What is a Quarter Auction?
A quarter auction is part raffle, part auction, part fundraiser and also a direct sales party.
It works a bit like bingo. When you arrive, you can choose a numbered paddle or two, for a donation. This paddle will have a corresponding numbered chip which will be put into the drawing basket. Usually, before the auction begins, you'll be able to purchase additional paddles, for an additional donation, if you wish.
The direct sales vendors will have items up for "auction". These items will be on display for about an hour after the doors open - you can see what will be up for auction and decide which items you're interested in bidding on. Once the auction begins, the announcer or one of the helpers will hold up the item that's up for bid and will announce the price of the bid. Bids range from 1-4 quarters depending on the retail value of the auction item.
If you're interested in bidding, you'll put quarters (whatever amount was announced) for EACH paddle you intend to bid with. So if you have two paddles and want to bid with both to double your chances, and the item is a "one quarter" bid, you'll put .50 in the bucket and raise your paddle(s). If you have two paddles and decide to only bid with one, you only pay .25 BUT you MUST choose only one numbered paddle to bid with. A worker will be walking from table to table with a bucket to collect bids. The announcer will then draw a number to find a winner. If they draw your number and you had bid on the item, hooray! You just won an awesome item at a great price!
If they draw your number and you did NOT bid, just call out "not in play!" and they'll continue to draw numbers until they find a winner. There may be various raffles and cash and carry items available through the evening - the announcer and workers will help explain how those work. Be sure to bring quarters, but if you forget or run out, there will be rolls of quarters available for purchase at the event.
If it all sounds complicated, relax. Everything will be explained again once you get to the auction, and you'll catch on in no time and you'll love it!