Mudcat Auctions/Auction FAQ

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions/Auction FAQ
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 11:38 PM

Some people donate the entire amount to Mudcat, but Mudcat's minimum share is ten percent.
Usually, people set up the auction, and then post a message in the regular Forum to advertise the auction.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions/Auction FAQ
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 11:05 PM

They do, but we usually donate all or part of the proceeds to Mudcat. Is that what you had in mind?

SRS

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions/Auction FAQ
From: Songwronger
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 10:18 PM

I looked at the Auction. No items for sale.

We're clearing out some CDs we could sell here. Pretty standard fare, but desirable maybe if you don't have them.

So, do items sell here?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions / Auction FAQ
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 01:10 PM

Have added a little bit more to the FAQs, fwiw:

DONATING ITEMS TO THE MUDCAT AUCTION

Thank you for supporting The Mudcat Cafe by participating in the Mudcat Auction. We hope you will have fun with the bidding process! You might want to review some of the active Auction threads.

In all Mudcat auctions, all or some of the proceeds go directly to Mudcat (see "Mudcut" in the chart of active items [link]).


* How do I add an item to the auction?

Click on the Auction link in the menu bar at the top of the page. Then, click on the Add Item to Auction link and follow the instructions.


* How long should my auction last?
Most successful online auctions are 7-10 day auctions. You may choose a longer time period, but it's important to keep people's interest up.


* How much do I have to pay Mudcat?

The choice is yours. When you add your item, you can choose to share from 10% to 100% of the proceeds with the Mudcat.


* Who pays for shipping?

You should be clear in your initial auction posting as to what arrangements are acceptable for shipping and handling. Let folks know if they will have to pay extra for shipping or if the shipping costs will be covered by the final bid. Also, be sure to spell out if the shipping cost comes out of the profit before Mudcat gets its cut. Also, please keep in mind that Mudcat is an international community. Overseas shipping can be very expensive.


* How do I add a picture to my listing?

Be sure you have your picture saved on your computer in the jpeg format. And, remember where you saved it. After you have named your item, chosen the percentage paid to Mudcat after your item has sold, and chosen a closing date for your auction to end, click on Take Me To Describe It.

Click on "Browse" just to the right of "Image File." This will lead you to your computer files. Be sure to choose the right drive, then find your image file. Once you've clicked on it, click on "open" and that will take you back to your auction listing page, with the picture copied onto Mudcat. You will not see the actual picture until you finish your listing.


* How do I set a minimum bid? Do I have to bid on my own item in order to list it?

In your initial listing, the amount you enter in the "Opening Bid" box sets the minimum amount you will accept for your item. A good rule of thumb says "start low" as it tends to encourage bidding. Folks enjoy bidding up; if you start too high, it's just not as much fun!


* Where do I tell folks about my item? What should I include?

You may post as much information as you'd like in the posting box provided under "Create Initial Message for Thread."


* How can I find out if folks have questions about my item?

Just open your auction thread, anytime, to see who has posted a question and/or entered a bid.


* What happens at the end of my auction?

The winner and the seller should contact one another, by PM or email. They should make arrangements for the winner to send payment directly to the seller, to Mudcat, or both-- depending on the split of proceeds.

People often bid for an item they wish to give, as a gift, to someone else. Please be timely in sending the item to the winner, and please let the winner know what shipping method you have chosen so they can estimate how long it will take to arrive.


* I need help with the auction; who should I contact?
      
Post a "help thread" in the Help section of the Mudcat. Someone will answer your question.



BIDDING ON DONATED ITEMS
   
Thank you for supporting The Mudcat Cafe by participating in the Mudcat Auction. We hope you will have fun with the bidding process! You might want to review some of the active Auction threads. In all Mudcat auctions, all or some of the proceeds go directly to Mudcat.


*Who can bid?

The Mudcat Auction is only open to registered members of The Mudcat Cafe.


*What can I expect, if I win?

Everything is offered in "AS IS" condition. Your bid is primarily an offer to donate to the Mudcat, not a purchase. There are no guarantees as to quality, timely shipping, etc.


*How do I bid?

Each time you post in an Auction thread, please note the Bid: $ text-box, where you can enter or change the amount of your bid. You can also leave the box blank if you are only commenting. If you don't adjust the amount in the text box, your post will automatically include a new, higher bid than the last bid.


* If I win the Auction, how do I "pay" for the item I've won?
   
Contact the seller via PM to provide your mailing address, to arrange for how the item will be sent, and for details of payment percentages, etc.

You can send the "Mudcut" (percentage of the proceeds) through the PayPal link on this page. Or, you can go directly to PayPal and pay to [e-mail].

You may also send your donation to:
            The Mudcat Café
            PO Box 3006
            West Chester, PA 19381
            [phone]

Once your donation has been verified as received, the seller sends you the item as you and the seller have agreed via PM.


* I need help with the auction; whom should I contact?
      
Post a "help thread" in the Help section of the Mudcat. Someone will answer your question.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions / Auction FAQ
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 09:46 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 04:40 PM

Thanks, "Guest"...**BG**

Subject: Mudcat Auction FAQ
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 04:34 PM

FAQs for Mudcat Auction: (Kat is completely responsible for this content and any errors it may contain!**bg**)

• How do I add an item to the auction?
  Click on the Auction link in the menu bar at the top of the page. Then, click on the Add Item to Auction link and follow the instructions.
  
  
• How long should my auction last?
  A good rule of thumb is do what the experts do: most successful online auction places allow a 7 or 10 day auction. You may choose a longer time period, but it's important to keep peoples' interest up.
  
  
• How much do I have to pay Mudcat?
  The choice is yours. When you add your item, you can choose to share from 10% to 100% of the proceeds with the Mudcat.
  
  
• Who pays for shipping?
  You should be clear in your initial auction posting as to what arrangements are acceptable for shipping and handling. Let folks know if they will have to pay extra for shipping or if it is included in the final bid. Also, be sure to spell out if the shipping comes out of the profit before Mudcat gets its cut.
  
  
• How do I add a picture to my listing?
  Be sure you have your picture saved on your computer in the jpeg format. And, remember where you saved it. After you have named your item, chosen the percentage paid to Mudcat after your item has sold, and chosen a closing date for your auction to end, click on Take Me To Describe It.
  Click on "Browse" just to the right of "Image File." This will lead you to your computer files. Be sure to choose the right drive, then find your image file. Once you've clicked on it, click on "open" and that will take you back to your auction listing page, with the picture copied onto Mudcat. You will not see the actual picture until you finish your listing.
  
  
• Do I have to bid on my own item in order to list it?
  Yes, in your initial listing. The amount you enter in the "Opening Bid" box sets the minimum amount you will accept for your item. A good rule of thumb says "start low" as it tends to encourage bidding. Folks enjoy bidding up; if you start too high, it's just not as much fun!
  
  
• Where do I tell folks about my item?
  You may post as much information as you'd like in the posting box provided under "Create Initial Message for Thread."
  
  
• How can I find out if folks have questions about my item?
  Just open your auction thread, anytime, to see who has posted a question and/or entered a bid.
  
  
• What happens at the end of my auction?
  The buyer and seller should contact one another, by PM or email. They should make arrangements for the buyer to send payment directly to the seller or Mudcat, or both, depending on the split of proceeds.
  
  
• How do I pay for an auction item I've won?
  Contact the seller for their mailing address and details of payment percentages, etc. You may pay the Mudcat percentage of the proceeds through the PayPal link on this page or, go directly to PayPal and pay to [e-mail]. You may also send your payment to:
  The Mudcat Café
  PO Box 3006
  West Chester, PA 19381
  [phone]
• I need help with the auction; whom should I contact?
  Post a "help thread" in the Help section of the Mudcat. Someone will answer your question.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 04:31 PM

Is this it?

http://207.103.108.99/thread.cfm?threadid=42860&messages=13#524899

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 03:50 PM

Somewhere, somebody posted a Mudcat Auction FAQ that gave pretty good guidelines for using the auction. I had links to it in the general FAQ, but apparently the message numbers got scrambles in the crash and the link is no longer any good. Anybody know where to find that auction FAQ?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Dreaded Thumbpick
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 02:06 PM

Sinsull and also a response to Kat's earlier note.

The whole business of auctioning off my folk music stuff is pretty complicated for me. I know that some of the stuff has value. I also know that I would like it purchased by someone who will use it to learn from.

I may get a higher price on EBAY but I am less certain that the buyer will learn a song or two from it. So I have a dual purpose for listing it here. I want to get fair value, not necessarily the highest price I can get for it, and I want to at least have a reasonable assurance that the person who buys it is a folkie and will use it to carry on the music in some form or other.

Also the fees that I would wind up paying to EBAY goes to the Mudcat. I'm not going to pay EBAY and possibly PayPal fees and also give the Mudcat a percentage.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 11:46 AM

Thumbpick,
When I have some spare cash to donate to Mudcat, I often go to the auction to see what's there. If it is something I want/need I bid up to the amount I have to donate. Sometimes an item goes for much more than its "real" value. When I donate items for auction, 100% goes to Mudcat and I pay the postage. It is a charity not a profit center for most of us. If I were to be in the market for a specific item, I would go to eBay.
Most here are cash poor. I am currently unemployed so there is very little free cash. If you are looking to auction an item and make money, eBay is probably a better choice. BUT let us know if you have an interesting item on eBay. You may find your high bidder here.
SINS

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Bert
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 02:05 PM

Refresh.

Thanks Dreaded Thumbpick!

Subject: Mudcat Auctions - Sharp/Karpeles Book
From: Dreaded Thumbpick
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 01:50 PM

I've put up for auction a 1983 first U.S. edition of 80 Appalachian Folk Songs. For more info, click on auction at the top.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: GUEST,guy wolff
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 03:23 AM

Hello I am away from home so am a Guest tonight. The auction has worked very well I think. I sold a great banjo to someone wonderful and Max got a 10% cut . On the whole I have tried to put pots in to help the old cat along and everyone has been very generous with partisipating.CD's have gotten passed around as well (all at 100% to the cat) . With a little help this section of the Mudcat should be a very usefull tool to keep it healthy here. All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 01:02 AM

I think that generally, the Mudcat auction has been looked on as a charity auction, with the seller giving most or all of the proceeds to Mudcat, and the bidding sometimes going much higher than the actual value of the item.
Since there's the possibility of a much lower Mudcat percentage, our auction can also work for profit-making sales. I suppose there are only a few of us here who are serious collectors of recordings or songbooks. I do most my buying through bookfinder.com. I occasionally buy through eBay, but never seem to have much luck. As with an item Dreaded Thumbpick had at eBay, I really wanted it - but on the last day of the auction, I got busy and forgot to raise my bid. I would have paid more than it sold for.
I guess that generally I'd rather pay a fixed price. I want the books for usefulness, not investment value - so I usually take the cheapest copy I find at Bookfinder or half.com. If you want to send me a full list with suggested prices, I'll make you an offer for those I need. Right now, my "A-list" includes:

• Peacock's Songs of the Newfoundland Outports
• MacColl-Seeger Travellers' Songs From England and Scotland
• Eddy's Ballads and Songs From Ohio
• MacKenzie's Ballads and Sea Songs From Nova Scotia

I also have a weakness for Oak Publications songbooks, and I'm open to a wide variety of folk music books.

-Joe Offer-

---

A-list completed, although I have just the electronic version of Peacock and would take a print version is the price is right.
-Joe Offer, Feb 2007-

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 10:40 PM

I have a new book I've been meaning to auction. I'll go ahead and get the scan ready to send to Pene Azul. As mentioned above, the bulk of the proceeds will go to Mudcat. A little will go to the original donor of the book, because I want him to at least break even on the printing cost, so that will be the "reserve" price. And I'll pay the postage.

I've sold copies of books at Amazon, but I haven't fooled with Ebay. Amazon is pretty mixed up now, but Ebay is worse. Ask anyone in a library or a bookstore what "collectible" means or "first edition" means and it's pretty clear. But look at the listings online and they're a mess. No one follows the rules in listing their books any more. You're better off with the bookstores, even if they are more expensive. They at least have an idea of how to list their materials.

SRS

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 10:20 PM

Mr. Thumb-pick,

IF you are looking for (perhaps) the most wide-spred market-place of printed material....may I suggest:

http://www.abebooks.com

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Pay attention to HIGH/LOW defaults

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 10:07 PM

And if anybody has anything to put in it.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 07:58 PM

And, bids depend on whether someone wants it, and what the starting price is. Joe O collects song books.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 06:29 PM

Folkies are all cash poor, right?**bg**

Honestly, Mudcat cannot compete with the market numbers you will find at eBay. Most folks donate goods to be auctioned here simply to support Mudcat and quite often donate 100% of the winning bid. It's rather an altruistic auction, most of the time.

If you'd like to support Mudcat, why not sell for fair market value on eBay and send in a donation from that sale? Every little bit helps.

Hope this helps,

kat

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Dreaded Thumbpick
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 06:13 PM

I currently have a recording up for auction with 10% of the sale price, if it sells, designated for Mudcat. I got a question about the percentage since the actual dollar amount is likely to be relatively small. I'm posting my answer because I think it's important to understand that lots of small amounts can add up to a large amount.

"Here's what I view as the issue. I can put several hundred dollars worth of songbooks and recordings up here or on EBay. I'm not putting it here if there are no bidders. I can give 10% of the sales prices to Mudcat or pay roughly 10% in costs to EBay. Frankly I'd rather give it here but I'm not prepared to give the books and recordings away.

As far as whether the 10% is 10 cents or $10.00, whatever Mudcat gets I presume is better than nothing. I just auctioned off a song book for $150 on EBay. Would I rather the fees go to Mudcat? You bet. But I didn't put it up for Mudcat auction beacause it looks like nobody looks at stuff here. I put up th Guthrie/Houston recording as a kind of trial balloon.

For a collector, this is probably a pretty neat item but I don't know if there are any collectors here. The way to find out is to list stuff. I figure I'll find out."

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 03:04 PM

Mudcat auctions are to raise money for Mudcat through auctions of donated items.

Could someone handle auctions here, with a percentage going to Mudcat, of course? Joe might have some input.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Auctions
From: Bert
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 02:48 PM

It needs someone (Dreaded Thumbpick maybe) to help organize them and to drum up interest.

Max has more that enough to do keeping the site running.

Go for it Man!

Subject: Mudcat Auctions
From: Dreaded Thumbpick
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 01:53 PM

I'm curious about the Mudcat auctions. I've noticed that almost nothing goes up here. Is that because there's no interest?, no lookers? or folks go to EBay?

I've put some books and recordings up on EBay but, particularly with music books, I wonder if bidders there buy them to use or to resell. I always want to see songbooks used to learn songs/tunes from and I think that's more likely to happen here than elsewhere. On the other hand, I'd like to get fair value for them. Is that possible here? I also would think there would be an active auction market for in instruments but I haven't seen any here.

I think it would be nice if the website could just note under the Auctions link whether anything is being auctioned or not. Just a number would be OK.