What do you dislike most about your school auction? What would you change?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:just pointing out that these events are what cover all the extras that ALL the kids get, incluing the farms kids. if not for the generous folks, everyone would miss out. you should be thanking the families that write the big checks.

No, because a check-writing campaign and other less unequal forms of fundraising raise MORE money at our school.

+1. Also, call me crazy, but I'd much rather just write a big check and be done with it, vs participate in an event where over 1/3 of the school's parents are priced out.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I like:

The dad who is the auctioneer, he's really funny and self deprecating and does a good job getting parents to make bids

I like that there is both a silent auction for lower amount items, and a live auction for more expensive packages.

I like that everyone is drinking, moving around chatting and generally happy to be there

I like meeting people I never met before

I like the auction items: they are high quality and there aren't any "baskets" with a mix of random gift cards and yoga or manicure gift certificates.


I dislike the music/option to dance at the end (I like music but hate dancing!)

I dislike that a good percentage of parents don't attend (because they don't have a babysitter, or just don't like to socialize).

Mostly our auction is really well organized and fun, not many complaints

Or can't afford the tickets, or can't afford to bid on anything. Attending an auction when you know you can't buy anything is no fun.

[Anonymous]

I wish I didn't feel so weird going as a single parent. I skipped it the first two years because everyone I knew was going as a couple, went with a female friend last year (and felt kind of weird for doing so) and am probably skipping it this year.

Not sure there's anything that can be done about that, unless there's a wave of divorces and a bunch of folks go solo too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No auction at all.

It's unfair to offer desirable events (such as a child hanging out with the principal for half a day) and baskets of stuff to the highest bidder and only serves to highlight inequalities within a school.

Our school has an auction, to which I never go for the reason mentioned above. I am privy to all the details because I'm on the PTA board, and the rest of the board LOVES the auction.

I would be happy just with our check-writing campaign, which nets a ton of money anyway. That way, families just give what they can, without any pressure or disappointment.

Agree, agree, agree. The auction makes me cringe. Can I just add that I hate seeing people get sloppy drunk and go goggle-eyed over the big-spenders?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No auction at all.

It's unfair to offer desirable events (such as a child hanging out with the principal for half a day) and baskets of stuff to the highest bidder and only serves to highlight inequalities within a school.

Our school has an auction, to which I never go for the reason mentioned above. I am privy to all the details because I'm on the PTA board, and the rest of the board LOVES the auction.

I would be happy just with our check-writing campaign, which nets a ton of money anyway. That way, families just give what they can, without any pressure or disappointment.

Really interesting. We never had "access" auctioned off at our school. I totally see how that would be a problem and further disparity.

[Anonymous]

I prefer the ones where the students auction off services, like singing telegrams, custom birthday cards, baked goods. I used to really love paying for singing telegrams that you could buy for teachers. The school choir would break up in groups of 2 or 3 and sing a song. Or a family with a talent for cooking would bring a fancy designed cake or a quilted pillow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I didn't feel so weird going as a single parent. I skipped it the first two years because everyone I knew was going as a couple, went with a female friend last year (and felt kind of weird for doing so) and am probably skipping it this year.

Not sure there's anything that can be done about that, unless there's a wave of divorces and a bunch of folks go solo too.

I would not want to spend money on babysitting. So I would go solo.