[Killietalk] local killie club auctions

["Ron Schulz" <ron_schulz at gmail.com>]

The quickest way to dry up sources of domestic bred killies is to not
support a fair price to those who breed them. Killies are not a commodity.
You can't simply  go into any pet shop and get them. Very few people breed
any significant quantity of killies. Who wins when the accomplished breeder
stops producing large quantities of fish because his/her efforts are bringig
$1 - $3 per pair at local club auctions?
Local club auctions should  be governed by the principle of a fair price for
both the buyer and seller. In my honest opinion, a $2 opening bid coupled
with a $1 auction fee in NO way is fair to the breeder but rewards the
bidder.. We voted on an increase to a $4  opening bid. but continued with
the $1 club fee.to the seller.  I had favored a $5 opening bid with a
graduated selling fee ($4-$5 selling price.... no fee, $6-$10 selling price
....$1 fee, $11 -$15...$2  fee,, etc) In addition, I suggested for those who
brought nothing to auction and yet participated in the bidding, a $1 fee
would be charged that month.  Well, this really brought on a firestorm. We
had one fellow nearly pass out from so called "sticker shock" at $5 and
another demanding to get the real "rare" fish should he have to pay a $4
starting bid. Do you believe it?? . I recall one breeder who broght in 19
pairs of very desirable killies one month. He grossed $66, netted $47 after
paying the auction fee. Had he not carpooled with two other killie nuts (me
included), his travel expenses would have been $33 for gas and tolls on a
240 mile round trip. Madness. Sheer madness. I would not have blamed the
accomplished breeders in my club had they stopped bringing fish entirely for
auction. Some have stopped and more would have had not something been done.
And not one of the people who bring in auctuon stuff month after month
expect to turn a profit. How do other clubs out there run their monthly
auctions?
.........Ron Schulz................Dutchess County NY    .
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