Is an auction the best way to raise money? In the past, I think raffles have been used and that may be a way to exceed the value of the saw as everyone is only paying for a "chance". I don't gamble myself but if you're trying to help the family in the greatest way financially I think that may be a way to raise the greatest amount. In an auction, few would likely pay much over retail price of the saw and that only if they wanted or needed one and had the funds to purchase one. ie, you're only going to get funds from one person. However, in a raffle, a lot of individuals could purchase a $10 ticket and forget about it and it wouldn't take all that many of them to add up to the price of the saw. That way, a larger number of forum members would be participating in the relief effort rather than just the buyer. Also, in a case like this, I think the membership has to have confidence that due diligence has been done to verify that the "sad story" has veracity and is worthy of forum participation. Just my two cents worth.
Raffles are funny business. The laws very state to state. Although other forums do it? There is still risk involved (because of all the different laws). In essence, it is gambling, and needs to be treated as such. Raffles do bring in much more money though. Far more than any auction. I wish we could, but until the law is explained on how it works via the Net? We have to CYA.
Agreed!!! In my retriever club we do a "card" raffle on real pricey stuff. If we go thru one deck of cards, we open another with a different back on it. It's a whole lot easier to hit a lot of folks up for $10-20 vs. having them bid $xxx on an item. How ever many "cards" the person wants that's what he pays for......................whether it be $5-10-20-50/card!!!!! He selects the cards from the deck, tears them in 2, keeps one half of the cards and the other half of the card is dumped into the "hopper"!!! As I said prior, if there are more than 52 "buyers", you open a new deck with a different backing on the cards!!! I truly believe you'd raise more $$$$ going to something like that vs. and auction!!!
Yes a raffle would be great, I don't expect an auction to do more then a raffle but like Dex said a raffle is gambling and from a legal standpoint it only takes one upset person to make everything we built here to go away in a lawsuit against us. I'm not expecting the saw to being over retail. Just figured if I can get a little discount and sell it close to retail it will do two things. First it will contribute to the site here and a member gets a new saw. Also the family will get to have the benefit of a donation to help with the needs they have.
Didn't mean to stir the pot. Never thought about the complications that may arise from a legal standpoint. I know benefit raffles are done quite frequently but I'm sure laws vary a lot in different states/cities. How about just setting up a way people can make donations?
Or how about this? Have different members donate saws or chainsaw items (used saws, new accessories?) and auction more "stuff" to widen the participation.
I guess I'm just not seeing that much benefit in the original plan that would exceed the op just making a cash donation to the family. Am I missing something somewhere?
I have 2 saws to donate to Swags. So 100% of that money will go to the family? Who else has something lying around?
The idea is he buys a saw. It gets auctioned off. A member gets a new saw and the family gets the money. So the family gets helped and someone gets a saw they want.
There is a big difference in holding a raffle locally vs. on the Internet. (Multi-state) Trust us, we would LOVE to do a raffle. They're fun and raise more money. Unfortunately the laws that govern them were set up before the Internet came into play. I too wondered if perhaps we can come up with some things this family needs or will need in the near future.
Not stirring the pot at all, it's a great idea. But like MM said above with multiple states in a "gambling" situation it could have reprocusions. I will be getting a discount on the saw so it should be a little more beneficial then just giving them the money and someone gets a new saw! Great idea here, I think we can do that!
At least here in Maine I think you can have raffles for prizes up to 75k without a license. But the catch is you can't charge for a chance to win. Anyone that wants to enter can enter for free. So people holding a raffle have a 'suggested donation' amount. Wouldn't really work online; once one of the coupon bargain sites finds out you'd have a bunch of housewives trying to win the saw without making a donation.
This actually makes some sense as an auction saw, being that they are not readily available at the moment.
Not only that, it has to be one of the best power making stock saws out there now , so it has the WOW factor along with this elusiveness we are all suffering with !
Ok so not to get people too excited but that may be possible. I talked to my dealer and I can get one by the end of the month. That along with a few anonymous people offering to help it's putting the 661 close to being reality for this auction. And like said before the fact that it is so new and not readily available it should do well at auction.
I got 2 you can have.. The Poulan 3450 and the McCulloch 3200 (32 cc 14" bar). Both run as they should. Yours for the taking and to raise money with. They both could used wiped down a little, but work well.