Annual Auction Information

1. Preparing Fish for an Auction - We have created a document which covers the steps for preparing your fish for an auction. You can view it here.


2. Sellers - Most aquarium and pond related equipment, dry goods, plants, fish and other livestock (except those prohibited by Pennsylvania law) are welcome. You do not need to be a member of BCAS to sell at the auction. Ensure all used goods are in proper working order. If defective used equipment is found by a buyer (non-working equipment such as filters, pumps, lights, leaky aquariums, etc) the seller will not be allowed to bring dry goods to any future auction. No used heaters or used substrates are allowed in the auction. Opened or expired cans of food and water chemicals/additives are strictly forbidden and will not be auctioned. For the annual auction, there is a "buck a bag" split on livestock (fish, inverts, plants, etc.). BCAS gets one dollar per lot and the seller gets the rest of the selling price. If the item sells for $1.00 the proceeds will go to BCAS. For dry goods the seller gets 60% and BCAS gets 40%.
   PLEASE - NO "Ziplock" bags. Fish should be double bagged in regular fish bags with 1/3 water and 2/3 air OR single bagged in "breathable" bags. Plants and dry goods may be single bagged. Leaking bags will be charged a re-bagging fee of $3.00. Please do not use marker on plastic bags, as it tends to wipe off when it gets wet.


3. Tanks - The maximum size for used tanks is 40 gallons. Please ensure that any used tanks do no leak.


4. Registration & Labels - We will be using the on-line auction website My Group Auctions for our upcoming Annual Auction. You can pre-register by going here: My Group Auctions. Sellers and Bidders are strongly encouraged to pre-register at the website prior to our Annual auction. Only Pre-registered lots will receive Priority Labels. (See the Priority Items Section).
   Your registration process will also be greatly sped up if you can create a MyGroupAuctions" account prior to the day of the auction.
   We will also be registering sellers and bidders on the day of our auction at the site.
   Steps:
   a) You register by entering your first and last name, your email address, your mailing address along with a password, verifying it. The process is completed by typing in a "non-robot" verification code.
   b) If registering as a seller, your mailing address is needed in order to mail a check to you following the auction. This information will also be helpful if you are registering as a bidder.
   c) Once you complete the registration process, join our club by clicking the "Join a Group" button located at the top of the page and selecting Bucks County Aquarium Society.
   d) After registering and selecting our club, you can start entering in the items you will be selling at the auction. You have the option of entering a picture for each item, (although this is not mandatory).
   e) An id will be automatically generated for each of your items. The ids can be printed out on regular or label paper. Attach each id to the actual auction item. The ids attached to fish and plant bags need to be sealed over with clear tape in order to prevent streaking or fading from water. If you choose to make your own labels without using My Group Auctions, the label needs to legibly show the Lot ID number and item description as generated on your My Group Auction registration. As mentioned above, seal with clear tape.
   f) Note: There is a 35 lot maximum per person. (This was previously, erroneously listed as a 6 lot maximum).
   g) There is also a 6 lot maximum for any particular species of livestock; (this includes both fish and plants).
   h) On the day of the auction, each bidder will receive a bidder id through My Group Auctions.


5. Minimum Bids - There are no minimum bids allowed for the Annual auction.


6. Donations - You can also donate items for the auction. In this case, the entire sale price of the item goes to Bucks County Aquarium Society and will be primarily used to fund our speaker program. Donations are greatly appreciated! For any items donated, please select the "donation" option when registering lots in My Group Auctions.


7. Priority Items - Pre-registered lots will receive PRIORITY stickers for 33% (1/3) of items. Both live and dry goods are counted. There will be no Priority stickers available to those who register on Auction day. The seller will be given their stickers on the day of auction and must choose which items will be Priority. Priority items will be auctioned before any non-priority items. Separate tables containing priority items will be available.


8. Bidding - Obtain a free bidder's card in order to be able to bid at the auction. The card will be available at the registration table and the number will be assigned through My Group Auctions. Members may run a tab. Non-members who wish to run a tab will need to leave their driver's license at the front desk. Their license will be returned to them when they check out and settle their tab. Payments can be made by cash, check, credit or debit cards and is expected before you leave the auction.


9. Non-returnable/refunds - Anything bought at the auction is non-returnable and non-refundable. Please check with the seller before purchasing, if you have any doubts. We rely on people's honesty in putting only non-defective equipment in the auction. We have had very few problems in all of the years we have been doing this.


10. Pushing - Used when an item that you want to bid on is not on the auction table. If this happens, you can "push" an item by contacting the Lot Push Coordinator with the item description, Lot number and location of the item(s) that you would like pushed. The Push Coordinator or designee will bring the item(s) to the auction table for auction and will inform the auction table scribe that the item is a push. It will then be auctioned as soon as possible. Do not take the item from the table. The coordinator or designee will obtain the lot. The cost of this service is $2.00 per lot which will be paid in cash to the Coordinator or designee. Note that pushing items will not commence until all Priority items have been auctioned.


11. Runner - A runner is a wonderful and greatly appreciated volunteer who brings items from the table to the auctioneer, takes the item to the auction item winner, obtains the winner's signature and returns the bidder form to the designated front table. Anyone 13 or older can volunteer to be a runner - we always need runners!
    Bidder - please ensure that all of the information on the bidder form is correct before signing.


12. Unsold Auction Items - Any auction items left unsold either live or dry goods, must be removed by the seller at the conclusion of the auction. Anything unclaimed will be deemed the property of BCAS and will be sold at the Society's discretion. An announcement will be made prior to the end of the auction as a reminder.


13. Payments to the seller - Payment to sellers will be made by a BCAS check. The payments will be sent within 3 weeks of the auction date.