forget>
I guess I would be $40 ahead at this point then. My hope would be that by making it as easy as possible for the CD buyer to mail that check that it WOULD get mailed. A less attractive alternative would be to send him a photocopy or something of a check that I would send, but I am quite certain this would not be acceptable to eBay or the community at large.
<<2) the checks are open to being altered once they are out of your hands. >>
I *DO* get all my checks back from my bank, so *I* would know that this happened. I would hope that customers would not use this opportunity to steal from me, but I see where it could happen.
And, I beg to differ: there are tangible, not intangible, ways that businesses or individuals can be coerced into participating in a project like this. At my husband's last job it was an office wide party for all United Way participants (only). I tread on enough toes already at eBay that I am reluctant to tread on any more. I am feeling very real pressure to participate.
posted on September 19, 2001 11:28:19 AM new
Assuming you file for your auction business, your ebay fees most certain are deductible. They are deductible whether the auction is for charity, or for profit.
posted on September 19, 2001 12:06:28 PM new
Marie-
I applaud your sentiments and efforts.
Maybe I spoke too soon about eBay AFA "rules." I will post what I posted on another thread here, so you can read about what eBay is apparently allowing other sellers OF THEIR CHOICE, OF COURSE, to do. Unfortunately for you, you are probably not as large as Disney or IBM or whomever eBay MAY be hypocritically allowing to operate any way they please and under different rules than AFA sellers...
____________________________________________
Here is a Press Release from Disney Auctions on eBay, then below that are the TOS from one of their auctions. APPARENTLY, to bid on a Disney Charity Auction, you must register a credit card WIIH DISNEY. To PAY for a Disney auction, you must pay with that credit card THROUGH Disney, NOT Billpoint. BUYER is asked to pay shipping.
IF what appears to be true here IS true, then Disney doesn't have to use Billpoint, but every small seller DOES? Buyers pay shipping for those auctions, but for AFA auctions the seller does? Is Disney more ummm "needy" than us? IF Disney's TOS is correct (the buyer pays shipping) is eBay ACTUALLY sponsoring any variation of AFA that the huge sellers want to throw up there
in whatever way they want to throw it up there? Variations that are VASTLY DIFFERENT from AFA? And eBay talks about community? Please, anyone that wants to say "but it will help," spare me. The press release below is another crass display of a Corporation grabbing for free publicity.
If Disney REALLY supported AFA, and their terms are in actuality so DIFFERENT from AFA, WHY DON'T THEY TAKE THEIR ITEMS, GET A DIFFERENT POSTING ID, AND SELL UNDER THE SAME RULES THAT ALL OTHER AFA SELLERS HAVE TO SELL UNDER???
___________________________________________
Disney Auctions Supports eBay's 'Auction for America'
All Proceeds From Items Auctioned During the
Week of September 17 Will Be Donated to September 11th Fund
WHAT: Disney Auctions has joined eBay's "Auction for America" program.
100 percent of all Disney Auctions proceeds this week will be
donated to The September 11th Fund which has been established by
United Way and The New York Community Trust. Contributions will
assist the victims, their families, and communities affected by
the events of September 11.
This week's auction items include:
THE LETTER "D" FROM THE DISNEYLAND HOTEL SIGN
Own the letter that has become a pop culture icon and is taken
from one of the world's most famous hotels.
MAX KEEBLE PREMIERE
Receive true VIP treatment by attending the premiere of Disney's
upcoming film "Max Keeble's Big Move." This exclusive experience
gives bidders access the red carpet when Max Keeble makes his
big move to the big screen!
DISNEY STORE THEMING
Bid to own colorful character and prop figures previously
featured in Disney Store displays.
DISNEYLAND RESORT
Choose from a wide variety of artwork, signs and fixtures
previously installed at the Disneyland Resort.
WHEN: The items will be up for auction from September 17 to
September 24.
WHERE: Bidding takes place at www.disneyauctions.com.
CONTACT: Brandy Phillips of BSMG Worldwide, +1-310-966-5501,
[email protected], for Disney Auctions
ABOUT DISNEY AUCTIONS:
Disney Auctions (www.disneyauctions.com), presented by eBay, is
an online marketplace from Walt Disney Internet Group and eBay
(Nasdaq: EBAY). Disney Auctions features authentic, rare and
one-of-a-kind Disney collectibles and memorabilia from every
aspect of Disney's fabled entertainment legacy.
MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X23404392
SOURCE Disney Auctions
CO: Disney Auctions; Walt Disney Internet Group; eBay; September 11th Fund; United Way; New York Community Trust
ST: California, New York, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania
IN: ENT MLM
SU: NPT
09/19/2001 13:26 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
______________________________________________________________________
Disney will arrange for Buyer the packing and handling of the purchased Item by a carrier and/or packer of Disney s choosing, and will insure the Item against loss or damage. Buyer will bear the cost of shipping, insurance and any import-export tax fees. The Buyer shall immediately pay the full purchase price of the Item, including any applicable shipping and insurance fees by credit card. The following credit cards are accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Disney Credit Card, Discover, JCB. Disney Auctions Conditions of Sale govern the sale and license of this item.
