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

[Anonymous]

I dislike the formality of ours. It feels like a creepy prom for forty-somethings.

[Anonymous]

That their aren’t numbers assigned to bidders. I’d feel a heck of a lot better about being an aggressive bidder if I didn’t know who I was up against.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That their aren’t numbers assigned to bidders. I’d feel a heck of a lot better about being an aggressive bidder if I didn’t know who I was up against.

*there. I started writing ‘that their names are listed’ And changed mid sentence to clarify.

:/

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I feel like ours is just a way to compete with other people over how much money you can throw down. Yipppeee I overpaid for a week at a hilton head condo that I will never use! Or the dreaded dinner with the dean which my husband got roped into with a few other families on year. Its just such a public display of wealth. Ugh.

[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.

I sort of agree about the inequality, but only one kid gets the thing anyway, so even wealthy kids are shut out.

What I don't like is that ours is a silent auction, and I never know how many items to bid on. I don't want to bid on more than I can afford if I win them, but I also would like to win something.

[Anonymous]

In general, I enjoy attending the school silent auction. I love that they do childcare on sight through the aftercare provider. I like the food and to mingle. It also makes me very uncomfortable socioeconomically. Our school is very diverse but you'd never know it looking at who shows up to the auction. This year we have a few really high priced items that they are advertising. I don't like the idea of a fancy vacation package being overly advertised to a school where 1/3 or more of the families can't afford to buy school lunches, let alone a luxury vacation. I wish there was a way to raise money that was more inclusive.

[Anonymous]

I don't like that there's a steep entrance fee ($50/ couple), or that room parents are expected to collect money or supplies for items to be auctioned from all the other parents when many can't afford to go to the auction. Like another PP said, our school is 30+% FARMS and a sizeable percentage of our families cannot afford to attend this event. We have other, more inclusive fundraising events throughout the year that I much prefer.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dislike the formality of ours. It feels like a creepy prom for forty-somethings.

+1

[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.

If your kid wants to spend the day with the principal, act up. Mine did something really minor and spent the day with the principal. Such a waste of the day given who the principal is. Not a chance I'd give a dime for that. We would not write a check as we are not happy with the PTA (yes, we've tried to get involved and they are not welcoming). I am happy to do directly for our classroom and teacher but that is it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That their aren’t numbers assigned to bidders. I’d feel a heck of a lot better about being an aggressive bidder if I didn’t know who I was up against.

Absolutely assign numbers to bidders. Each family gets a number, so bidding is anonymous.