Welcome to Mantua Elementary School PTA's Auction web site. This year's fundraiser will be conducted exclusively online, allowing members of the school and surrounding community and friends to participate in the bidding at their convenience.
Auction Catalog and Categories
Auction items are assigned a category depending on the type of item, and are listed within the corresponding section of the catalog. The catalog provides a complete description of the item, along with a link to the donor's web site, and pictures of the item, as available. If you have any questions about an item, please click on Questions. We'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Categories are: Entertainment, Services/Activities, Good Eats, Getaways/Day Trips, Faculty Fun, and Novelties. If more than one of an item is available, the listing will provide a quantity number. Each of these items may be bid on individually in the "Bid and Check Status" portion of the web site.
For a quick overview of items available, click "Bid and Check Status", and scroll through the listing. Each item available for bidding is listed, along with its value, current high bid, current minimum bid, and the bidder number of the current highest bidder. Clicking on the item number will bring you to the full description of the item in the catalog.
Auction Boosters/Parent sponsors
Do you feel like you'd like to help out, but don't see anything you want to bid on? Please consider helping us achieve our goals by being a booster with a cash donation of $25 or more. Click Be a Booster! on the left.
When Does Bidding Start?
Bidding for all categories will begin Tuesday, February 7, 2012.
You must obtain a bidder number in order to bid online. Click Request Bidder Number on the left. You will be prompted to enter your name, email address, and phone number. You will receive an automated email response providing your bidder number.
Bids are submitted by clicking on Bid and Check Status, and then clicking on the Place Bid link for the item you wish to bid on. A form will be displayed for you to enter your bidder number, last name (to confirm you've used the bidder number assigned to you), and bid amount. Your bid must be at least the amount shown in the Bid and Check Status screen, or it will be rejected (an error message will explain why). You will also have the opportunity to enter a secret maximum bid.
A secret maximum bid is an amount that you enter, telling us the maximum you're willing to bid for an item. We'll automatically increase your bid, up to that amount, each time someone outbids you. That way, you don't have to monitor the web site constantly for those items you really want to win. We'll send you an email when someone outbids your maximum amount. You can raise it then, if you wish. (Note: In the case of two bidders entering the same maximum bid, the first bidder to submit that amount will be considered the high bidder.)
Just refresh the Bid and Check Status page. (Click the refresh/reload button on your browser.) Additionally, you'll receive an email notifying you if you are no longer the current high bidder on an item.
Use the Checkout link as often as you like to get a listing of the items on which you're currently the high bidder. (You're not actually checked out until you pay for your items via PayPal or in person via check - and then only for categories that are closed.)
When Does Bidding Close? And How Do I Pay and Receive the Items I've Won? (Yay!)
The auction will close on Tuesday, February 21st. Bidding will close by category, as follows:
- Tuesday, February 14, 10:00 p.m.: Entertainment and Services/Activities
- Friday, February 17, 10:00 p.m.: Getaways/Day Trips and Novelties
- Tuesday, February 21, 10:00 p.m.: Faculty Fun and Good Eats
You will receive an email notifying you of items you've won. You may also view the list of items you've won and the winning bid amounts, by clicking the Checkout button (on the left panel). You may pay securely online (using PayPal), or with a check at the school office. You may pick up your winnings at the school office beginning Thursday, February 23rd. All items must be paid for and retrieved by Wednesday, February 29. Items not paid for by February 29 will be offered to the next highest bidder. The auction committee will contact you to arrange pickup of large items (e.g. furniture).
Please send any comments, problems, questions or suggestions for improvements to auction@mantuapta.org.
All bidders must enter their name and assigned bidder number. Anonymous bidding is not allowed. We realize that online bidding is potentially open to malfeasance. We hope that everyone will respect the auction process. In the event of invalid bids that pass our screening process, the best valid bid will win the auction. All accepted bids constitute an agreement to purchase the item for the bid amount. This is a charitable event that benefits our school, and all bidders are expected to honor their bids. Failure to claim and make payment for any item in a timely manner (by February 29, 2012) voids your bid and the item will go to the next highest bidder.
So, what are you waiting for? Click on the catalog on
the left to get started viewing the exciting items available!
...and thank you for
participating!