Item name
- Value
- Opening bid
- Raise by at least
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Getting the most out of paper bid sheets
Set the minimum raise. Around 10 percent of the opening bid works for most items. Smaller steps make bidding drag; bigger ones scare people off.
Open at 30 to 40 percent of value. Starting too close to retail is the most common reason items get no bids at all.
Use bidder numbers, not names. Hand each guest a number at check-in. It keeps sheets readable and lets shy bidders join in.
Close tables in waves. Closing one section every ten minutes spreads out the crowd at checkout and gives a second push to each table.
Pen on a string. Tape a pen to every sheet. You will lose a third of them anyway.
When paper stops working
Paper is fine for a dozen items. Past that, someone spends the end of the night reading handwriting and adding up totals while guests wait in line. CharityAuctionDesk puts the same sheet on every guest’s phone, adds a max bid and a fair soft close, and has the checkout list ready the moment bidding ends. Free up to 25 items.