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What would you do? A sticky situation


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Most of you know that I got "volunteered" to make a donation quilt for our Relay for Life. This was a couple of weeks ago. I have been working on it every night after work and on weekends.  When I got to work this morning there was a large wallquilt hanging in the office with the other relay for life silent auction items.  I was told they bought it at a gift shop and put it in the silent auction.  It is definitely commercially made, fabric strips with satin stitch edges and a center applique which is also satin stitched in place. 

They have a starting bid of $100 on this quilt.

 

  The one I have made is smaller, but much more intricate. It is also completely pieced (which took forever) and has dense multicolored quilting.  I am sort of miffed that they got into a hurry and did not wait for the one I am making. 

 

Part of me wants to just keep it and let them auction the one they have; but I did commit to doing it and it is almost done.  I had planned to put a $100 opening bid on the one I made, but it is much smaller than the one there, so I think it will be looked at as being greedy or something if I start the bidding at $100. 

 

I'm not sure what to do.  Do I take the one I made and put the $100 bid on it?  Do I keep it and just let them use teh one they bought, since they got in a big hurry?  Do I take mine and start the bid at $25 or $50?

 

What would you do in this situation.

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Most people go to those types of events with a certain dollar amount in their mind they will spend before they get there. I would put the minimum bid of $100 just as you have planned. Your handmade beauty will certainly outshine the other quilt. Remember why you made the quilt and the good cause and forget the rest! God Bless you, Teresa!

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$100, no less. Get people figuring out the deltas, maybe they'll get educated on aspects of quality and workmanship. I love the discussions I get into about items in silent auctions, there are always people willing to share knowledge and point out value. It's a great opportunity for learning and sharing. And advertising your business!

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I would NEVER put a low price on this beauty of yours.  Someone will end of buying it for that.  It should be obvious to people that your quilt is well worth the price.  If it doesn't sell, keep it for next year and talk them into selling chances on it.  My friend made a quilt for cancer last year and they were going to put it into an auction and said they'd be satisfied with $200.  So she sold tickets herself and made $2,487.   And, yes, I'd be tempted to say, "I wish you had told me you were going to buy a quilt, I've spend 50 hours making one so far and could've used the time on my own work."

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The organizers are clueless about quilts and are only looking for pretty things to raise the most $$$ for the charity. Knowing about quilt values and the time/talent spent on hand-crafted items, you are justified to be frustrated and a bit hurt. Be proud of your efforts and put a reasonable dollar amount on it for a starting bid. More than $100 if you want, since we all know it's worth much more. As Lisa stated, most attendees have an amount they are ready to spend to support the charity and they'll be thrilled to be able to bid on your donation. Please let us know what it goes for.

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I have gone to a few charity auctions, but not to get a "good deal". I go to to 4-H Livestock Auctions to buy an animal that was well cared for and to support the kids who raise them. Before selling animals in one category the auctioneer announces the "floor price". Anything paid above that amount can be used as a charity deduction on our taxes.

As with a quilt, it's nice to look at it and notice the quality before bidding. One year I went through the barns and picked out the animals I wanted to bid on. I was at $1.75 per pound on a nice lamb, with no one bidding against me. It weighted about 125 pounds and I knew the kid needed more just to pay for the initial cost of the animal and the feed, so I tried to bid myself up. The auctioneer stopped the auction and explained to me that I had the highest bid, but he was asking if there was anyone who wanted to bid $2.00. I explained to him that $1.75 isn't enough for that lamb. The people behind me laughed. The auctioneer accepted my $2.00 bid, a few others joined in and I think I purchased the lamb for $2.50 a pound. Later I found out the people behind me were the family of the kid selling the lamb.

Once I bought a quilt for "more than it was worth" according to one of the ladies who had helped make it. I could have paid twice as much and felt good about it. I purchased a treasure! I believe in the charity the quilt was made for and the ladies who made it are some very special quilters. Nearly 10 years later, I still treasure that quilt and the quilters who made it.

Teresa, I wouldn't hesitate to put a higher starting bid on your quilt. I would also put some information about you, the designer, the piecer and the quilter. Maybe even something about what you quilted it on. It's okay to educate about who you are and the quality of the quilt. Your quilt is much more than just some coordinating scraps of fabric sewn together. It was made by an award winning quilter and those bidding should know what they are really getting.

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I agree with the ladies...don't sell yourself short.  I definitely would put a sign on the quilt stating it was an original, hand crafted by local artist and then list the starting bid at $100.  There are alot of people interested in purchasing an original piece of art.

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I would use a higher starting bid to set your quilt apart from the other.  When people see the different prices, they will take a closer look at the two quilts and hopefully begin to understand the difference.  If the starting bids are the same then people will assume that the values of the 2 quilts are the same as well.    Ditto on the suggestions to post information about the original design, hand-crafted, etc.

 

Carol

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Teresa, when I first read your post I said, "What are you thinking putting a starting price of ONLY $100 on your quilt." $100 probably doesn't even cover the cost of your fabric and thread. Your design time and talents are worth something and this charity needs to benefit from your generosity. I agree with the others that you need to let the organizers know the value of your quilt and that you will put a higher starting price on it - at least $200 in my estimation - and a sign explaining what goes into making a "one-of-a-kind" hand-crafted quilt. I don't think you are greedy. You know what this quilt is worth.

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UPDATE- The quilt has been hanging this week and has gotten NO bids (except Quilt Guy here).  However, one lady did call the school and ask if they'd accept a $20 opening bid, even though it is clearly marked with $100 opening bid.

 

Maybe that explains why I can' t get quilt customers.  People are too ignorant to understand quality and hard work!

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