Auction Action for "Low Rollers"

[Tristram]

As a casual ReaperCon attendee, one who does not participate in numerous events at the convention, I wonder if there is a way to supplement the current Auction system.

 

By Day Three, between my girlfriend and me, we typically have, maybe, $600-800 in Reaperbucks between us. Not to overstate the obvious, but this renders the Auction an entertaining curiosity for us, one in which we were once fortunate enough to pick up a mousepad. This year, we weren’t close to affording anything.

 

I doubt we are the only attendees with such a meager stash, and wonder if there might be other ways to approach the Auction. Maybe something like a second, “low roller” Auction could be created for those with less than, say, $1000 or $2000 on hand. Vendors/donators could contribute items specifically for this Auction, still holding out their best or most numerous donations for the larger Auction.

 

Of course, enforcing the “I only have $1000 in Reaperbucks” policy would be a challenge. But, I suppose, that’s a part of what these forums are for - identifying and solving these sorts of challenges.

 

I’m sure there are other possibilities. I’d just love to see some opportunities for those attendees who have been eager and engaged, and have paid their ways in, but, for whatever reason, haven’t had a chance to accumulate enough bucks to truly participate in the Auction. I have to believe there may be a solution, aside from “just get more Reaperbucks." 

 

On a related note, how -does one snag- thousands of Reaperbucks??

 

-Darren

[Mr Melons]

6 minutes ago, Tristram said:

As a casual ReaperCon attendee, one who does not participate in numerous events at the convention, I wonder if there is a way to supplement the current Auction system.

 

By Day Three, between my girlfriend and me, we typically have, maybe, $600-800 in Reaperbucks between us. Not to overstate the obvious, but this renders the Auction an entertaining curiosity for us, one in which we were once fortunate enough to pick up a mousepad. This year, we weren’t close to affording anything.

 

I doubt we are the only attendees with such a meager stash, and wonder if there might be other ways to approach the Auction. Maybe something like a second, “low roller” Auction could be created for those with less than, say, $1000 or $2000 on hand. Vendors/donators could contribute items specifically for this Auction, still holding out their best or most numerous donations for the larger Auction.

 

Of course, enforcing the “I only have $1000 in Reaperbucks” policy would be a challenge. But, I suppose, that’s a part of what these forums are for - identifying and solving these sorts of challenges.

 

I’m sure there are other possibilities. I’d just love to see some opportunities for those attendees who have been eager and engaged, and have paid their ways in, but, for whatever reason, haven’t had a chance to accumulate enough bucks to truly participate in the Auction. I have to believe there may be a solution, aside from “just get more Reaperbucks." 

 

On a related note, how -does one snag- thousands of Reaperbucks??

 

-Darren

 

They did...you can purchase the raffle tickets with ReaperBucks.  They implemented this last year to help those that didn't get much.  One person bought a bunch of tickets and won like 3 things. 

 

There is also pooling.  Get a good group of like minded individuals who want things in the auction, pool your resources, and work from there.   Honestly, its a great place to make lasting friendships.  Every year we like to work together (its not always the same people too) to help each other.  Sometimes its enough and sometimes it isnt.  But that's the fun part because you may not win this year but next year you may get even more friends.  

[Doug Sundseth]

Pooling is what we did. Between my wife and I, we started with about $2100R and eventually got the Minitaire full set* for $5400R. Then we donated what was left to another person at our table, which resulted in her getting cool stuff for herself and her kids.

 

* Which is going to become a resource for CMPA. It's extensive enough that a new painter should be fine just using it, so we'll have club paints.

[Bold]

26 minutes ago, Tristram said:

On a related note, how -does one snag- thousands of Reaperbucks??

 

I acquired a lot of Reaperbucks by taking classes. LOTS of classes.

 

This year I ended up with more Reaperbucks than I had anticipated, however. I believe there was a math error in how the website calculated the Reaperbucks earned through signing up for events, so many people ended up with more Reaperbucks than initially suggested by the event description. I was able to pick up a paint set on my own, whereas last year I pooled my Reaperbucks together with another attendee and we split our win.

[Inarah]

And, although we aren't supposed to some people kept poker chips and reaperbucks from the previous year(s), giving them a head start.   

 

I looked around for some folks to pool with this year but didn't get lucky.  I think the auction just doesn't work for me.  I'm not willing to spend every hour at the con playing games and/or taking classes.  I like shopping, socializing, eating, touring Reaper, etc. and none of those give you Reaperbucks.  There's very little in the auction that I couldn't just buy if I wanted it. 

 

I was disappointed to see the brushes go as one big bundle.  Those would have been a perfect opportunity near the end for those with smaller funds. 

 

 

[Mr Melons]

2 minutes ago, Inarah said:

And, although we aren't supposed to some people kept poker chips and reaperbucks from the previous year(s), giving them a head start.   

 

 

If i'm correct, they gave out poker chips this year.  I think they ran out of the paper and used those as backups at one point.

Edited October 26, 2017 by Mr Melons

[Tristram]

Yeah, we had poker chips, as well, but weren't sure if those were invalid forms of "payment" this year, or still legal tender.

 

I think, in addition to the Keynote/Powerpoint presentation on the screen near the main stage, maybe this sort of information, along with the following, would be useful to communicate on that display:

• What the Faction War is, and how/when/where to use those Faction stickers.
• How to get involved in the Raffle, and the ability to purchase more tickets, as mentioned by Mr. Melons.
• Some "beginner tips," such as where to get Reaperbucks, ribbons for one's badge, etc.

I know much of this is, likely, communicated through the convention booklet and/or elsewhere, but having it front and center, and updated regularly, would be a nice resource for first-timers and repeat attendees alike.

 

-Darren

3 hours ago, Bold said:

I acquired a lot of Reaperbucks by taking classes. LOTS of classes.

 

I forgot about this. I took two, myself, but got no Reaperbucks. The teachers have a lot to deal with, in addition to having to remember to dole out Reaperbucks, but I'll need to remember to ask for these up-front during classes next year.

 

Another point I'd love to see mentioned on the digital board I proposed in my previous post. 

 

-Darren

[Dilvish the Deliverer]

4 minutes ago, Tristram said:

Yeah, we had poker chips, as well, but weren't sure if those were invalid forms of "payment" this year, or still legal tender.

 

I think, in addition to the Keynote/Powerpoint presentation on the screen near the main stage, maybe this sort of information, along with the following, would be useful to communicate on that display:

• What the Faction War is, and how/when/where to use those Faction stickers.
• How to get involved in the Raffle, and the ability to purchase more tickets, as mentioned by Mr. Melons.
• Some "beginner tips," such as where to get Reaperbucks, ribbons for one's badge, etc.

I know much of this is, likely, communicated through the convention booklet and/or elsewhere, but having it front and center, and updated regularly, would be a nice resource for first-timers and repeat attendees alike.

 

-Darren

 

I forgot about this. I took two, myself, but got no Reaperbucks. The teachers have a lot to deal with, in addition to having to remember to dole out Reaperbucks, but I'll need to remember to ask for these up-front during classes next year.

 

Another point I'd love to see mentioned on the digital board I proposed in my previous post. 

 

-Darren

The Reaper bucks for classes were given out when you registered, not when you attended.  They were included in the total that you received in addition to the ones in your swag/VIP bags.

[Doug Sundseth]

Just now, Dilvish the Deliverer said:

The Reaper bucks for classes were given out when you registered, not when you attended.  They were included in the total that you received in addition to the ones in your swag/VIP bags.

 

Correct in theory. It's what happened to me last year. Not so much in practice this year. At the M&G, we got our swag bags with the basic 250 each, but no additional for classes taken.

[Dilvish the Deliverer]

2 minutes ago, Doug Sundseth said:

 

Correct in theory. It's what happened to me last year. Not so much in practice this year. At the M&G, we got our swag bags with the basic 250 each, but no additional for classes taken.

Well that was messed up.  I got handed the addition Bucks when I checked in.  Sounds like someone made a mistake.  I took 4 classes and ended up with 850 bucks total.  I got some from games too

[SamuraiJack]

I had to go back up and get my class bucks.. they didnt have them put together under our names this year.

[Mnemonic]

I asked Bryan about the reaperbuck calculation shown on the Reapercon website and he confirmed it was not correctly calculating. So don't go off those amounts as they are way too high.

 

But I agree, it is hard for a single person to afford much in the auction. By my calculations, 8 classes, VIP and swag bag, and 4 meals will net you around 1,300 bucks. You get more if you play games, wear a costume or reapercon t-shirts. The best bet is to pool in with your table and split a paint set or a set of miniatures. 

 

I too was a little disappointing in how items were bulked up, which drove the prices higher than the average guy could afford. (Whoever got that Star Wars Armada set got one heck of a deal!) However I do see that auctioning 1 brush at a time would be a very tedious. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hungerfan]

I thought it felt like I had fewer than usual but did not care enough to find out if I was missing a few. Another 200-400 would not have made much difference.  I messed up and did not get raffle tickets before heading out Sat night and once we got there Sunday they were out of yellow ones so we sat around hoping my daughter could get something but when most bids got to 1800 in a matter of seconds it was obvious we were not going to be doing much.  Then she got a bit bored of sitting there watching and I decided it was best to head home early. I do wonder how many of those with 10k were from people who saved Reaperbucks.  If they need to print more next year it would be nice if they could add a 2018 to them to discourage that kind of behavior.

[Sylverthorne]

21 minutes ago, hungerfan said:

I thought it felt like I had fewer than usual but did not care enough to find out if I was missing a few. Another 200-400 would not have made much difference.  I messed up and did not get raffle tickets before heading out Sat night and once we got there Sunday they were out of yellow ones so we sat around hoping my daughter could get something but when most bids got to 1800 in a matter of seconds it was obvious we were not going to be doing much.  Then she got a bit bored of sitting there watching and I decided it was best to head home early. I do wonder how many of those with 10k were from people who saved Reaperbucks.  If they need to print more next year it would be nice if they could add a 2018 to them to discourage that kind of behavior.

 

At some point while I was doing an initial count I sifted through mine. Some of them say 2016, some 2017 (anything with River Widows on it, specifically), so they already do this, I think.

 

 

 

[Grayfax]

There were a couple of issues with ReaperBucks. Yes, there was a calculation error.  Some then demanded from Bryan what was printed on their registration paper instead of what they should have gotten (which was calculated correctly on the computer systems during registration).  This caused a shortage of ReaperBucks initially.  Which led to buying back ReaperBucks with raffle tickets.  Some people got some good deals on the exchange ratio before supply and demand evened out. 

 

Are there people gaming the system? You betcha.  Were there people that took a very hard stance and put Bryan in a corner? Yes.  Sadly, yes there were.  

I hope changes will happen before next year.  Specifically limiting the gamers from being able to out-earn people that take classes.  In the end, though, I was happy to contribute mine to someone on the forums that used them to get a gift for someone else on the forums.