Mids Auction
Welcome to the future site of the Skating Club of New York Fall Auction!
To help finance its activities, SCNY is setting up an eBay Seller’s account for auctioning items contributed by members and other donors. Foremost, we are looking for goods, services and experiences of unique value to skaters and their families. However, we welcome anything G or PG-rated that would attract a throng of bidders. Because we are an all-volunteer organization without retail, inventory management or order fulfillment experience, we ask that the goods, services and experiences be worth at least $100, objectively.
Using eBay means there is no guarantee the winning bidders will be from the Skating Club of New York or even the skating community. However, we will feature all our offerings here, giving members a heads-up to what’s available.
For impressive one-of-a-kind offerings, we will send out a pre-listing eBlast. Also, we will set “Buy Now” prices for most items that are slightly below estimated fair market value. The point is, we want members to have the opportunity to secure great deals on SCNY auctioned items, but we also need to make money. The pandemic has throttled indoor sports activities and left no figure skating organization unscathed. Our live auction format, which served well for years, does not function if, to prevent super spreader events, our competitions limit attendance and auction displays.
Another reason for eBay, beyond global reach, is ease of use. The directors and officers of this club are volunteers. We lack the resources to develop a robust, proprietary auction system. In addition, we don’t want access to bidders’ financial and contact information, especially from those who bid unsuccessfully. There is way too much private data for our comfort.
The SCNY Fall Auction is an experiment. We will evaluate the experience, and determine whether an annual or semi-annual online auction is worthwhile. We are counting on you – our members and supporters – to make the experiment a success!
The Skating Club of New York is a 501(c)(3) amateur athletic organization, and all contributions of goods and services for auction are tax deductible to the extent permissible by law. Purchases of auctioned items are not deductible as charitable contributions, except for the amount by which the auction price exceeds the item’s objective fair market value (often zero). Online sales are subject to state and local sales tax.
HOW CAN YOU HELP THE SCNY FALL AUCTION SUCCEED?
- Do you know anyone at Niederlander, Schubert or Disney? Can you secure complimentary tickets to a hit Broadway play or musical?
- Do you have season tickets to the Met, Mets, Philharmonic, Yankees, Liberty, Knicks, Nets, Giants, Jets, Rangers, Islanders, Nets, Red Bulls or FC? Would you be willing to donate several tickets?
- Do you know any concert or event promoters? Can they secure tickets to an otherwise sold-out performance? Better still, a backstage pass to meet the artist(s)?
- Are you chums with a celebrity? Might they be willing to have lunch with a fan?
- Do you have ins with Comedy Central or a major network? Can you secure tickets to see Samantha Bee, Trevor Noah, Seth Myers or Stephen Colbert?
- Do you collect sports or pop culture memorabilia and have an item you would not miss horribly if donated?
- Do you own a restaurant where reservations are booked through December? Would you consider squeezing in a table and comping two desserts, appetizers and entrees?
- Do you own a time share you regret but still pay for? Would you like to know, at last, that your investment paid off – perhaps not for you, but for the club you support and admire?
- Do you have millions of airline or hotel miles that you never foresee using?
- Do you design, manufacture or vend cool stuff? Would you consider donating something custom-made or even off-the-shelf?
- Do you regularly provide your customers a unique experience or service? By unique, we mean anything from skydiving to scuba diving, from days at a renowned spa to nights at a renowned resort. We also mean three months of skate sharpening or a pair of boots and blades and a great fitting. Use your imagination.