Frequently Asked Questions
[I will update this post as necessary.]
IMPORTANT LINKS
List of Charities/Ways to Donate
Auction Timetable
Graphics for Spreading the Word
Please feel free to use any of the graphics or post your own for others to use! The more we get the word out, the better.
[FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS]
GENERAL INFO
> When will the auction start and end?
Please see the schedule post. You can find it HERE.
> What currency will be used for the auction?
All amounts need to be in US dollars (USD) when stated here. This will make it easier for auctioneers and bidders to know exactly how much money is being offered. It is also recommended that you donate to organizations based in the United States in US dollars; this too will make things simpler for the groups receiving the money. Naturally, if you plan on donating to an organization native to your country, feel free to donate in your country's currency. Again though, all amounts need to be in USD when stated here.
If you need a currency converter, please use this: http://money.cnn.com/data/currencies/
> Can offers or bids be made anonymously?
No. As we cannot vet anonymous bids or offers, they are not allowed here. Please use a livejournal account to participate.
> Can I retract an offer and/or bid?
In general no. Please do not offer something or make a bid if you aren't sure that you will be able to see it through. Of course, things happen, and if that's the case, please contact lieueitak. Do NOT delete your bid or offer without first having meaningful communication with the mod and/or any relevant bidders/other individuals. If something happens, we can deal with it. But we want to keep things as clear as possible.
OFFERING
< I am offering/donating something. What do I do?
All auction posts will be open May 21st. Acceptable offers/donations include:
*Words [Fanfic, for instance]
*Art Offerings [Drawings, Paintings, for example]
*Graphics Offerings [layouts, wallpapers, icons, etc]
*Audio/Video [Songs, Fanvids, playlist]
*Food
*Everything else [crafts, jewelry, DVD sets, memorabilia]
The offerer will set the minimum bid for the auction. He/she also has the right to opt for a "buy it now" choice, meaning the first person to bid wins the auction.
> Can I offer store-bought items?
Of course! If you have House memorabilia you want to part with or if you have a magazine with Lisa on the cover (or anything along those lines), you may offer it. The only rule is that whatever you offer has to be related to Lisa Edelstein in some way.
> Can I offer already completed works?
Yes. Please keep in mind though that bidders are less likely to bid on already-completed fics and artworks. Popular completed works include such items as knitted scarves.
> Should I include snippets/clips/samples of my previous works to let bidders know what my style is like?
It's not required, but a link to your Youtube page, fanfiction.net page, or any other place that houses your past work is a great idea. This is the best way for bidders to see if they would like something from you.
> Can I specify which Lisa-related fandoms I'm willing to work with? Can I specify what I won't do?
Absolutely, and it's recommended that you do. If you're not familiar with or comfortable with something, state that so that no one asks you to do it. Be as specific as you can be so that bidders are informed of what they are looking at.
> How many things can I offer?
As many as you know you can complete. If that's one, that's great. If that's two, three, twenty, that's great too. Just do what you can handle.
> Should I make one post for multiple offers or one post per offer?
You should make one post for each offer. This will cut down on confusion as to who is bidding on what.
> Can I specify which charity I want my bidder to volunteer with/donate to?
You can state your preference, but your bidder is under no obligation to listen to you. If a particular charity has meaning to you, when the auction is over, perhaps tell your winning bidder why this one charity is the one you want to help.
> How do I determine who has won my offer?
* BUY IT NOW: The first person to bid with the required donation amount (and the follow up proof of said donation) is the winner.
*AUCTION: The person who placed the highest bid is the winner.
** Overall, it's going to be first come, first serve, so make your bids early. This will also give you more time to line up your donation and the offerer more time to create your item.
> After a bidder has won a buy-it-now auction, how do I let the mods know that the donation has been confirmed?
Please make your donation confirmation post HERE. The offerer must confirm having received proof of documentation (email receipt, screencaps, a twitpic of the person doing the volunteer work, and/or e-copy of physical receipt, etc), and let us know which organization the donation was sent to. This is so we can ensure accurate recording of all transactions.
> Is there a deadline for getting my work to the winning bidder?
We have a deadline date of September 1st. We will probably have an extension at that time for anyone who still is not finished. If it takes you more time, that's okay. But keep in mind that people are donating their time and/or money for your work.
> Do I retain the ownership of my work?
Obviously House, West Wing, Sports Night, and company belong to their respective creators. You will have as much right to your work here as you would anywhere else. In other words, if you create a fic, YOU get to post it anywhere you want. The fanvideo will be on YOUR youtube channel, etc.
> If I am shipping edible items overseas, are there any regulations I should be aware of?
Yes. Please follow all laws when shipping something anywhere. It is your responsibility to make sure that your package will not be seized by customs due to the nature of its contents.
* US Regulations
* UK Regulations
* Canadian Regulations
* Australian Regulations
BIDDING AND DONATING
> I will be bidding. What do I do?
When the auction opens up (the offerer makes a post), you may start bidding immediately. The minimum amount will be up to the offerer, but after that, it's up to the bidders to decide how much an item will go for.
Near the end of the auctions we will be going through the offerings posts to determine the winners, and we will inform both the offerer and the winning bidder so that they can get in touch and coordinate on the item and on the donation.
If you wish to bid for something immediately, go right ahead - but remember that a lot of people will be putting up offers and you might want to look around to see if your favorite author or artist will be putting something up.
> If I win an auction, what are the arrangements for making a donation and receiving the item that I bid for?
Winning bidders MUST contact the offerers and show them proof of donation, such as confirmation numbers, Bank Identification Numbers, receipts, or screencaps. Once that's settled, the offerer and the winning bidder can discuss the arrangements for delivering the item that was bid for and won.
Please discuss these arrangements in private, off the auction posts, as much as is possible.
> Can I make a donation online? What about via mail or in-person?
You can donate however you like. Online is recommended as it's easy to get proof of that without jeopardizing your privacy. Whatever you do, you'll need proof of donation/volunteering. As long as you have that, you're good to go.
> What if I don't have money to donate?
In lieu of cash, volunteering or donating goods is perfectly acceptable. You can find more information about this HERE.
Have a question that still hasn't been answered? Please ask here.
IMPORTANT LINKS
List of Charities/Ways to Donate
Auction Timetable
Graphics for Spreading the Word
Please feel free to use any of the graphics or post your own for others to use! The more we get the word out, the better.
[FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS]
GENERAL INFO
> When will the auction start and end?
Please see the schedule post. You can find it HERE.
> What currency will be used for the auction?
All amounts need to be in US dollars (USD) when stated here. This will make it easier for auctioneers and bidders to know exactly how much money is being offered. It is also recommended that you donate to organizations based in the United States in US dollars; this too will make things simpler for the groups receiving the money. Naturally, if you plan on donating to an organization native to your country, feel free to donate in your country's currency. Again though, all amounts need to be in USD when stated here.
If you need a currency converter, please use this: http://money.cnn.com/data/currencies/
> Can offers or bids be made anonymously?
No. As we cannot vet anonymous bids or offers, they are not allowed here. Please use a livejournal account to participate.
> Can I retract an offer and/or bid?
In general no. Please do not offer something or make a bid if you aren't sure that you will be able to see it through. Of course, things happen, and if that's the case, please contact lieueitak. Do NOT delete your bid or offer without first having meaningful communication with the mod and/or any relevant bidders/other individuals. If something happens, we can deal with it. But we want to keep things as clear as possible.
OFFERING
< I am offering/donating something. What do I do?
All auction posts will be open May 21st. Acceptable offers/donations include:
*Words [Fanfic, for instance]
*Art Offerings [Drawings, Paintings, for example]
*Graphics Offerings [layouts, wallpapers, icons, etc]
*Audio/Video [Songs, Fanvids, playlist]
*Food
*Everything else [crafts, jewelry, DVD sets, memorabilia]
The offerer will set the minimum bid for the auction. He/she also has the right to opt for a "buy it now" choice, meaning the first person to bid wins the auction.
> Can I offer store-bought items?
Of course! If you have House memorabilia you want to part with or if you have a magazine with Lisa on the cover (or anything along those lines), you may offer it. The only rule is that whatever you offer has to be related to Lisa Edelstein in some way.
> Can I offer already completed works?
Yes. Please keep in mind though that bidders are less likely to bid on already-completed fics and artworks. Popular completed works include such items as knitted scarves.
> Should I include snippets/clips/samples of my previous works to let bidders know what my style is like?
It's not required, but a link to your Youtube page, fanfiction.net page, or any other place that houses your past work is a great idea. This is the best way for bidders to see if they would like something from you.
> Can I specify which Lisa-related fandoms I'm willing to work with? Can I specify what I won't do?
Absolutely, and it's recommended that you do. If you're not familiar with or comfortable with something, state that so that no one asks you to do it. Be as specific as you can be so that bidders are informed of what they are looking at.
> How many things can I offer?
As many as you know you can complete. If that's one, that's great. If that's two, three, twenty, that's great too. Just do what you can handle.
> Should I make one post for multiple offers or one post per offer?
You should make one post for each offer. This will cut down on confusion as to who is bidding on what.
> Can I specify which charity I want my bidder to volunteer with/donate to?
You can state your preference, but your bidder is under no obligation to listen to you. If a particular charity has meaning to you, when the auction is over, perhaps tell your winning bidder why this one charity is the one you want to help.
> How do I determine who has won my offer?
* BUY IT NOW: The first person to bid with the required donation amount (and the follow up proof of said donation) is the winner.
*AUCTION: The person who placed the highest bid is the winner.
** Overall, it's going to be first come, first serve, so make your bids early. This will also give you more time to line up your donation and the offerer more time to create your item.
> After a bidder has won a buy-it-now auction, how do I let the mods know that the donation has been confirmed?
Please make your donation confirmation post HERE. The offerer must confirm having received proof of documentation (email receipt, screencaps, a twitpic of the person doing the volunteer work, and/or e-copy of physical receipt, etc), and let us know which organization the donation was sent to. This is so we can ensure accurate recording of all transactions.
> Is there a deadline for getting my work to the winning bidder?
We have a deadline date of September 1st. We will probably have an extension at that time for anyone who still is not finished. If it takes you more time, that's okay. But keep in mind that people are donating their time and/or money for your work.
> Do I retain the ownership of my work?
Obviously House, West Wing, Sports Night, and company belong to their respective creators. You will have as much right to your work here as you would anywhere else. In other words, if you create a fic, YOU get to post it anywhere you want. The fanvideo will be on YOUR youtube channel, etc.
> If I am shipping edible items overseas, are there any regulations I should be aware of?
Yes. Please follow all laws when shipping something anywhere. It is your responsibility to make sure that your package will not be seized by customs due to the nature of its contents.
* US Regulations
* UK Regulations
* Canadian Regulations
* Australian Regulations
BIDDING AND DONATING
> I will be bidding. What do I do?
When the auction opens up (the offerer makes a post), you may start bidding immediately. The minimum amount will be up to the offerer, but after that, it's up to the bidders to decide how much an item will go for.
Near the end of the auctions we will be going through the offerings posts to determine the winners, and we will inform both the offerer and the winning bidder so that they can get in touch and coordinate on the item and on the donation.
If you wish to bid for something immediately, go right ahead - but remember that a lot of people will be putting up offers and you might want to look around to see if your favorite author or artist will be putting something up.
> If I win an auction, what are the arrangements for making a donation and receiving the item that I bid for?
Winning bidders MUST contact the offerers and show them proof of donation, such as confirmation numbers, Bank Identification Numbers, receipts, or screencaps. Once that's settled, the offerer and the winning bidder can discuss the arrangements for delivering the item that was bid for and won.
Please discuss these arrangements in private, off the auction posts, as much as is possible.
> Can I make a donation online? What about via mail or in-person?
You can donate however you like. Online is recommended as it's easy to get proof of that without jeopardizing your privacy. Whatever you do, you'll need proof of donation/volunteering. As long as you have that, you're good to go.
> What if I don't have money to donate?
In lieu of cash, volunteering or donating goods is perfectly acceptable. You can find more information about this HERE.
Have a question that still hasn't been answered? Please ask here.