Procedures for Mammoth Fundraiser February 18-19, 2023
The Annual Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt Mammoth Auction & Sale will be held on Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19, 2023 at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., in Oakland, California.
This is the official appeal for materials for the auction of quality bonsai on Saturday, and the sale of bonsai, pre-bonsai and related items on Sunday. Items may be donated or submitted on consignment.
Bonsai for the Auction will need to be submitted by January 7, 2023. Material for the Sunday Sale will be accepted at the Garden Center on Saturday, February 18, from 9am – 4pm and Sunday, February 19, between 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Consignment items for the Saturday Auction will have a 30% charge and for the Sunday Sale will have a 25% charge. Full donations are appreciated and tax-deductible.
If you wish to place a reserve price on your item in the Auction, you will be charged a restocking fee of 15% of that reserve if the item does not sell.
POINTS OF CONTACT
Contact Bob Gould at 925-935-1914 or [email protected] for more auction information.
Contact Mike Mello, 510-886-1568 or Dennis Hawkins, 510-657-8229, [email protected] for more sale information.
Contact George Haas at 707-762-9154 or [email protected] for all other information.
AUCTION BIDDER PROCEDURES
Participation in the auction will require that upon arrival on Saturday, you register and purchase a catalog for $5, which includes your Bidders Card that you will need to make bids and record your purchases. The catalog illustrates all of the items that will be auctioned, including a description of the physical characteristics of all material.
A successful bidder will receive an auction item number sticker on his/her Bidder’s Card by an auction official for each item purchased. Each bidder is encouraged to record on their Bidder’s Card the purchase amount and item number.
Each auction item has its own Auction Item Card displayed. The Auction Item Card will have the catalog number of the item, description, and indicate whether or not it has a reserve price (the reserve price amount will not be shown).
The auctioneer will determine the opening bid. Raises above the opening bid will be in approximately 10% increments. For instance, an item with a minimum bid of $250 will be raised in increments of $25. If the reserve price for the item is not reached the item will be removed from the auction.
An auction official will record the bidder number and purchase price on the Auction Item Card, which will be brought by an auction official directly to the cashiers. After check out and payment the Auction Item Cards will be retained by Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt for its records.
A bidder may exit the auction at any time when his/her bidding is complete. Bring your Bidder’s Card to the cashier handling your bidder number. You may pay by credit card, check or cash. The cashier will have the Auction Item Card(s) for each item you have purchased. This can be cross-checked with your record of purchased items on your Bidder’s Card. If any dispute arises during the auction, it shall be reviewed by the auction chairs and their resolution will be final. Item(s) may be removed from the display tables when the purchaser is ready to leave the auction room and has his/her receipt stamped PAID. For purposes of security, this stamped paid receipt will be checked at the exit door.
PROCEDURES FOR PRE-REGISTERING ITEMS FOR AUCTION
Contact the Bob Gould to offer an item for Auction. You are encouraged to submit your bonsai for consideration to be included in the Mammoth Auction as soon as possible. The deadline is January 7, 2023. Items will be considered on a first-come-first-considered basis. Auction items are limited to approximately 115 items.
Please deliver all materials for the auction to the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt no later than 10:00 a.m., January 7. This will allow photography of item and printing of the Auction Catalog. In addition, your item will be published and advertised online for potential bidders to view. Any item received after this date may be accepted, but will not receive the advertisement in the catalog and on the internet.
Due to limited volunteer time, PLEASE GROOM YOUR BONSAI AS YOU WOULD FOR A SHOW.
Complete the Auction Seller Form and submit it with your auction items. Do NOT write in gray shaded columns.
Auction Seller Form can be obtained at the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt.
For each item on the Auction Seller Form, complete the Description, Reserve Price (if applicable) and check either the 100% DONATION column or the 30% DONATION column. Each item will be given an ID Number upon receipt of the material. This form will serve as the record of your submissions and final sales amount.
Provide a self-addressed and stamped envelope. Checks will be mailed as soon as possible after the auction.
SUNDAY CONSIGNMENT OR DONATION SALE PROCEDURES
Delivery of items, completing the Sale Donation or Consignment Form and tagging of consignment or donation material is: Saturday, February 18, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, February 19, 2023, between 8 and 9 a.m. Items will not be accepted beyond these times.
Please bring material to the Ebell Room of the Lakeside Park Garden Center. The Chair reserves the right to reject any item that may be infested or not healthy. Please bring items on Saturday rather than Sunday.
Fill out a Sale Donation or Consignment Form and bring it to the sale. We will give you tags to put on your sale items when you deliver them. You are responsible for pricing your items. Please set prices only in dollar amounts (no cents). You may change prices during the sale but remember to update your change in price on the price tag. Please complete the form and tagging by printing legibly and using a ballpoint pen.
Anyone wishing to pre-register bonsai material earlier than Saturday will need to make arrangements as to storage ability by contacting Chairpersons: Mike Mello 510-886-1568 or Dennis Hawkins [email protected].
If consigning your item(s), 25% charge is the required donation to the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. However, your donation of the entire amount of the sale would be greatly appreciated and your registration will be your record for tax purposes. Your form will be updated at the conclusion of the sale to show your total sales, net proceeds and donation amount.
Provide a self-addressed and stamped envelope. Checks will be mailed as soon as possible after the sale.
Sales Form and Price Tags can be obtained at the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. Do NOT write in gray shaded columns.
IMPORTANT: If you have unsold items, you may wish to donate them to the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. If you don’t wish to donate them, they must be removed by 3 p.m., Sunday. Material that is not picked up by 3 p.m. will be considered a donation.