Auction Action for "Low Rollers"

[klarg1]

On 10/27/2017 at 4:38 PM, hungerfan said:

 

BUT it is not gambling if no money is involved.  :)  Doubt it would happen...just something I tossed out there a couple years ago when I realized I needed more RBs to do much at the auction.

 

True. Gambling for ReaperBucks is probably legal, since they have absolutely zero monetary value. Reaper might have it's own rules though.

 

Of course, I am not a gambling man.

[hungerfan]

Just now, klarg1 said:

Of course, I am not a gambling man.

 

Me either....umm..yeah...I just heard it was a fun thing to do and thought I would throw it out there. :)

[Reaperbryan]

We do not currently have rules on whether games of skill and chance among guests for Reaperbucks would be permitted.

 

Understand that gambling is illegal by statute in Texas, and we are not lawyers to be able to tell you whether or not this would constitute gambling.

 

We would prefer not to ever be investigated by the state commission responsible for gambling, and as such, would prefer that discussion of such activities that might cause them to look at us not happen here any further. Likewise, we would prefer that no such activities as those being discussed happen on the premises, or are discovered to have happened where it might be construed that Reaper had any part in them whatsoever. 

 

I do not want to hear or read any more about it.

[kristof65]

coming into this late (and understand that I haven't been to RCon since 2007), one way to help drain the supply of RBucks before the auction without stressing Heisler out or significantly changing things could be a silent auction.  

Take a handful of the auction items, preferably some of the larger duplicate and splittable items, and put them on display Friday or Saturday. Let people make their secret bids up until a couple hours before the regular auction starts, at which time a couple volunteers could sort out the bids. Then open up the regular auction with Heisler announcing the winners of the silent auctions. 

This will still allow the pooling and such that goes on, is much less difficult to coordinate than another auction, but would very likely drain a significant amount of the RBucks early on. 

[Mr Melons]

6 hours ago, kristof65 said:

coming into this late (and understand that I haven't been to RCon since 2007), one way to help drain the supply of RBucks before the auction without stressing Heisler out or significantly changing things could be a silent auction.  

Take a handful of the auction items, preferably some of the larger duplicate and splittable items, and put them on display Friday or Saturday. Let people make their secret bids up until a couple hours before the regular auction starts, at which time a couple volunteers could sort out the bids. Then open up the regular auction with Heisler announcing the winners of the silent auctions. 

This will still allow the pooling and such that goes on, is much less difficult to coordinate than another auction, but would very likely drain a significant amount of the RBucks early on. 

You would be surprised. They have a raffle where you can only buy tickets with Reaper Bucks and there still aren't that many takers (in comparison to those involved in the auction). It's not uncommon for some to put all their bucks into tickets, and still only get 1,2,3 or none items. And it's still just a drop in the hat to the number of bucks out on the auction floor. Not sure how much a silent auction, plus the raffle, will help honestly.

[kristof65]

29 minutes ago, Mr Melons said:

You would be surprised. They have a raffle where you can only buy tickets with Reaper Bucks and there still aren't that many takers (in comparison to those involved in the auction). It's not uncommon for some to put all their bucks into tickets, and still only get 1,2,3 or none items. And it's still just a drop in the hat to the number of bucks out on the auction floor. Not sure how much a silent auction, plus the raffle, will help honestly.

The difference may be that the raffle is a chance affair, where you "lose" your RBucks immediately, even if you don't win.   In a silent auction, OTOH, only the winner has to spend their RBucks. 

[Green Eyed Monster]

7 hours ago, kristof65 said:

coming into this late (and understand that I haven't been to RCon since 2007), one way to help drain the supply of RBucks before the auction without stressing Heisler out or significantly changing things could be a silent auction.  

Take a handful of the auction items, preferably some of the larger duplicate and splittable items, and put them on display Friday or Saturday. Let people make their secret bids up until a couple hours before the regular auction starts, at which time a couple volunteers could sort out the bids. Then open up the regular auction with Heisler announcing the winners of the silent auctions. 

This will still allow the pooling and such that goes on, is much less difficult to coordinate than another auction, but would very likely drain a significant amount of the RBucks early on. 

Within our Fraternal Order, the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, silent auctions are a popular fundraising tool at both State and International Level Conventions.

Note to Reaper Convention Organizers:  If you should consider this as a feature for the convention I would be happy to volunteer in any capacity where you feel my services would be of value.

GEM

[Heisler]

I would consider a silent auction in addition to the regular auction. The issue with silent auctions is the space required and that it will eat up one or two volunteers worth of time for security. I"m not sure what our space looks like at the new location yet, so probably not this year (2018) maybe something for next (2019).

[Green Eyed Monster]

On 2/21/2018 at 8:04 AM, Heisler said:

I would consider a silent auction in addition to the regular auction. The issue with silent auctions is the space required and that it will eat up one or two volunteers worth of time for security. I"m not sure what our space looks like at the new location yet, so probably not this year (2018) maybe something for next (2019).

Space can be as little as one table or as many as the number of items up for bid will fill.

For equipment all that is needed is a sign up sheet for bidding numbers, bidding sheet for each item, enough pencils/pens and clipboards or backing sheets for each bidding sheet to go on.

In our Fraternal Meetings it only takes one person to supervise the tables, make sure people have bid numbers, and open and close the auctions on time.

PM me if you need a volunteer.

GEM

[Bold]

On 2/21/2018 at 10:04 AM, Heisler said:

The issue with silent auctions is the space required and that it will eat up one or two volunteers worth of time for security.

 

They already place Reaper Auction items on several of the tables near the stage. The only change needed would be to designate one of the tables as the "silent auction" table and put a slip of paper under each item where people can write their bids. No additional space required, no additional security.

[Gadgetman!]

There's a big problem with a silent auction when using Reaperbucks.

You have a finite amount.

Lets ssy that Reaper have 5 items on the block, nd people hand in their bids...

You want items 1 and 3... and if not you and a buddy want to pool for item 5.

But if you put in a bid for item 1, you may not be able to also put in a bit for item 3 unless the bids are less than the number of Reaperbucks you have.

For that to work, the auctioneer would have to take bids between each item. That is a slow process that will dampen the mood. 

 

That said, is there any chance that I could exchange old Swag points to Reaperbucks if I happened to come to con one year?

 

[Mr Melons]

8 minutes ago, Gadgetman! said:

That said, is there any chance that I could exchange old Swag points to Reaperbucks if I happened to come to con one year?

 

Pretty sure it's been asked before and they usually say that the SWAG points are discontinued.

Edited February 25, 2018 by Mr Melons