These are all such interesting answers. I'm enjoying reading them. I agree very much with what Pretty says, especially the part about spending a lot on drool rags as an auctioneer (I have learned that one quickly haha!).
Takari: I'm sorry no one welcomed you to the auction you went to. I know most of us love seeing new people at auctions! To answer your question about "program & etiquette", usually, people greet each other and chat in text as they arrive to the auction. The auctioneer is usually on voice to auction off the kitties. While the auction is going on, people will sometimes talk in text in chat to respond to conversation struck up by the auctioneer, but for the most part they are just listening and paying attention to what the auctioneer is saying about the kitty. The auctioneer will announce a start bid on the kitty they are auctioning and you type your bid in chat in 100L increments. The auctioneer will eventually count down the cat and someone will win. The seller then sets the box for sale for the winning bid price, and the buyer purchases it, and the standard "tip" of 10% is usual for the seller to tip the auctioneer. You need to make sure you are prepared to purchase a kitty if you bid on it. It is frowned upon to back out of a bid and is even considered a ban worthy offense for many auctions. Usually auctioneers ask that people avoid putting a duplicate fur of someone who has already set up their panel, unless it is the opposite sex. It is generally considered polite to stay for the entire auction, though people understand that sometimes circumstances arise. Auctioneers will then reset their panels or their wait lists for people who are interested in selling a kitty the following week. And in a nutshell, that's the program
Hi Minx! I do think a lot of auctioneers will send random TPs because a lot of their patrons appreciate them. People forget the auctions/lose track of time etc. However, I believe letting an auctioneer know up front that you do not want random TPs is very reasonable, and if they're unable to promise that, simply don't friend them
I hope you'll give auctions another try sometime!
Ivy: Yes, Yes and Yes!
Alassariah: I've been there with the older hardware, it certainly makes things difficult.
Winter: Exactly how I feel about them!
Pretty: Like I said above, I AGREE!
Oselkhandro: Hi! That is a tough question, as a lot of times it simply depends on if there's a buyer for what you're selling. Many times people will just shop for a certain eye or certain tail where the other traits just fit with the project they're working on. Other times, people collect a certain trait, some people like to chase the most recessive things, while others are looking for new traits. If you have worked hard on a line to bring out "pure" traits in your kitties...those are highly sought after cats. Great breeding is much appreciated in the auction arena. Most auctioneers are more than happy to take a look at kitties you're thinking about auctioning and help you pick one. A great way to learn what sells is to attend auctions. I think you'd be surprised that many kitties with older traits, as long as they are bred well, sell great. I do give people a little outline of what *I* consider an auction worthy cat, but others will have different opinions. These are some suggestions I give people with the same question at my auctions, but they are only suggestions.
Suggestions:
Example 1: Solidly bred and useful. A cat that holds dominant or mid level traits but has been bred carefully can be very useful.
Example 2: At least 7T with at least one or two "hot traits". These "hot traits" are usually something fairly recessive, but could be a newer trait that's more dominant.
Example 3: The kitty, regardless of the number of traits, shows or is a proven hider of a new, highly sought after trait.
Example 4: It's so purrrrrrrty! Or it's so Big or Small! Everyone loves matchy matchy, well-traited kitties or well-traited special sized kitties. While some kitties, such as Megas and teacups, don't always have to be as well-traited as normal sized cats to sell, they should still have something desirable (see above) about them.