Day 1: Rhode Island PBS Spring Auction has $60,000 in Bids

Day 1 of the live auction is now in the history books. It was a fun night - even if it was considerably quieter than past years. With all of the bidding taking place online, the phones don't ring as much, and there is less chaos and running around to collect and post paper bids on the boards. It's not a bad thing - it was certainly more "civilized" than I've seen it in past years. :)

We had some talented and fun-loving auctioneers: Ben Hague of The Rhode Show on Fox, mornings at 8; Paul Fuller of Paul & Al mornings on WHJY; Jim Cummings from Bank of America - the evening's sponsors - and Mike Sheridan, whose radio voice has long kept you out of traffic jams. Of course, the King of the Gift Certificate boards, Dave Richards of WOON 1240 AM radio, kept the bargains rolling while entertaining the phone bank volunteers and viewers.


Speaking of watch, Day 2 of the televised auction starts at 7 tonight. Guest auctioneers include John DePetro of 630 WPRO-AM; Eric Hofer, owner of the Comedy Connection; Michelle Muscatello of WPRI 12, Katherine Ferrington of the Newport Visitors Bureau; and Barry Mechanic, publisher of The Pawtucket Times and The Woonsocket Call. Dave Richards and Mike Sheridan will join us again, too.  

We currently have $60,000 in bids! Thank you so much for your support! The programming you enjoy watching so much on Rhode Island PBS depends on this money we raise. Pat yourself on the back for keeping on the air the shows you like to watch. : )

"Show Me What You've Got!" Spring Auction Preview Show

With hundreds of items of all shapes, sizes, and values available, how do organizers of the 2010 Rhode Island PBS Spring Auction show off more of the merchandise before the event? Put everything online, and produce a preview show.

"We have already received more than 300 auction donations this year, and we expect delivery of 400 more items," said Auction Director Jeffrey Hartley. "In this economy, that speaks to the enormous generosity and support of our donor companies and individuals." He added about the donations, "There literally is something for everyone, and in every price range."

Jeff Hartley, of North Smithfield, has been the Rhode Island PBS auction director for eight years, and an employee of WSBE for 22 years. In that time, he has seen technology undergo a huge revolution, and he has tried to keep pace by moving more and more auction activity onto the Internet.

"Every Spring Auction item will be posted online," Hartley said. "We started using the Web two years ago, featuring items of higher donor value. Last year, the entire inventory went online, and people loved the convenience. So, again this year, everything from a $10 pizza to a $20,000 car will be available for preview and bidding online starting April 1."

In addition to browsing item images and descriptions, online bidders will know the exact time each item will be sold, to help them devise their bidding strategy. During the televised auction, watchers can track the bidding activity in real time. The auction site also permits proxy bidding, which means a higher, maximum bid can be placed on reserve, but only the minimum dollar amount needed to win the auction will be used. Although not foolproof, this strategy is especially useful if a bidder really wants a particular item, but either cannot monitor the final bidding, or suspects increased competitive bidding activity as the item is being sold off.

"A bid can sit unchallenged for days or even weeks, but there are watchers are keeping an eye on it," Hartley noted. "Then, in the final minute, bids come in from all over, and the person whose bid was winning two minutes ago, loses out. That's happened several times. It's actually what makes live auctions so exciting."

Fans of the popular annual event who do not have Internet access can still watch the auction live on television and call in to place their bids from Monday April 26 through Friday, April 30, beginning at 7 P.M. each evening.

"All bids will be placed online, whether bidders do it themselves on computers at home, or by calling our studio and having our volunteers place bids online," Hartley explained.

Conducting the auction online opens it up to a world-wide audience. "Last year, we had auction winners from all over the country, even as far away as California," Hartley said.

Casting a wider net using the 'Net increases visibility and positive exposure for the station – and the many businesses that donated goods and services. But it's still the close connection to the local community that differentiates Rhode Island PBS from other public television stations in the region.

"The heart and soul of Rhode Island PBS is our relationship with the community - our members, donors, and volunteers," Hartley stated. "There is no greater evidence of this dynamic than our Spring Auction."

More than two dozen Spring Auction items will be featured in a half-hour preview show, airing at various times throughout April on both WSBE Rhode Island PBS and WSBE Learn.

To see auction items, bid (beginning April 1), or get more information about the auction, visit http://ripbs.cmarket.com.

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Preview show schedule

More than two dozen of the 700 Spring Auction items will be featured in a half-hour preview show, airing at various times throughout April on both WSBE channels:

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits over the air on digital 36.1. Find WSBE Rhode Island PBS on subscription television services on: Cox 08 or Cox HD 708, Verizon 08 or Verizon HD 508; Comcast (check local listings for standard definition) or Comcast HD 819; Dish Network 7776; DirecTV 36.

• Mon, 04/05/2010 at 7:00 PM
• Wed, 04/07/2010 at 12:00 PM
• Thu, 04/08/2010 at 5:30 AM
• Fri, 04/09/2010 at 7:00 PM
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WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2, and on cable: Cox 808, Verizon 478, Comcast 295.

• Mon, 04/05/2010 at 2:30 AM
• Mon, 04/05/2010 at 8:00 PM
• Wed, 04/07/2010 at 12:00 AM
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• Sat, 04/24/2010 at 4:00 PM

2010 Rhode Island PBS Spring Auction Launches Online

It's here! It's time to browse and bid on any number of great items, while helping support the fine programming on Rhode Island PBS. Seven hundred items have been donated by generous merchants, artisans, restaurateurs, contractors, gardeners, and others!


We're posting items as quickly as we can to make them available for your bids. But what's on the site now is only a fraction of the number of items we'll be offering - so keep checking back! And remember - high bids help us pay for programming for the entire family here on Rhode Island PBS.

Pre-register*, preview, and bid!

See something you like? No need to wait until the auction is on TV, April 26 - 30. Bid now!

If you'd like, you can set up a proxy bid. This way, you can set a maximum you're willing to pay for an item. If others bid on the same piece, our auction hosting software will increase your bid on your behalf, by the minimum increment above the competing bid - but only to your maximum. If you're outbid we'll send you an email letting you know. Then, unless the item is about to close, you'll have the chance to decide if you'd like to increase your bid.


*Pre-Registering takes just moments, but please don't wait until moments count! Pre-register now. Here's why: Our system must "recognize" a bidder before it accepts a bid. If you're unregistered and try to bid as an item is closing, you may not be able to bid in time to get it.