This FAQ covers:
- Time Frame
- Donating items for the auction
- Bidding
- Payment
- Shipping
- Donations
- Ways to help out
- How to get in touch
- Miscellaneous
AUCTION INTRODUCTION
Q: When does the auction start? When can I bid on items listed?
A: The auction officially opens, and bids will be accepted, starting at 12:00pm (noon) EST on Friday, March 9. The auction closes, and no more bids will be accepted, on Sunday night, March 18, at midnight PDT.
Q: I don't want to bid on anything. Can I just make a donation to Marlena?
A: Absolutely! We welcome any contribution you can make; no amount is too large or too small. To use Paypal, click on the orange "Donate" button in the upper right corner of this site. If you are unable or prefer not to use Paypal, you can send a check to "Marlena Willis" at Marlena Willis, P.O. Box 11211, Oakland, CA 94611.
Q: I'd like to donate a product or service for the auction. Can I still do that?
A: Yes, we are accepting new items now, before the auction begins. To learn details about how to donate products, goods, or services, visit this page. Once the auction has begun, the most helpful ways to support the fundraiser are to bid (bid, bid!) and to spread the word! We really need to get as many people here as possible. Thank you!
A: Yes, we are accepting new items now, before the auction begins. To learn details about how to donate products, goods, or services, visit this page. Once the auction has begun, the most helpful ways to support the fundraiser are to bid (bid, bid!) and to spread the word! We really need to get as many people here as possible. Thank you!
BIDDING
Q: How do I bid? How do I leave a comment? I want to bid, but I don't understand what to do.
A: If you aren't used to commenting on a blog or are not that familiar with Blogger or the internet, we have a document for you! Our "Commenting 101: Bidding for Newbies" document, will take you through the steps. Click here to read it. Then return to this page if you need additional info.
Q: I'm not experienced with auctions. How much should I bid? Do I always start with the minimum bid?
A: If you aren't used to commenting on a blog or are not that familiar with Blogger or the internet, we have a document for you! Our "Commenting 101: Bidding for Newbies" document, will take you through the steps. Click here to read it. Then return to this page if you need additional info.
Q: I'm not experienced with auctions. How much should I bid? Do I always start with the minimum bid?
A: We are asking people to bid what they can afford to help Marlena. This auction is about providing Marlena enough relief from financial burdens so that she has the breathing room to continue to offer NVC classes to people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. And you just happen to get a neat gift for that donation!
Also, we have not included the cost of shipping in the value of the items; this means that all tangible items are worth more than their listed retail value. We hope you will keep this in your mind and heart when deciding to bid.
So, start at the minimum if you need to, but consider going higher if you can. Also, remember to check for bids that have already been placed. You need to bid higher than previous bids to be in the running!
Also, we have not included the cost of shipping in the value of the items; this means that all tangible items are worth more than their listed retail value. We hope you will keep this in your mind and heart when deciding to bid.
So, start at the minimum if you need to, but consider going higher if you can. Also, remember to check for bids that have already been placed. You need to bid higher than previous bids to be in the running!
Q: How do I bid?
A: Put your bid in the comments section for the item you're interested in. The word "comment" appears underneath each item posting; click that, and it will take you to comments. Make sure to click on the "Subscribe by email" link underneath the comment box when you make a bid; this will alert you when someone else has bid on the same item(s) as you.
Q: How do I use the comment feature? What name do I register under? How do I give you my email address?
A: If you do not have a google or OpenID account, choose "Name/URL" or "Anonymous" as your way to bid.
Inside the comment form, write your name and your email address. To prevent spammers from harvesting your email address, we encourage you to post your bid like this:
Avery Givingman
Bid: $35
AveryGiving at gmail dot com
Q: I don't want my name and email address to be public. Can I skip it?
A: We need information to contact you if you win the auction. However, for the most anonymity possible that still allows us to reach you, you can just give your first name, and then, to protect your email address from spammers, we recommend publishing it like this: myemail [at] gmail [dot] com. If we (the auction organizers) know you personally, you can put a pseudonym in the comments and then email one of us to tell you it's you.
Q: If I donate an item or bid on an item, is my donation tax-deductible?
A: No, we are not a 501(c)3 organization. We are just a group of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses who love Marlena and are grateful for how she has improved our lives. We organized this auction as a way to help her through her current crisis. The only benefit you receive by donating is the joy or sense of contribution it brings you, and if you win an item you bid on, also a really neat product or service!
Q: If I donate an item or bid on an item, is my donation tax-deductible?
A: No, we are not a 501(c)3 organization. We are just a group of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses who love Marlena and are grateful for how she has improved our lives. We organized this auction as a way to help her through her current crisis. The only benefit you receive by donating is the joy or sense of contribution it brings you, and if you win an item you bid on, also a really neat product or service!
Q: I live outside the United States. Can I still bid?
A: Yes! On certain items. Each listing is tagged as "US only," "North America (Canada/US) only," "Worldwide/International," or "San Francisco/Bay area." We have even included a "Bidding by Location" feature in the upper left corner that will take you to the category you choose.
A few items -- services that can be provided either over the phone (internationally) or in person (in the Bay area) -- have both location tags. If you are in the US, please look at all the items, as -- with the exception of a few in-person services* -- everything is available to those anywhere in the US. (*All in-person services are in the Bay area, except for one in Chelmsford, Mass.)
Q: I put my bid in the comment section, and it didn't show up. What happened?
A: It will! As part of our commitment to disability access, we have eliminated the "captcha" function. This means we have to approve each comment/bid before it becomes visible if google doesn't recognize the commenter. Visit the site a little later (and hit your browser's refresh button), and your comment should be visible. If you are concerned that your bid has not appeared, please either email occupiehome@gmail.com or tweet @aftergadget.
Q: How do I know if someone has outbid me?
A: If you remembered to use the "Subscribe by email" feature when you bid, you'll get notices. Otherwise, please keep returning to the auction to check the bids and see if you need to bid again. :-)
Q: I'm not able to use Paypal. Can I still bid or donate?
A: Yes! Please see the question/answer two paragraphs down (under "Payment and Shipping").
PAYMENT AND SHIPPING
Q: When and how do I pay?
A: Within 48 hours of the auction closing, we will email you what you owe for the item(s) you won. If you have won more than one time, we will tally them and give you the total. At that time, please use the Paypal button on the upper right of this site to make payment. If you are unable to use Paypal, see info below about paying by check. We request that you make payment within 48 hours of notification that you've won.
Q: I'm not able to use Paypal. Can I still bid?
A: Yes. After the auction ends, if you win your item(s), you will need to send a personal check, bank check, or money order, ASAP, made out to Marlena Willis and mailed to Marlena Willis, P.O. Box 11211, Oakland, CA 94611. Please email us at occupiehome@gmail.com ASAP and tell us which day you mailed your check. Then we will have an idea of when to expect it. We will be happy to send you your item AFTER your check has been received. Thank you!
Q: I'm really busy. Is it OK if I just pay when I get around to it? I don't mind if it takes a while for me to get my item.
A: Sorry, but no. We really need Marlena to get this help ASAP, and we need to keep things simple for ourselves (there are just a few of us running this auction, and we are all chronically ill). If you win an auction and fail to pay or to make arrangements to pay within three (3) days of notification of winning, we will contact the next-highest bidder and tell them they have won the item instead. Thank you for your understanding.
Q: Do I have to pay for shipping?
A: No, the people who are donating the items are also very generously donating shipping costs (which we hope you will hold in your heart when you bid).
Q: When will my item be shipped?
A: It will be shipped within one week of the end of the auction, assuming you pay promptly. Delayed payment may result in delayed shipping.
Q: This is a gift. I need to get it fast. Can I get expedited shipping?
A: We regret that we cannot offer speedy shipping. Those who have donated items are also paying for shipping costs, therefore they may need to ship as inexpensively as possible (which may include parcel post or media mail). We also regret that we cannot accept additional payment for expedited shipping.
WAYS TO HELP & MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS
Q: What is NVC or Nonviolent Communication? Why is it important for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses to learn?
A: Please read About NVC and How Marlena & NVC Change Lives.
Q: I'm not really interested in bidding on anything, but I'd like to help Marlena. Is there another way I can do that?
A: Yes! Please use the Paypal button in the upper right of the page to make a donation directly to Marlena. No amount is too small or too large!
If you prefer, you can also send a check to Marlena Willis, P.O. Box 11211, Oakland, CA 94611. Thank you! Also, please see suggestions below of other ways you can help; we will be so grateful for any assistance you can provide.
Q: Some of these items are beyond my budget, but I'd still like to help. What to do?
A: Check out all the items (there are several pages). We tried to include items for a wide variety of budgets, including some items that are $4-$7. If you aren't able to make any financial contribution, we can definitely use your help in other ways! See below.
Spread the word! This is so important. If people don't come and bid/donate, the best auction in the world won't matter.
- In the days before and during the auction, please tell your family, friends, and coworkers about the auction. Let them know how much Marlena, her students, or the NVC community mean to you, and how much you'd appreciate them coming and bidding.
- Tweet about the auction in general and about specific items, too. If you can do this every day that the auction is up, that would be super! Follow @aftergadget and @Occupy_at_Home so you can retweet auction-related posts.
- Post status updates on Facebook about Marlena's Teaching Fund, the auction in general, and/or specific items, too. Again, if you can do this daily, that would be wonderful.
- Keep abreast of auction happenings by "liking" Marlena's Teaching Fund on Facebook.
- Write about it in your blog, and include links.
- Spread the word anywhere else you go -- chronic illness forums, social-networking sites, NVC practice groups, etc.
A: Thank you very much! If it's before the auction, definitely! Please see this page for details. If it's after the auction has started, we might be able to fit it in, depending on what it is (how complicated it is to post) and where we are in the auction. It will be easiest if you are able to provide a blurb describing the item, a picture of it (or related image), and other relevant information, such as the retail value. If possible, please post your image and information about the donated item on Marlena's Teaching Fund on Facebook. Otherwise, please email occupiehome@gmail.com or tweet @aftergadget. Thank you so much!
THANK YOU!
We truly appreciate your interest in the auction and in supporting Marlena. Thank you! We have come together out of love and appreciation for Marlena, and we share our love with you.
If you have any further questions not answered in this FAQ, please visit our Facebook page, or email us at occupiehome@gmail.com, or tweet @aftergadget.
Please keep in mind that we are all volunteers who are ill; while we will do our very best to get to questions and approve bids as quickly as possible, if glitches occur, we ask for your patience and understanding. Thank you!
