Auction Frequently Asked Questions
Jason Lamoreaux, a professional licensed auctioneer with Washington-based Stokes Auction Group, will be our host for the live auction segment this evening. Jason’s auction experience began early, when his family owned and operated an auction business that serviced agricultural-based clients throughout the Midwest. The Belding, Michigan resident conducted his first charity benefit auction when he was only 15, and attended the Missouri Auction School while in high school. For more than 15 years, he has conducted hundreds of auctions throughout the United States. He is a member of the National Auctioneers Association.
Stokes Auction Group is based in Edgewood, Washington. The company specializes in fundraising auctions for charitable causes throughout the United States, including public and private schools, boys and girls clubs, hospitals, musical groups, and a host of other organizations. Stokes has several lead auctioneers. All are full-time, licensed and bonded professional auctioneers who have graduated from auction college and have at least 10 years of auction experience. The firm also has a support staff of additional auctioneers and auction coordinators.
AUCTION RULES
1). The Live Auction will begin at approximately 8:30pm.
2). The Silent and Super Silent Auction will close at 7:30pm.
3). You may skip ahead to the bid amount you want to pay. The next bidder must bid higher than you to be successful.
4). Each item has a “Guaranteed Bid” option at the bottom of its bid sheet. Guaranteed bid means you are willing to pay a premium price to guarantee you will own that item. Simply write your bid number by the predetermined sale price to close the item to further bidding. If you use this option, you automatically own the item!
5). All winning bids are final. There will be no exchange or refund on items unless otherwise specified.
6). Please make payments in full this evening. We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
7). All items must be taken home the evening of May 1st. You may pick up your item by exhibiting a paid receipt at the item pick-up door at the time of departure, beginning at 9:45pm.
8). Please carefully check envelopes containing gift certificates before leaving. JDRF is not responsible for replacing gift certificates lost after you leave the event. JDRF is under no obligation to extend, modify or change items or restrictions on items/certificates.
9). Please pay careful attention to all conditions, restrictions, and expirations dates on items and services. Unless otherwise stated, gift certificates exclude alcohol, tax and gratuity. Unless otherwise noted, all auction items and services must be used within one year of May 1, 2010. We appreciate your strict observance of these restrictions, as future donations depend upon it.
10). Dates for all trips and similar events must be mutually arranged with donor, unless otherwise noted. All reservations should be made at least one month in advance. All tickets in travel packages are for coach travel, unless otherwise specified. No refunds are permitted for canceled, lost, or unused tickets and/or accommodations.
11). Airline blackout dates apply to all tickets, regardless of airline, unless specifically noted. Blackout dates are subject to change. Tickets cannot be reissued or refunded.
12). All completed sales from this event are considered transactions solely between the purchaser and the donor of the auction item.
13). All gift card usage is the responsibility of the buyer. Although the gift card and amount is currently valid, JDRF cannot be held responsible for unused gift cards at businesses that may cease to operate before the expiration date.
14). JDRF has endeavored to catalogue and describe the auction items correctly, but all items are sold “as is.” No statements contained in the program or made orally at the sale or elsewhere shall be deemed a warranty, representation or assumption of liability. Bidders should carefully note the specific restrictions, conditions, and expiration dates for items purchased.
15). JDRF reserves the right to withdraw any item from sale.
16). Items depicted in the slide presentation are for illustration purposes and may not be actual auction items.
EXPRESS PAY
1). For your convenience, you may register for Express Pay when you arrive at the Gala. This will speed up your checkout at the end of the evening.
2). Simply present your credit card (for an imprint) to an Express Pay volunteer.
3). Bypass the bank lines and go directly to Item Pick-Up located just outside of the Hilton Ballroom.
Note: For tax purposes, the value of the meal, including beverages, is estimated to be $85.00 per person. When buying auction items, all contributions in excess of the fair market value of the item are tax deductible as a gift to a charitable organization. The members of JDRF encourage all attendees, donors and contributors to consult the appropriate IRS Revenue Ruling 67-246 and their tax consultant.
