Hey Mystical Family I thought I would take some time out to talk about Auction and Auction Etiquette!
There are different kinds of auction places. Drop auctions have a sign up board that you click to get your place in line, then when it's your turn you drop your breedable on the panel. You usually need the auction land group to join it and rez.
Panel auctions have actual podiums to place your offers on, sometimes with a small fee. They usually require sellers to rez their breedables a certain amount of time before the auction starts. This can give attendees time to see what is available but also let's the auctioneer know you will be there so they wont have an empty panel. Unforeseen things can happen but it is the polite thing to do to let them know if you can't make it These also need land group to join and rez.
To start, let's talk about timing. Try to arrive a few minutes before the auction begins; it's not because your name is down on the list you should come late. Remember, your fellows are trying to sell their Dragons too, and any of them could be offering just the one you need. The same applies to leaving right after your panel. It's not just inelegant but disrespectful to the auctioneer and the audience. Again, others are there for the same reason you are. Give them the same chance they gave you.
Now a sensible subject is pricing. Don't offer the same trait someone else tried to sell before you for half the price they were asking. That is not a smart move and will not make others see you as a great dealer. The effect is the opposite. They will see you as a market crasher and will avoid buying your stuff in the long term. Also, don't be ashamed if you don't know how much to ask for your items; ask your auctioneer before the auction starts; they are incredibly involved with market prices and are the best to help you.
Lets talk about someone puts up a dragon for 3k and you know that the market value is 6k, what do you do? Well you have options, you can say something in local chat but be respectful. You can message the auctioneer, or even the seller and respectfully let them know. Sometimes well a lot of times pricing errors occur because of misinformation. DO NOT be hateful in local chat disrupting the auction and hurting someones feelings does no good!
Remember we all want to the same thing to sell our dragons for top dollar!
And at last, tipping. Don't forget to tip your auctioneer after you sell something. Auctioneers work only for tips. They try hard to sell every offer in an auction. Recognizing their effort to sell your stuff is fair and elegant, so tip 10% every time you sell something. Sometimes even if you don't sell, and if you notice a special treatment to your panel, it's a good practice to tip the auctioneer. Any small tip is appreciated auctioneers are giving up their fun time to help to sell your stuff.
Do's and Don'ts
Don't rez more than 2 on a panel unless they are a set
Don't offer sick animals
Don't sell way below market value
Don't leave as soon as your panel or drop turn is over (this is not fair to other sellers)
Don't show up near the end of the auction just to join the fishbowl that some offer
Don't contact others in private trying to get them to sell you something cheaper
Don't send group invites or talk about your auction unless you have cleared it with the auctioneer
Do's
Invite all your breeding Friends
Bring something that you would think others would buy
Pay attention at the auction, there maybe something going on you want to know about
Observe all sim rules in place at the auction you are at
Have a good time, a good auction is one with patrons engaged
Be open to changing your start if you are undervalue
Ask questions if you there is something you do not understand
Auctions can be a lot of fun so find the right one for you, there are lots of them out there you can pick morning or night, panel or drop, lots of options so if you go to one you dont like just try another! I hope this helps some of you!
Make today Mystical!
