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Participating Artist's Document

Let me take this opportunity to thank each of you personally for participating in this wonderful event, now in it's second year! I am Nancy, and I am the techie person for this event. ;-)   Sandy is your event co-ordinator and is in charge of all the book-keeping.

 
As you know the Lemonade Bears Benefit will run from September 19 - 21st, 2008.  Please read this document carefully if you have registered to donate at bear to be auctioned during this time period.
 
I am  accepting photos to add to the Lemonade Bears site for a sneak peek.  Please keep photos sized to approximately 400 X 600 pixels at 72 dpi and in a .jpg format.  Very large files take too long too download. 
 
A photo editing tutorial, and a free photo editing program are available for you at http://www.lemonadebears.com/info.htm  about half way down the page.
 
Photos submitted before September 10th (midnight on the 10th) will be included on the web site in the preview.  Please email photos as attachments to bears135@shaw.ca
 
Please Read Very Carefully ... this info is very important to a successful event:
 
First, please check the website at www.lemonadebears.com   on the 'Participants' page.  If I have made any errors, missed you, or added you in error, please let me know right away so that I can fix that up.  Check your website links too!   I have been known to make mistakes!
 
These donations  will be auctioned in three day auctions, and the bears will be listed on www.bid4bears.com between September 19 and 21.
 
Each artist is responsible for listing their own items.  Listing on Bid 4 Bears is really easy, and no further registration on the site is required to participate in this event.
 
IMPORTANT LISTING INFORMATION:  An account has been set up for the Lemonade Bears Benefit participants  (see below)  at Bid 4 Bears.  To list your bears please first familiarize yourself with the website at www.bid4bears. 
 
If you're familiar with online auctions, then Bid 4 Bears will not pose any major problems for you.   You can find out information about the site by clicking on the HELP and FAQ links at the bottom of each page. Further information is provided for you in the Round Table area.  Browse around the site and get a feel for it.
 
Bid 4 Bears also differs from eBay in the following:
    • You MAY link to your website from your auction, but you may not link to eBay auctions.
    • You MAY include email links in your auction and are encouraged to do so as you will not have access to private questions when listing under the Lemonade Bears account.
    • All buyers and seller information including address, email and phone is exchanged by automated email at the close of a successful auction and not before.  This info will go to the co-ordinator, but you can also find it by logging into the Lemonade Bears account, and clicking on Selling in the Members area.  Then choose 'View All.'
    • There is an ANTI SNIPING feature installed.  Bids placed within the last 10 seconds of the auction, automatically extend the auction.
    • The counter at the bottom of each page counts only unique IP addresses. These are unique users every 24 hours.  It does not count every a user refreshes the page.
To List Your Auction:
 
Log into the Members Area at www.bid4bears using the following information:
Username:  Lemonade Bears
Password: lemons
 
Items listed for this benefit under any other user ID will be terminated without notice.    This ensures that all funds go directly to the Lemonade Foundation.
 
  • Now, click SELL at the top of the page.  
  • You will be asked if you want to list an auction.  Yes you do.
  • Please use your name or company name in the auction title.  Collectors want to know WHO made the bear! 
  • Enter all the information  as needed into the listing template, using the proceed buttons at the bottom of the page to continue with each new section of the listing.  Many of the important features are already filled in for you, such as the paypal address,   and the International shipping icon.  All sellers are requested to make international shipping available. This is important as the internet is a Global marketplace.  You will be reimbursed for your shipping costs once the auction has successfully completed with safe delivery of the item.  Sandy, the wizard of the accounts will be in touch with each of you personally regarding the accounting and reimbursement details of the benefit.
  • You may use a reserve if you like, but remember that this may discourage bidding.  Start with reasonable starting bids.
  • Please use the 'Featured' on 'Home' Page  and 'Category' selection.  We want to really promote these bears!  Remember...there is no cost to you!
To add photos, please visit the HELP link at the bottom of the Bid 4 Bears pages.  You can either upload photos directly from your computer, or link to offsite photos providing the hosting service for your photos allows this.  (Please note that some sites, such as Bear Pile do NOT allow this, and consequently your photos won't show up.)
 
If you wish to use an html template, such as Sellers Sourcebook for your auction, use the  <>  icon at the top of the listing word processor. Once you click on that icon, you can easily cut and paste complicated html into the listing to create lovely auction pages, providing you have purchased the template or have a good working knowledge of html.   Otherwise,  our word processor makes it easy to edit text colors, backgrounds etc.  Just mouse over the icons to see what they do.  I'm sure you'll find it a very user friendly, yet powerful listing tool.
 
Finally,  listing in  the Lemonade Bears account is completely free.  You will not be charged any user or final value fees.  The money will be sent directly to our paypal account which has been set up specifically for auction proceeds.   An accounting is done to ensure that artists are reimbursed their shipping fees from the money collected.  This will  be the same as the  amount charged to the buyer.  Questions regarding the handling of funds and accounting should be directed to:
 
Any questions regarding the use of the  Bid 4 Bears site, or technical difficulties should be addressed to bears135@shaw.ca   Please put 'HELP Lemonade Bears' in the subject line, so I'll know to answer your question promptly.
 
All bears must be either listed, or scheduled to start on the 21st of September. Time does not matter.  All listing are to be listed as 3 day auctions.
 
Thank you again for participating.  

Don't forget to send a photo of your bear to Nancy by September 10th so that it can be added to the website preview!

 
Good luck and happy auctioning!
 
Nancy Tillberg
bid4bears admin