Club Auctions

At the conclusion of most ECAAC meetings, there is a small auction of items brought in by members.

Participation: Both active ECAAC members and visitors may purchase items at an ECAAC auction. However, only active ECAAC members may sell items. Anyone may donate items to the club for the auction (thank you!).

The following rules are not intended to be all-encompassing and may be changed prior to the start of the auction, in which case full notice of changes or exceptions will be communicated timeously on all the Club’s social media platforms

Seller Rules

1. Limit of 5 items per member
2. Print your name on every bag/container you bring, so we know who to credit the sale to, if your item has a reserve please state the value.
3. Label every item for auction, so the Auctioneer can easily identify what is in the bag. It is helpful to list the number of livestock/plants in the bag or container.
4. Please bring only healthy livestock or plants to the auction. Please attempt to keep plants algae-free, or clearly indicate on the bag if otherwise.
5. Equipment may be auctioned, but please only fully functioning equipment.
6. ECAAC takes 10% of every item sold, based on the final selling price. Should you wish to auction an item with the proceeds being donated in full to ECAAC, please write “ECAAC Donation” on the bag.
7. You may bring as many items as you wish to donate — the Auctioneer reserves the right to auction similar donated items simultaneously.
8. Bag/container etiquette: All fish should be placed in plastic containers (we would prefer that no plastic bags are used unless your packing/shipping competency has been approved prior to the auction). Jars and other containers are okay for small fish and shrimp. Small, lightweight plants can be placed in Ziplocs, but if the plant requires a bit of water to stay alive it needs to be in a tall fish bag.
9. All items submitted for auction should display in clearly written block text the following pieces of information wherever possible:

• the scientific name of the item, if known
• the common name of the item, if known
• quantity/sex/pairs/etc of item in bag
• Item reserve price
• any additional brief information

Large Fish: If you have an unusually large fish that needs to travel by bucket, make sure to bring along a heater and air stone to keep them alive during the meeting!

Dry goods: Equipment and other non-living items should also display the same information on masking tape or a label, and include such descriptions as; works, needs bulbs, etc. Dry goods are allowed at the auctions.

Reserves: If a member has a high-value item that they do not wish to sell below a minimum price, that information must be clearly indicated and marked on the item. The Auctioneer will start the bidding at that price. If bidding is accidentally started below the minimum price specified, it is the responsibility of the seller to bring the error to the attention of the Auctioneer prior to the item being sold.

Prohibited Items: If something is illegal or invasive, please do not bring it. If you are unsure, ask the Committee for help.

General/Bidder Rules:

1. All winning bids are final.
2. Only cash is accepted as payment unless otherwise arranged with the Treasurer/Secretary, prior to the auction.
3. Bids increase by R5 up until R100. At any time after that, a bidder may indicate any price higher than the previous bid.
4. Items to be auctioned will be inspected only during breaks and before the auction. Please do not attempt to inspect auction inventory while the bidding is in progress. It is permissible to come forward and inspect the item currently up for bid if there is any doubt as to the quality, health, or identification of an item on which you would like to bid.
5. Please consider bringing suitable containers if you think that you may be buying livestock at the auction.

Rules for Commercial Members:

• No posting or advertising of shop, shop photos or videos, or any other form of advertising. Neither can any reference be made to any items that the member’s business or shop has available or for sale. These can all be done in private outside of the Club Meeting. No exceptions will be tolerated.
• No reserve prices are allowed on any auction items entered by a commercial member. *(See below for explanation)
• Commercial Members will be afforded a time slot once every quarter at a Club Meeting to advertise their business.
• Advertising slots for Commercial Members’ business will be available to purchase in the club newsletter.

*Explanation: To guard against a shop owner or Commercial Member using the auction as a platform for commercial activities, it is ruled that no reserve prices will be allowed for any items placed on auction by a Commercial Member. Since there is no certain way of distinguishing between private or shop items/livestock, this is the only way to maintain the integrity of the auction as well as its fairness for our members.

We hope that these guidelines will give our membership a quicker and more enjoyable auction experience every month.