NEWINGTON, CT, Nov 9, 2006 -- The first ARRL On-Line Auction is history, but the event may well become an annual affair. Once the bidding had ended November 3 and the dust had settled a bit, ARRL Business Services Manager Deb Jahnke, K1DAJ -- whose staff pulled the auction together -- was able to compile and share some statistics. Not only did auction proceeds exceed expectations by more than 20 percent, it attracted more than 4300 bidders from 36 countries -- and as far away as Australia -- competing for just over 100 items.
"Based on feedback, I think it safe to say -- to paraphrase Arnold Schwarzenegger -- we'll be back!" Jahnke said. During the bidding from October 23 until November 3, she reports, many participants e-mailed League Headquarters not just with questions but to share their excitement.
"This is too much fun -- I'm high bidder on two items! And just a beginner!" enthused one participant. "What a riot!" Another put it more succinctly: "Our hobby still rocks!"
Jahnke says most of those who wrote expressed the wish that the ARRL run an online auction every year -- or perhaps even more frequently, possibly all year long. She says that while the auction involved a lot of planning and preparation, ARRL Headquarters staffers also had a lot of fun.
"All staff members who worked on the project enjoyed it as much as the bidders as we saw the prices climb and bidding wars ensue," she said. "We also thoroughly enjoyed the one-on-one contact with bidders grateful for prompt responses to their questions and shared our excitement with the winners."
A softcover copy of the ARRL's Radio Amateur's Handbook was the last item to go. |
The generosity of many donors, Jahnke says, made it possible for the League's premier auction to offer a diverse list of items that also included transceivers, ARRL Lab-tested and reviewed equipment, exotic vacations, vintage gear, mystery "junque" boxes and an Eagles-autographed acoustic guitar donated by Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, that went for $3353.
Jahnke says the auction donors were as thrilled as the participants. "The amount of positive feedback that we received was tremendous," Jahnke remarked afterward. "Quite a few of our advertisers who donated items called to tell us that their Web sales had spiked during and immediately after the auction."
Said ARRL COO Harold Kramer, WJ1B, after the last item had sold: "It was fun, it was exciting and, best of all, it raised money for a good cause." Auction proceeds will help support ARRL educational activities including licensing newcomers, strengthening Amateur Radio's emergency service training, offering online continuing education courses and creating new instructional and educational materials.
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