What was your experience working with IML? Did the set up and use of this technology run smoothly?

Working with IML was a pleasure. They were a great team that works really well together. Everything absolutely ran smoothly.

Did anything unexpected occur while using this technology and how did the IML staff handle this?

Nothing unexpected happened. The people using the machines are always a variable. Some are not technologically savvy, so sometimes we had errors – the most common was people entering item numbers instead of dollar amounts, but we caught those errors as they came up. The IML staff was able to help them right away. We had no problems in making corrections.

What was your guests’ response to the technology?

They liked the technology. Some parents weren’t into it – they had people do it for them. We had people walking around helping people use the technology.

What is the average age of your guests?

We had over 300 people at the event. Average age was about 40.

Has your organization hosted a traditional silent auction before? If so, on average, how much revenue did you earn? What was the difference with IML’s technology?

Yes. It was a nightmare with the papers and clipboards. It was a cat fight with people standing over sheets of paper till the very end. IML’s technology solved a lot of those problems. The anonymous aspect of the bids was a plus for our event.

Our auction did the same or better with the technology – it is hard to tell because we have different items and numbers of items each year. We might have gotten more money on less items this year using IML. We got two corporate sponsors to pay for IML, so it didn’t take out of the proceeds.

How many IML technicians did you have on staff at your event? Did you feel this amount was sufficient to address your guests’ needs? How many guests were at the event?

Three IML staff. Sufficient.

We had about 220 items. We had a call with IML a few weeks before the auction to talk about how to send them the information on a spreadsheet. We just downloaded the information from our auction software and gave it to them, and they ran with it.  Everything was flawless.

How did your guests learn how to use the technology? Was the method you used to teach them how to use it effective?

Ray did a demo at the happy hour. We showed how it worked on the screen and let them try it out with fake items. The fake bids were cleared after the happy hour, and the real bids started. We also did a power point at our PTA meeting prior to the event to show everyone how to use it. Yes, it was effective. It wasn’t hard to use.

How did the auction closing process work? Did it run smoothly? Was IML able to provide you with invoices on site?

Yes. Everything ran smoothly. We use Auction Pay to swipe people’s credit cards when they come in. This was optional, though. We also invoiced our guests. Payment isn’t a problem for us because we know all our guests and see them everyday at school.  The IML staff helped with close out as well – trying to manage the flow of people who won items.  They really pitched in.

Was IML timely in providing additional materials after the event (bid sheets, other statistics, etc)?

Yes – we had them at the end of the event. IML ran nice reports – top bids, number of bids, highest bidders, etc.

What was the rate of return on getting full payment for items?  Was it higher using IML?

We had a couple of people who did not want items after the event, but we just went to the second highest bidder. You could usually see the disparity on most of the bids that were taken back – for example, someone would bid $400 when the next highest bidder is $25.  We obviously knew they meant to enter $40.

Did they use the pledge function?  Were guests pleased to have that as an option?

Yes. This was new to our guests – they did support it, but it wasn’t hot or cold for them. We used it to fundraise for technology. For our function, the pledge tally didn’t really affect us, but I can see how that would be beneficial to other organizations.

Would they recommend using IML?  If so, is there anything about the process or relationship that they would change?

We’d recommend them. We wouldn’t change anything. The IML staff is good about taking phone calls and is up to date about emails. We paid half up front, half after the event. Everything went smoothly. We liked the staff.

How were their screens set up – was it invasive? Did it detract from the décor of the event?  Did guests still visit the auction tables?

We were in a big club that was an L shape. We had three screens at the top, corner and bottom of the L so people could see it from wherever they were. We found that the guests liked having the screens in a visible location so they could monitor their bids. The screens were not invasive, and our guests still visited the auction tables.  It took up so much less room since we didn’t have to have bid sheets out so there was more room for seating.

Did they have trouble getting back all of the cards?  (Did guests walk off with them?)

We had one exit for the event and we had two volunteers with baskets at the exit. We also put up signs to return cards at check outs. We’re the first group to have 100% return on card