What would you bid on at a silent auction?

[fryjack2]

Photo sessions.

I bid on 2 packages for family ones at the boys' school auction and didn't get either one

We did win a week at a house on the water on the Cape.

We have a lot of very high end items/experiences to bid on but that's because that's the school demographic.

What about:

-dog grooming sessions?
- professional carpet cleaning?
-a 6 month supply of high end pet food?
-new crate/fish tank/leashes/dog sweaters,etc.

Not pet related:
-home cooked meal delivered to your door
-a gift card to a furniture store--replace that couch the cat has scratched
-gift card to an outdoor clothing store--buy some warm gloves for dog walks in the winter


Good luck!
-

[snipsnsnails]

Last time, I bid (multiple times) on a discounted dumpster rental for a yard/home clean-up! I thought it was awesome and it was discounted by like a hundred dollars at least. Somebody always needs a roll off dumpster for some sort of project!

[snipsnsnails]

Oh, another popular one, was a coordinated scavenger hunt for 7-10 people across Manhattan, but you can do any place close to you.

Another good one was a girls' night out for 10 women. Transportation via a party bus was provided, then they went to a catered dinner and played bunco. It was mainly like a bachelorette party without the bachelorette. Ha.

[medicmommy]

The Sheriff's Office that I worked at offered a day to train with the deputies. A local author bid on it to use as research. I think it did pretty well and was something different.

[atlas]

Sept 17, 2015 8:58:58 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

My most favorite thing that I ever bid on was free garbage service for a year. I was so excited when I won

Only in Portland Hah.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

I thought of another thing to try. If you have casinos in your area, they have huge rooms filled with prizes that they give away. I didn't know this as I don't gamble, but if you reach out to them, they are usually willing to donate unclaimed prizes. It is insane the stuff they have there.

[noradog]

The last one I went to I bid on and won a share/membership to our local CSA ffor the summer season. That was awesome. I also got a weekend of boarding for my dog.

[jinkies]

I agree with others that it would be best to put together unique experiences. Maybe a "behind the scenes" tour of someplace interesting but normally closed to the public-- like a sports stadium, or local news room (and meet the on air personalities), or private dinner with a prominent chef.

I live in day-trip distance to NYC.

Some of the biggest silent auction items I've seen at events were things that were free but hard to get, like tickets to a taping of Jon Stewart or David Letterman. My friend and I once paid good money for (technically free) VIP tickets to a Maury Povitz show taping.

[karmasabiotch]

We just got a donation for a helicopter ride for 3 for our silent auction next week.

I'm knee deep in auction hell right now.

[balletofangels]

Our big fundraiser is primarily raffle baskets put together by teachers and classes. We do not have "big ticket" items like many of you, but we do get various sports camps at our local university. One dad had been trying to win basketball camp for his daughter since Kindergarten and finally got it last year in Fifth Grade!

[gault]

If it's the humane society, a gift card to a reputable boarder/pet day care business.

[Deleted]

Things I would bid on:
Pro sports tickets
Salon/spa/nail certificates
Lawn/yard/grass service (my house always needs help)
Housekeeping service
Movie tickets

My mom used to make a lot raffling Chiefs tickets (especially when single game tickets were hard to get)

[miso]

Sept 17, 2015 8:06:45 GMT -5 Elsa said:

I've also seen people bid lots on puppies, but don't do this.

All I can think of is this:

[imojoebunny]

The big sellers at our school auction are things you can't get otherwise, Some of the more successful items: Tickets to an event, with the perk of meeting someone special, like a pro golfer or a singer, one winner was being in the studio during a live broadcast with a local radio personality, golf at a private club you can't go to otherwise, spending the day with a brewer at a local micro brew (including drinks, and a tasting you could invite friends to in the afternoon), cooking classes with local chefs, private wine tasting with a wine rep in someone's home. We auction our vacation house, which isn't on a rental program. That is popular because few dates are blocked, so can be used at peak times or with short notice, when other stuff is expensive, and it is close enough people are sure to be able to use it for a long weekend. Also things people know they will use, gift cards to everywhere from the local gas station to grocery store. These always go for full price. The losers are baskets of items, they cost more to put together than people will bid generally, since few people want all the things.