How do I donate items for the auction?
Donations will follow a simple process: Send an email to our auction coordinator at mhay18@shaw.ca and let her know what you have to donate. In the body of the email and enclosed in quotes, write exactly how you want your item to be described (including whether you or the buyer are to pay shipping costs). It will be the quote-enclosed paragraphs that will be used on both the auction webpage and TheFreeAuction site. (But if you're not sure about how to write up the description, just let us know; we'll be glad to help you out!) Include pictures if possible and add them as an attachment to your email. Make sure you include your email addy and any applicable URL to your website.
How long will you accept donations?
Right up to the last day of the auction, though the earlier they can be listed on the auction webpage, the greater the chance bidders will discover it.
If I donate, what are my responsibilities?
If you're donating an item, make sure you include in your describing paragraphs whether you or the buyer will pay any applicable shipping. If shipping is involved, you need to ship it in a timely manner (suggested within 24 hours of receiving word from the coordinator that the buyer has paid – but many items are made to order, so we then suggest within two weeks after close of the auction). If shipping time is dependant on finishing an item, give the buyer an idea and stay in communication with them!
If you're writing a story, you need to complete it per the bargain you and your winner agreed to with the understanding that the minimum amount of time is 90 days following receipt of payment and there is NO maximum - writing is not something that can be controlled - we are at the mercy of our muses and anyone bidding on a story must be aware of that.
What type of stories/art work is acceptable?
Any and all fandoms are welcome--and encouraged-- in the auction. However, all creative works posted should be of gen themes. Any negotiation for slash themed works will have to be handled privately between the contributor and winning bidder after auction close. Again, all posted works will be of a gen theme, so please do not bid assuming that you can get slash stories or art after the fact, as not all contributors will create items of this nature.
If I am a bidder, what are my responsibilities?
To bid responsibly, have fun, pay on time, and win win win. Also, in order to bid, you do have to register at the auction site, but it's simple. To make sure everything is ready, you should probably go ahead and register before the auction begins. Just go to www.thefreeauction.com and click the 'register' link. You'll get a password from the site and be ready to go.
If I am the high bidder, what are my responsibilities?
To pay before Tuesday, November 20, 2007. DO NOT attempt to communicate with the individual who donated the item - I will connect the two of you once I receive proof of payment. If you are paying by check or money order, please mail payment immediately so that it reaches us within seven days of auction close.
If I win, how do I pay?
We prefer that you use PayPal and will have a link here at the website for your use. Those contributions are made to the following address: donations@starforbrian.com
Please be sure to include the item number in the comments section, as well as your auction screenname so that we may list the winners with their items on our website. (If you'd prefer not to be recognized as a winner, please make sure you put that in the comments, too.)
If you're paying by check or money order, please make it out to:
Cheri deFonteny, Treasurer, STAR for Brian
Again, make sure you include the auction item number(s)with your payment.
The check/money order should be sent to:
STAR for Brian
PO Box 720901
Norman, OK 73070
When does the auction begin/end?
Barring any problems, it will begin on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 (with the first items showing up around 8am but some could show up late on the 3rd) and will end two weeks later on November 17th, 2007, with items closing throughout the day.
Please remember that we will be entering items throughout the day on Saturday and from all over the world, so we're not responsible for the exact time the first or last item will be entered. After the first day of the auction, all items donated from that point on will be entered as quickly as possible after receipt.
What are Special Donations?
Special Donations are auction items that will not be offered through thefreeauction site, but directly through our website here. The reason for that is because they will not follow the normal 'highest bidder wins' formula. Physical items listed as Special Donations will have a fixed price for purchase, usually lower than the minimum $15 bid on the actual auction site. However, this is also the place where we'll list such things as story challenges or story previews. For instance, if an author has written a piece that won't be made available to the general public for a while, they might choose to offer it as an exclusive 'preview' to anyone who makes a pre-determined donation amount. Likewise, if there is a reader who has a story challenge to issue, they might offer a pre-determined donation amount for anyone who will take up the challenge and write the story. This is a category that has some real potential for fun!
However, even though these items will not be listed on thefreeauction.com, as with all of the other auction items, they will not be available for purchase until the auction officially begins on November 3rd.
How do I bid?
Once there, you'll be able to follow their instructions for bidding. You will be required to register, so do it now. That will make it easier later.
We will also have a few specialty items being offered via eBay. Those items will be clearly labeled on this site, and item numbers will be listed with their description after the auction begins.
How will I collect if I win?
The winner and the item contributor will be notified in the same email. From that point on, you two take care of business. If you've won a story, it's up to you and the author to negotiate.
If I win a story, is it mine forever?
Sorry, no. But it is yours for thirty (30) days. After that, it reverts back to the author and she/he may do with it as they will (and hopefully they'll post it for all of us!)
If I offer a story or a songvid, how long do I have to complete it and give it to the winner?
You have a minimum of 90 days to finish it. Again, that's a MINIMUM. From there, you and your 'owner' need to negotiate and more importantly, KEEP IN TOUCH with the winner! If RL interferes, let your winner know. Keep the lines of communication OPEN.
If there is a piece of artwork that I think sounds good, how can I view it before bidding?
For any items that include a photograph, it will be posted on the auction web page along with the item description.
Where will I find our listings at the site?
All of the STAR listings can be found under: Miscellaneous - "General".
How will I know I'm bidding on something for STAR?
Each item received will be given a number (first item to be received would have the number 1 and so forth) which will follow the letters "SFB" (STAR for Brian). The letter/s that follow the number will tell you what kind of item it is. This will be based on our categories as we load the website.
We will have the following categories on our website:
Memorabilia = M, Gift Items = G, Homemade Crafts = H, Songvids = V, Art = A, Stories = S, Potpourri = P, Special Donations = D, and Celebrity Donations = CD.
Example: If your item is the fifth item received and it's a story, it would be given the following designation: SFB#5S, which means: STAR for Brian, Item #5, a story. Make sense?
Also, on the auction site, there will be a short description of the item with the assigned SFB item code. Items are linked to individual pages that will give the full description as it appears on our website. That page also contains information pertaining to the bidding process. (Bids can be placed in one dollar increments, or bidders can enter their maximum bid, and thefreeauction will automatically increase bids as necessary until that maximum is reached.)
We are suggesting that creators be very specific about what they're offering if offering a "Winner's Choice" story or songvid. It's also wise to add a caveat along the lines of: 'Author reserves the right to veto any idea', or 'Creator reserves the right to veto any song that cannot be found online.' If you can, try to have a completed story or songvid, as this takes the pressure off of you, the creator. *grin* We also want to remind all who bid on stories or songvids that, unlike concrete items, this type of creation isn't something that just happens. Muses are fickle beings and real life often steps in to interfere with a writer's ability to write or vid creators chance to create. So be patient, and KEEP COMMUNICATING!
If you have a question that hasn't been answered, please drop a line to our coordinator at mhay18@shaw.ca
Please enjoy the site now, and start planning on your Donations! Brian brought a lot of pleasure to a lot of people, and this is our chance to honor his work and his memory. And thank you all for participating.
