| Auctions have long been a staple in the toolkit of | | | | be viewed at the eBay website. |
| nonprofit development professionals. The emergence | | | | ************************************ |
| of ubiquitous online access have made online auctions | | | | In addition to eBay, other vendors offer vehicles for |
| an excellent vehicle for nonprofits and charities to | | | | nonprofits to run fundraising auctions. CMarket - |
| raise funds while engaging stakeholders and other | | | | offers services emphasizing the importance of |
| consituencies in their causes. eBay, the leader | | | | bidders, donors and sponsors, and their respective |
| platform for online auctions also provides a number | | | | roles in a successful auction. Their Website is a |
| of offerings for running nonprofit auctions. Running a | | | | valuable source of fundraising auction tips. |
| charity auction on eBay is simple, but getting the | | | | ************************************ |
| most from your efforts involves developing a | | | | Questionable items are those that are not prohibited, |
| strategy and understanding the ins and outs of eBay. | | | | but are not necessarily infringing. Adult material falls |
| Luckily eBay provides lots of information on how to | | | | under the ?questionable? category. Tickets of any |
| be successful using their services. | | | | type may also be questionable. Law enforcement |
| Because eBay is such a huge marketplace, with | | | | related equipment, as well as guns, knives, and other |
| members from all walks of life, in almost every single | | | | weapons are questionable items. Artifacts, food |
| country around the world, it is no wonder that there | | | | items, batteries, all hazardous chemicals and materials |
| are many scammers lurking about. In order to better | | | | are also on the list of questionable items. You can |
| protect the buyers, eBay has specific rules | | | | auction questionable items at eBay, as long as those |
| concerning the items that can be auctioned off on | | | | items meet certain conditions. |
| the site. These rules must be followed, or the person | | | | Potentially Infringing items are those that violate |
| posting the item for auction can be banned from the | | | | copyrights, trademarks, and other legal rights. These |
| site. | | | | items are almost always some type of media, such |
| Even though there are numerous categories, items | | | | as software, DVDs, and CDs, but the list contains |
| that are put up for auction really only fall into one of | | | | other items as well, such as counterfeit items and |
| four categories at eBay: Prohibited, Questionable, | | | | illegal recordings. You can find out more about |
| Potentially Infringing, and Approved. Approved is the | | | | 'potentially infringing' items at the eBay website as |
| simplest category to define and understand. An | | | | well. |
| approved item is any item that does not fall into one | | | | If you are unsure as to which category your item |
| of the other three categories. That is fairly simple, | | | | falls into, you should contact eBay with this question |
| right? | | | | before setting up the auction. As a buyer, you should |
| After the 'approved' category, however, it starts to | | | | carefully consider the consequences of purchasing |
| get a little harder to understand ? with the exception | | | | items that fall under one of the three categories |
| of prohibited items. A prohibited item may not be | | | | above. In some cases, it may be very illegal to have |
| auctioned on eBay for any reason, under any | | | | some of those items in your possession ? no matter |
| circumstances. Prohibited items include alcohol, drugs, | | | | how they were obtained. Before making such a |
| animals, tobacco, human remains or body parts of | | | | purchase, or bidding on such an item, you should find |
| any type, lottery tickets, and governmental property. | | | | out more details about the item in question, and then |
| There is quite a bit more on the list, and that list can | | | | get some legal advice. |