The First Ever Auction to support "The Greatest Forum"

[Paschale]

Well, it doesn't take too long for people to figure out that this is The Greatest Forum on the web, as Deadwood's discovered himself in such a short period of time.   8)  We all love this place, and some of us have been brewing up a fun way to find a way to help support it and make sure it stays put on the web.  We have to thank the sponsors for all the help they provide for the forum.   8)  But...it takes more than that, and basically, this place is a labor of love of Jeff.  All of the rest of the support for this comes out of his pocket, and it ain't cheap!

So...this is what we're going to do.  We're going to have an auction starting on December 1, so mark your calendars!  Several of the members are either making or donating some items to be auctioned off on Ebay, and all of the proceeds will go directly to helping to defray the costs of running this place.  A few of the items will be auctioned off solely in the Forestry Forum, for items that we want to keep "in house," or perhaps items that might not fly on Ebay...such as some homemade maple syrup.   ;D  It should be A LOT of fun, since a lot of these items will be handmade by some of the members we chat with on a day to day basis here on the Forum.  And even one of our sponsors has thrown something really cool into the mix.

We'll unveil the items a little after Thanksgiving, and then on December 1, the gavel will drop!  It should be tons of fun, and it's a way we can do our part to help support the Forestry Forum, and get something cool in return!

In the meantime, any of you that are so inclined...have you noticed that little white button to the left of this very post, just below the list of sponsors?  Well, that's where you can become a sponsor too.  Click on the "Support Your Forestry Forum."  That's a way to give a little something with a Paypal donation, and a way we can share the load. 

Bring on the AUCTION!   8)

[oakiemac]

Good idea. I would be willing to donate some things like turning blocks if you need any more items.

[brdmkr]

Sounds like fun.  I'll be thinking about items to contribute.

[sawwood]

I have a few bowls i can add to the auction. Just add them to the list.
i will even pay for the shipping my self. Can't waite for the fun to begin.

Sawwood

[BW_Williams]

Great idea,  I would like to donate a "guided" hunting trip in WA for 2006, with me as the guide, but not being a professional guide it wouldn't fly on Ebay.  The winner would choose the game and purchase the tags, any takers?  BWW

[Part_Timer]

I'll see if kate has a pen/pencile set to donate

[Coon]

So what time do the auctions start on  December 1/ 05?  At this point in time I do not have anything to donate as an auction item but I will be there to join in the fun and possibly do some bidding.

Is there going to be another date set for auctioning items off in the future?  Say a Christmas auction???

[Jeff]

This auction is planned at this time so the timing should be good for Christmas. You will need an ebay account to bid and the bidding will be open several days for each item. THe idea is that they (auctions) close and there is time to make payments and have the doners ship to the winning bidder in time for Christmas.

[Jeff]

Somebody better tell frank to get ready. I plan on putting up one of my two exploding splitting wedges for the auction. You may never ever find another unused splitting wedge like these available again.  ;D

[Furby]

Ya mean I gotta go up against Frank on that one ???
DanG !!! :-\

[asy]

I'd be happy to donate a couple of photos for the auction...  If anyone thinks they're worth donating.

'tis all I have.

Photos do sell on ebay.

Another thought is, on one of the other forums I hang out on (www.wetcanvas.com) which is an artist's forum, they have a voluntary donation thing, whereby people can paypal donations to them and get a little badge on their profile. $10 gets bronze, $25 gets silver, $50 gets gold, etc. That way people can donate IF they wish, or are able, and it makes it easy for them...   Just a thought...

asy :D

[Jeff]

Another thought is, on one of the other forums I hang out on (www.wetcanvas.com) which is an artist's forum, they have a voluntary donation thing, whereby people can paypal donations to them and get a little badge on their profile. $10 gets bronze, $25 gets silver, $50 gets gold, etc. That way people can donate IF they wish, or are able, and it makes it easy for them...   Just a thought...

asy :D

Asy, look to your left under the sponsors. ;)

Did you know I used to paint back in the day? I've got paintings as far away as England. In fact, the very first website I built was because of the paintings. There is still remnants of that site that I keep for a good chuckle now and then. the address is https://forestryforum.com/jeff  you have to have java to view much of it. the link right to some of the paintings is this:
https://forestryforum.com/jeff/photo.htm

I might throw a painting in the mix if Tammy will give me one. She took the unsold ones away from me to keep me from getting rid of them. :D

[Frank_Pender]

Furby, I hope your pouch is full. ;D

[Furby]

I don't have deep pockets like you do Frank.......... but I do live closer and can head off the shipping guy if needed. ;) ;D

[Jeff]

Furby, I hope your pouch is full. ;D

:D   Pouch, thats a good one.  So Furbies are in the Kangaroo family!

[asy]

Did you know I used to paint back in the day? I've got paintings as far away as England.

Crikey!!  you are SERIOUSLY GOOD!

Get those brushes out!

Look forward to seeing some new work!

asy :D

[Mike_P.]

Rust Reaper will contribute.  Perhaps, a gallon with a sprayer, also some water base cleaner/degreaser?  What do you think?

Mike

[Paschale]

Rust Reaper will contribute.  Perhaps, a gallon with a sprayer, also some water base cleaner/degreaser?  What do you think?

Mike

Sounds great, Mike--whatever you'd like to give is more than welcome.  And thanks for your sponsorship of the forum too!

[crtreedude]

I have a couple of ideas for auction.

1. I will scrounge some of the wierdest wood I can find down here is send it back with someone in sizeable box - exotic tropical wood sampler. It is sure to contain very interesting stuff for a wood worker. All labeled and identified. I'll handle the shipping to anywhere in the USA.

2. There is a really excellent book here on the Timber Trees of Costa Rica - I might donate one. FDH has two if I remember. It gives lots of information (and pretty pictures) about 55 of the trees most commonly used for timber here.

[beenthere]

Do woods from CR have to go through any 'inspections' before shipping, or in customs, or upon 'arrival' ?

How does that work?  or doesn't it  :

Maybe we just 'fight fires' after the fact. EAB is one that comes to mind, as of recent. The Dutch and the Asians get credit for others.
I'm just curious.

[crtreedude]

Usually the whole thing is fumagated - but you don't generally have much concern. Tropical pest don't do too well up there.

They lack long underwear...  :D

[beenthere]

Do the FDH get 'fumgated' when he wants to come home?  :D

[crtreedude]

 :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[Deadwood]

How can I say what I did the other day and not donate something? Well my personal beliefs and business ethics say I can't. I build custom wooden models of such things as skidders, tractors, trucks and the like, I will leave the link here to some of the stuff I build, but not as an advertisement, but to let you guys be thinking about what you want for a model. I will gladly donate a custom wooden model of whatever the winning bidder wants, or of an Old Steam Driven Lombard Log Hauler, complete with case and everything.

That is the least I can do. If this donation is not adequate, please let me know. I certainly do not want to donate something nobody is interested in.

http://www.railroadmachinist.com/Wood_Models.html

[Jeff]

Travis, no one should feel that they need to donate. No one. Its not required in anyway by anyone and I would not want anyone of our members to feel that way.

[Patty]

Deadwood, your stuff is WAY cool! I love the crane!  8)

I am always amazed at the talent I see on this forum. 

[Deadwood]

Hey Jeff, if I am taking you right here, you are trying to let everyone know that donations are not required. If that is what you are saying then great, but if I gave you the impression I felt I HAVE to donate then you are mistaken my friend.

I feel compelled to donate because I enjoy forums, but this forum has been the best fit for me. I used to spend a lot of time on a woodworking forum, but I would have a tendency to post stuff about forestry right along with woodworking stuff. They did not like that. So far you seem to allow both the raw forest products and the finalized products. If that is indeed true then I have indeed found a new home.

As for the Lombard Log Hauler. Well building models to me is like art, and while it sounds kind of funny, I build them for the challenge. If someone would like to have a custom wooden model of the Log Hauler or a custom one altogether, then I would be proud to make them one. If the money can benefit the forestry forum, then so much the better.

I joined my local fire department, because I firmly believe in giving back to the community. It matters little if the community is a true entity like Thorndike Maine or an online entity like the Forestry Forum. I am a firm believer in giving back.

[beenthere]

I can see this auction is going to cost me some money. If Deadwood puts that Lombard Log Hauler in there, I'm bidding (as long as I don't get the boss upset  ).

I have two Alaska yellow cedar burls that I will donate. Given to me by a logger/feller on Wrangell Island, AK and I have only 'saved' them.
Do I take pics and send them in (to who), or to Ebay?  Will get the pics and then find out those details later.

(This auction action may get me back to working up some walnut bowls that I used to make, and then I can donate a few of those).

[Sunfield Hardwood]

Hey BW- Williams, what are the options for your hunt,whats your specialty?. I'm an avid bowhunter and would be interested in about anything, elk,deer,bear, mt lion etc, 8)

[BW_Williams]

SH, I'm a bowhunter also, elk, deer, bear and cougar are open at the same times with an early hunt in Sept and a late one the last part of November.  I usually don't hunt the early hunt as fire season isn't over most years!  I just went out to the truck and got the regs, you may want to be sitting down as the big game combo non-res tags run $722.70 for 2005   maybe I'll find something else to auction!  BWW

[Paschale]

Thanks to all of you who are interested in the auction, both from a donating side of things, as well as interest in the actual auction.  It should be a ton of fun.   8)

To help understand the process, I'll post a list of steps that Charlie put together for those who are donating.  For those who are donating, this is what Jeff will need to make things happen:

                Step 1: Take a very good picture (or pictures) of the donated item.
                Step 2: Write a colorful description of the donated item, include
                             the shipping cost (the shipping cost you'll have to figure
                             out).
               Step 3:  E-mail the picture and description to Jeff with a
                            Subject of "Donation for Auction"
               Step 4:  When Item sells and money is received through Paypal
                             Jeff will send you the buyer's name and address.
               Step 5:  Immediately package and ship the donated article to
                            the buyer.
               Step 6:  The buyer will include the cost of shipping in his
                            payment to the Forestry Forum Paypal account on Ebay. 
                            Jeff will mail you a check from that amount to cover the shipping.

It's really pretty important that the shipping side of things happens right away.  As we all know, reputation is very important on Ebay.  Those of us donating hold a unique responsibility in helping to preserve the reputation of the Forestry Forum, but I know everyone donating will follow through.  It just has to be said...   

It's gonna be fun!   8)

[Radar67]

I've got a step to suggest, after the item is shipped, notify Jeff so he can notify the buyer that item was shipped.

Stew

[Paschale]

Good idea, stew!

Step 7.  Notify Jeff that the item's on the way, so he can notify the buyer.      ;D

[beenthere]

Step 2 Shipping cost included?  How do the 'donators'  know that cost if we don't know to where it will be shipped?

Seems shipping should be just an estimate of the weight, and the buyer can estimate what the shipping cost might be. If there is an estimate of any extra packaging cost and insurance cost, due to being delicate or difficult to ship, then that could be mentioned.

Jeff:  Are you game to 'play this game' ? Seems like a bit of extra work for your team, but it also sounds like fun.

[Patty]

Been there, if you go to UPS.com they have a shipping calculator to determine cost. Since you are in the midwest, just figure your cost to either coast, then you can rest assured you will be covered no matter where you end up shipping the item. Be sure to estimate not only the weight of your item, but also the dimensions. The figures that UPS gives you are pretty close. You can always add a couple bucks on to give yourself some wiggle room.

[CHARLIE]

I just sent a picture and description of my auction donation to Jeff.  Here are some things I thought of as I did it.

In the description, I used as many different words as I could think of so if someone was doing a search, this item would get a hit.  I used words like: gift, Christmas, holiday, birthday, special occasion, wood, ornament, person, special, etc, etc.

I know my shipping charges in the U.S. to be $3.85, so I asked that if the item had to be shipped out of the U.S., the buyer contact me for actual shipping charges.

I sell the item I'm donating for $20 each, so I asked that the RESERVE be set for $20.  For the time and effort I put into making it, I'd hate to see it go for less than that.  I also asked that the BUY NOW price be set at $30.  My thought there was that if I set the BUY NOW at $20, it would inhibit the bidding from going over $20.

These are just some of my thoughts I wanted to share.  It's the first time I've sold anything on E-Bay.

[CHARLIE]

I'm just bringing this thread back to the first page.  I think it's too important to allow it to slide to page two.  Some people that decide to make something to donate might need the time to do it before the Auction get's started. So I think this thread should remain visable.  I wonder if there is a way to "LOCK" it onto the first page. :

[Jeff]

Larry called me this week to offer any help I may need. He recommended that I down load Turbo lister which I went ahead an did. This way, as I get the auction materials, I can add them to turbo lister and the auction will be all set to go when we are ready. I can add each item to the program and save it. When we are ready to start the auctions, I can tell it which items to start with and it will upload them and get things started.

[CHARLIE]

That sounds like a great management tool that will ease the organizing and make things a lot simpler.

[Patty]

So it would help you to have us contact you with our stuff to donate this far ahead of opening day?

[Jeff]

Yes, as soon as you have the information  ready you can send it to me. The sooner I get stuff the easier it will be, that way I can space the work.

[CHARLIE]

I have a thought........  There are some members that are well versed on E-Bay and know how to write a description to the product that would not only catch searches but will entice someone to place a bid.

There are some members that are fantastic craftsmen but have never used E-Bay and could use some help or advice writing a description for their product.

I wonder if some members with the experience of selling on E-Bay might want to volunteer to be available in case another member needs help.  You could just list yourself on this thread as willing to help someone.  Then it would be up to them to contact you.

Just a thought :P

[asy]

I wonder if some members with the experience of selling on E-Bay might want to volunteer to be available in case another member needs help.  You could just list yourself on this thread as willing to help someone.  Then it would be up to them to contact you.

Just a thought :P

I'd be happy to help anyone who needs it to write their blurb.

feel free to PM me through the forum if'n I can be of any help.

asy :D

[mometal77]

Gifts reminds me of my ex gf during her Christmas with her family.  After every one was done with after unwrapping gifts.  Everyone brought one or four presents and we played bingo for them you didnt know what you where getting.  Some items you cannot put on ebay.  Good idea thought.  I have seen some auctions on ebay where people get there buddy to increase the price.  One time i was the higher bidder for a plasma cutter and the other guy backed out one of those price wars down to the last 5 min of the auction  :D.  One way to get what you want i am sure any ebayer knows the game.  But he backed out and the owner contacted me if i wanted to buy it and i go how come you just dont drop back down to his original price before he bid.  One thing about ebay.  I am not saying it will happen here just a good story and advice for future bidders.  Anyone will buy anything and i agree you have to catch the eye of someone a key word that gets used every day by people.  I bought an engineering book for 25 bucks and got it in the mail said 1.50 on the inside lol still a great book if you own a hydro electric plant lot of useful formulas on water flow.
bobby

[SwampDonkey]

I bought an engineering book for 25 bucks and got it in the mail said 1.50 on the inside :D still a great book if you own a hydro electric plant lot of useful formulas on water flow.
bobby

Wow some of us Foresters on here have some forestry texts with $50 and $100 prices or more stamped on the cover page. Just think guys of the profits. $$ :D

[mometal77]

i think for some books out there it is worth a used book.  I think books made in the 30s 40s 50s 60s are great books and carry a lot more information than some that are printed today and cost about 80-130 for a normal college text book.  Different tools and some have older books have bigger pics of equipment and the way things where done but the knowledge i believe is still the same.  Math i believe will never change.  Society will and the knowledge at which it is kept.  I think in the next 50 years will be so much different than it is today.  Kinda scares the hell out of me.
bobby

I bought an engineering book for 25 bucks and got it in the mail said 1.50 on the inside :D still a great book if you own a hydro electric plant lot of useful formulas on water flow.
bobby

Wow some of us Foresters on here have some forestry texts with $50 and $100 prices or more stamped on the cover page. Just think guys of the profits. $$ :D

[SwampDonkey]

i think for some books out there it is worth a used book.  I think books made in the 30s 40s 50s 60s are great books and carry a lot more information than some that are printed today and cost about 80-130 for a normal college text book. 

On what would you base that assumption? ;D I have a number of texts from the 80 and 90's that are considered 'the bible', by some, in their subject matter.

For instance:

'Biostatical Analysis' by Jerrold Zar http://www.bios.niu.edu/zar/zar.html

'Textbook of Wood Technology'

and if you want sketches and photos on almost every other page , open up  'Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation' by Lillesand and Kieffer.

;D ;D ;D ;D

[Jeff]

AUCTION THREAD

[isawlogs]

 Jeff , As soon as I am done with this deer hunting thing ...    I will read all of this and get in touch , I am sure that I can come up with a few things ..   Some of those writing twigs that you know of come to mind .

[Vermonter]

I've sold lots of weird, heavy, and oddball stuff on ebay, so I'd be happy to help anyone with listings.  My username is amyrickvermont.
Jeff; if you are going to list them (and I think that is the best idea because it can drive web traffic to the forum, and buyers can search "other items for sale"), would it be easier if I just shipped a donation directly to you?
Last time I sold something, the "buy it now" disappeared as soon as the price hit the reserve.  You can also skip listing a reserve by using a higher starting bid, but I've found a reserve will increase the sale price.  It seems like lots of buyers read categories from lowest to highest price.
It might also help out Jeff with the listings if you go to ebay and find an item similar to what you want to donate, and copy the category for him.
On another, related note, I used the donate link yesterday for the first time.  For those of you who haven't, think about what you pay for magazine, newspaper and television, and compare that with the value of the information on this Forum.

[Jeff]

Yep, thanks for that Andy. We really do appreciatte it.

A note on the Auctions, we have decided to wait and have them in the dead of winter (on this side of the world that is)  when there is historically more people on line and folks have more time for the internet.