(08-22-2015 09:34 AM)Ivy Norsk Wrote: I think the problem is that we don't have enough buyers. The auction community has gotten insular - and I don't think that's through any fault of the auction communities. But you know, we often see the same people at many of the auctions. And many of us buy cats when we attend; if you know me, you know that I do. But it does get to be a round-robin of buy one, sell one. And there's nothing wrong with that either, because we all make each others' Catteries stronger. But for a very healthy auction scene there needs to be more buyers than sellers.
This is happening in other breedable communities as well. I'm too new to know whether it will improve after the summer or not.
(08-22-2015 09:34 AM)Ivy Norsk Wrote: And the forum, alas, is I think not going to work for that purpose really. ...
One problem I think is that a lot of breeders think that they're not Ready for auctions and find them intimidating. (I know I tell Marissa every week that I don't have a cat that's good enough.)
I think you've hit the nail on the head here. I'm just going to be direct: I have gone before to see what is hot, but, there is a feeling that auctions are very elitist, and only for breeders who are breeding the latest and most expensive traits. And that the cats will all be ones that go for thousands of lindens. I don't have a 9T loaded with Onyx eyes, Scotty Fold ears, etc... and don't really intend to breed them any time soon, so I don't usually see a need to go unless it a big community/charity event like this.
A personal example: I just found Double Plush whiskers in a line, and have been thinking of popping in to see if they are even a "thing" now. But mine are on low T cats with a Genesis fur that I was intentionally NOT traiting up so I'd feel okay selling them as affordable pets. I know the trait has been out for months so I feel that they wouldn't be "good enough" to bring to auction, and that I'd be judged as not being a good breeder unless I traited them up first... and that by then, they won't be special enough.
The other things that keep me from going is... well...
Stuff like I'm automatically someone's (fake) friend and part of their posse if I go to their auctions.
Ummmm... NO.
There is one auctioneer in all of the breedables communities where I am active that I think of as a friend, and it's because of things like crying on her shoulder when someone very close to me on SL attempted suicide in RL. I try support her, but still only make it to her auctions when it works for me.
Or that I have to be in a particular person's group to find out about really special events like this.
Umm... cliquish, much?
Along those same lines, I find sending me unsolicited TPs just plain rude, and if you send them after being told not to, it's harassment. I'm an adult and can read about (hopefully here or if I am actively looking for info on upcoming events - like most people, I turn off the announcements and IMs from the Secondary Market SIM groups that get a lot of spam) and attend the events that I'm interested in.
So the last thing I want is someone thinking that because I've gone to one of their auctions that they can start spamming me. I haven't turned off TP requests because I go to other events at some SIMs that have central TP points, so will ASK someone to TP me directly. I think Firestorm now has the option for turning it off for non-friends, and if so, I'll be doing that.
And there is that subject of community support and communication too. I was sitting in someone else's auction when the Lovecraft/Autcom auction started, and the auctioneer was really pissed. People were sending her TPs, and I understand her being upset about that.. even more so while she was working. But then she was also complaining the entire time about the auction going up against her (weekly) one. I almost picked my stuff up (I had a panel) and left.
If I'd been her, and I'd known in advance, I would have rescheduled my auction, or at least worked with everyone, to find a better time for everyone - not just to show support for a really good cause, but because it decreases the attendees for both events - but I don't know if she did know in advance.
I know there's an auction calendar somewhere and people are working together to not run over each other. I doubt it includes the multibreedable auctions though, and I often find them running over events that are dedicated to only one kind of breedable, but including every type of breedable wouldn't work either.
As I look back on it, I didn't know about the Autcom auction either until just before the event.. and then I ignored a post here for personal reasons in no way related to the event, and didn't really realize that it was a big charity event until I went back and read about it again. It IS a great cause and one personal to me, so I am glad I made it to the end. I made sure to buy something that I wanted because I did want to contribute. If someone had asked here about donating cats for an auction for an Autism Awareness Charity, I would have donated, but I didn't see anything like that in the days and weeks leading up the event... so... well, there are a lot of things that posting here would and do help with it.
Thanks to Eleanor for organizing the event, and to Pretty for sticking in there. I learned stuff about you that I didn't know. And thanks to everyone who took part... those who donated, those who bid... those who made it an event to remember.
More Cancellations .... what's going on breeders ??
