| Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC | | | | scheduled due to any number of personal conflicts. |
| I have written about how dining at the Chef's Table | | | | I can't blame the winning bidders. I myself have been |
| can be a popular live or silent fundraising auction item | | | | close to pulling similar stunts. More than one gift card |
| to sell and a relatively easy item to procure. If you're | | | | has been forgotten in my wallet, only to be found |
| already asking for a donation, why not see if the chef | | | | months later while searching for my insurance card. An |
| has a table in the kitchen and ask if *that* could be the | | | | Ethiopian dinner which I purchased at a silent auction |
| special table for your winning bidders? | | | | was redeemed days ... nay, HOURS ... before it |
| A while back on Twitter, I caught a link to the Chicago | | | | expired. And I won't even write about the clothes in |
| Business Journal. Shia Kapos wrote on this very | | | | my closet which might still have a price tag hanging |
| subject. "Chef dinners on the charity auction block: a | | | | from the sleeve. |
| behind-the-scenes look" (link listed below) visits with | | | | The auction method encourages bidding and buying, |
| some local chefs about their popular donations and the | | | | but it doesn't force you to consume (i.e. take the trip, |
| redemption process. | | | | eat the dinner, wear the clothes). |
| Most interesting to me was that the article confirmed | | | | Although I don't advocate it as an acquisition strategy |
| one of my own observations: Many of a charity | | | | and wouldn't suggest mentioning during your |
| auction's winning top bidders never redeem the item. | | | | procurement pitch, it is tempting to mention to a |
| One of the chef's in the article estimated that more | | | | prospective donor that, "in addition to all these great |
| than 50% of his donations are never used. Did you | | | | reasons as to why you should make this donation, |
| catch that? More than half of his donated dinners are | | | | there's a good chance your outstanding gift of service |
| never consumed. | | | | will never be used." |
| I've noticed this with other items, too. As I work with | | | | That becomes a triple win for the donor: 1) Feel good |
| clients, inevitably we'll talk about the top-selling charity | | | | about making a donation. 2) Enjoy a tax deduction. 3) |
| auction items from the previous year. "How did that | | | | Never be troubled with someone wanting to fulfill on |
| couple enjoy the trip to Mexico?" I'll ask. | | | | your promise! |
| "They never took it," my contact will reply, "They | | | | I wonder what percentage of items in a charity auction |
| became too consumed with the planning of their | | | | are never redeemed? |
| daughter's wedding." | | | | Individual donors of items (like our chef) would know |
| I hear this more often than you might think. A wine | | | | their individual record, but it's unlikely that even the |
| tasting excursion in Napa never used because work | | | | charity would know this figure because their |
| gets in the way of a couple's vacation. The | | | | involvement ends once the certificate or item has |
| Mediterranean cruise - for which a couple fought | | | | been delivered to the winning bidder. |
| fiercely in the charity auction - is never taken. Gift | | | | So, bid high, take it home, and just fuhgeddaboutit. |
| cards which are misplaced. Dinners which are never | | | | |