1. Sellers:
a. MUST obtain a Seller number from the auction Chairman BY EMAIL at auction@missouriaquariumsociety.com – they will be issued in the order received starting at midnight 3 weeks before the auction date for MASI members, 2 weeks before the auction for non-members up to a limit of 500 items
b. MUST register the number of items they are bringing (within 1 or 2 items) in the above email
c. If the seller has to cancel, he/she is asked to let the auction chair know in time so another seller can be accommodated
d. There will be NO registrations at the door
e. Each Seller may sell up to 16 items – items 1 – 12 are regular auction items; items 12 – 16 are Silent Auction item. Item 12 may be used by the seller as a Silent Auction Item.
f. Free Move-up: Each seller’s number 1 item will automatically be their free move up item. These will be sold beginning at noon.
g. Get there early. Check-in lines are short between 9 and 10 AM. Sellers MUST be done checking all items with the Auction Committee before 10:45 AM. Once checked in, an item cannot be removed from the auction without the permission of the Auction Chair. Anyone removing an item without such permission will forfeit all auction proceeds and will be barred from selling at any future auction.
h. Any items checked after 10:45 AM will be sold at the end of the auction and may not be moved up. Items arriving after 11:00 AM will be rejected unless approved by the auction chairman
i. Payments to sellers can be sent to your Paypal account if you enter your email address on the Auction Sheet, or it will be made by check usually mailed within 7 days of close of auction.
j. Submitting items for sale in the MASI auction signifies seller’s agreement to abide by these rules
2. Items:
a. The auction is limited to the first 500 items registered by email at the address above, not including donations
b. Items must be aquarium hobby or pond related and should be packaged in an appealing way – bag it as if you would be purchasing it! Single young fish or tiny portions of plants are strongly discouraged.
c. All items must have a LABEL with a CLEARLY PRINTED seller number, item number, and clear, accurate description of the item (common/species name, quantity, sex, etc.) – no abbreviations!
d. Random hybrids are discouraged. All hybrids must be clearly labeled as such.
e. The split is 80/20 for sellers; $1 items are full donations to MASI; Items bringing no bids will be disposed at the discretion of the auction chairman
f. No more than three (3) items of the same type/species/color morph may be sold (i.e. 3 bags of marble angels, 3 of silvers, 3 golds, etc.)
g. No sick, deformed or Missouri native species may be sold
h. No Styrofoam boxes of any size may be sold or will be accepted as donations
i. No Crayfish of any species may be sold (Missouri State Law)
j. Fish must be properly and humanely bagged in NEW poly bags, breather bags, jars (plastic recommended) or buckets – 2/3 air, 1/3 water. Any not properly bagged will be rejected. If they are rebagged properly, they will be sold at the end of the auction and may not be moved up. Bags will be available for sale. Seller is responsible for rebagging their own fish. Double bagging is strongly encouraged. NO zipper bags allowed for fish.
k. All equipment must be CLEAN and in working order. Leakers must be marked. NO cracked tanks.
l. Minimum bids are only allowed on Silent Auction items 13 – 16. If the item does not sell in the Silent Auction, the minimum will be voided and the item sold through the regular auction unless other arrangements are made with Auction Chair prior to Silent Auction start.
m. All items MUST be tabled at least 15 minutes prior to auction start. Viewing begins 90 minutes prior to auction start. Items arriving after auction start will be rejected.
3. General:
a. The auction committee reserves the right to reject any item or any person from the auction
b. Move-ups – any item may be called to auction by donating $3 to MASI beginning at noon. The item will be sold as soon as possible. Anyone may use this option for any item save Silent Auction, late or rebagged items. After 3:00, the price for move ups goes to $2
c. Shilling is not allowed. A seller may place a single bid on their own item by announcing with the bid that "I'll buy it back"; but they may not secretly bid on their own items nor may they employ someone to run up the prices on their items. Anyone caught doing so will forfeit all proceeds from the sale of all of their items and will be banned from selling at future auctions.
d. MASI, the auction committee, and the auction site shall not be held liable for any accidents, injuries, damages, or losses which occur during the course of the auction
e. All Sales are “As is, where is”
f. All sales are final. No cancellations/refunds after auctioneer says “Sold”, even for DOAs
g. These rules are not meant to be all-inclusive; the auction chairman shall be the FINAL authority
h. Accepting a Bidder number signifies Bidder’s agreement with these rules.
Accepting a Bidder number signifies Bidder’s agreement with these rules.