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Welcome to the Auction Guide!     We will keep information on this page for referencing basic questions and "how to" details. Below are further details on how the auction operates, so read this page if you have questions on the site.   Mailing List: We have added a new mailing list. This is for posting updates, news, etc. on our fundraisers. If you'd like to keep up to date with us and on our events, please consider joining the mailing list(announcement only...meaning you will ONLY receive posts FROM us about auction/raffles and such!). See the Mailing List page for more details! Raffle Bar: Similar to the "Auction Bar" introduced previously, and described below, this new "Raffle bar" extends the navigation of the raffle sections for a given raffle to a simple top-bar ease! As with the Auction Bar, this Raffle Bar is "Raffle-specific", meaning it will help you navigate WITHIN a given raffle. If you want to go to a different section of the auction/raffle site, please use the buttons at the left on nearly every page! (see the Auction Bar description for more information on how to use this Raffle bar, as they are very similar in form!). Auction Bar: We have recently implemented an "auction bar"(see image below)...this is an image that adorns the top of "most" pages since January 2000. You can use this "bar" to navigate any given auction. Note...this is "auction specific", so it navigates you WITHIN an auction. If you wish to goto a different auction, use the "past auctions" button on the left side of most main pages! You can use the "left buttons" to access other "general" auction pages.....(e.g.: rules, news, guide, etc.!).   Auction Rules: The rules for the auctions are pretty basic and simple, but still important, so please make sure you read them! The "rules" for the auction can be found on the "rules" page! They are important and have become necessary! These auctions are based on TRUST, and these rules are merely to protect all of us in the auction transactions! Those of us in the administering of the auctions do this of our own "good"! NO ONE is paid a penny from the auctions for their work, and we do not have time or resources to be dealing with anyone not interested in the best for the auctions! These auctions are to help canines, and that is why 100% of funds raised goto the causes specified, NOT to administration or any other purpose! Please read the rules BEFORE bidding and/or DONATING any items! By bidding or donating you are agreeing to these rules, so make sure you understand what is expected of you(and us) if you decide to participate! News and Changes: Can be found on the "news" page, so please check that each month for any changes and/or developments you might want to be aware of! Viewing the site: We try to make the site pleasant to access and view, but with the number of items increasing, we are seeing pages get MUCH longer. Thus, the site needs to keep "evolving"! However, we try to keep navigation pretty straight forward...buttons on the left, text links at the bottom of each page! "Index" page is the "front" page! This "front" page also serves as an "access" or gateway to any and all pages for the current auction, as well as links to the rules, news, and past auctions! Please feel free to "drop" back to the front page at any time as it is the best "starting point" for the auctions! It is also the ONLY page we recommend you bookmark as other pages may change, but the front page will remain there! With hundreds of pages and images on this site, you might prefer to view ALL the pages at once, you "can" do this by opening links in new windows(try right clicking on any link or "shift-click" and you'll see how to open a new window!). NetCaptor is a free browser that allows you to have multiple windows open all at once....so you CAN view all the auction pages and just tab back and forth quickly! Michael uses NetCaptor almost exclusively and knows how handy it is to have more than one page at a time open! Give it a try and see if it helps make browsing better for YOU!

Bidding: For each item, there is a description, most have pictures, and each has an "opening bid". You send a bid via email, usually to Pat Cassel.....if there is any change in "bid-takers", we'll make it clear! We have been using an "auction" address for the past few months for most bidding. This is the address behind "most" of the "bid now" buttons on item description pages. This address is merely forwarded to the bidtaker(usually Pat), and replies will come from the bidtaker's(again, usually Pat) normal email address. Don't worry about the different email addresses...it all ends up being processed just the same! The bids are "processed"...checked against current status....and then Pat sends replies on bids whether underbid, outbid, or if you're the new high bidder! She posts an "update" daily to the EskieFriends(our own list) and the EskieOwners(EskieHugs) mailing list during auctions! So...if you want to bid, either use the links on the pages or just send an email with "item title/description(include item number if you can too!)" and bid amount to Pat at pcassel@pa.net! She'll handle the bidding from there! Updates are posted to the site "listing" as often as Michael can manage, but this is not necessarily daily! Please note the time of the update on the page when you check it!

After the auction: Pat, or another auction assistant(Jill Boardman has been helping in this department for a number of auctions now....Thanks Jill!), will notify each high bidder on where to send bid amount. Once bid amount is received at proper place, donator of auction items is notified where to send auction item. And, other than mailing issues, that's it! Auction money is used entirely for the causes stated on that auction's pages!

Past auctions are maintained in an archive for future reference!

Upcoming Auctions are always in the works! If you have an item or items you'd like to donate, let Pat know, and she'll work with you on details. Mostly what we need is any worthy items, a good picture if possible, and item description. Beyond that is helpful, but a good picture makes a BIG difference in many items! Items do NOT have to be dog stuff, but obviously that's a focus here, as we're all "dog people" afterall! The more items we get for the auctions, the more $$$ that can be raised!

Behind the scenes: Pat, our "auctioneer," has a number of little Elves helping her! Not sure where she gets all those great items, but many little elves keep on helping her out...finding neat items, processing the auction endings, organizing raffles, setting up the site pages, etc.! We have to shuffle much of the information back and forth before, during, AND after the auctions in keeping things straight. We're spread across the country, and email is our primary form of communication, so it's actually amazing we do well with these, but you know....elves are pretty cool, and we're all glad Pat has a few good elves helping her!!! :)