Community Chat

[Plaid Pants2]

I just did! It was the first time that I have ever bought anything during our local PBS pledge drive.

Local businesses donate gift certificates, goods and services to be auctioned off, and if they get full value for the item being auctioned, they ring a big cow bell.

They had a gift certificate for a restaurant, for $50. I decided that it would be nice for me to take my dad there for lunch, in order to get him out of his apartment.

I put in an initial bid of $40.

Someone bid $45.

I bid $50, full value, and won the auction, and got the ringing cow bell!

I like PBS. They have good programs, and the money raised go to keep those shows going.

So it's a win-win-win!

The business wins by getting a customer.

PBS wins by getting money.

I win by getting a certificate for a place that I might not have otherwise tried.

So, if your PBS has fund raising auctions, have you ever won anything, and if so, what was it?

[x Hedge]

I bought a quartz heater for $15 bucks that kept me warm for 32 wisconsin winters. Lightweight, portable, very effective!

I wore out the control dials by around year 25, but fixed them. The quartz heater was still in good working order when I reluctantly tossed it out a couple years ago because I couldn't repair the dials for another season.
Im STILL kicking myself 'cuz since then I learned how I could've repaired it!

[libbyannE]

We always donate but tell them to keep the gift so that more money goes to their programming fund.

[DiAnne]

Out PBS station used to put together a cookbook with recipes from local home cooks and local restaurants.  They always had a theme like one year it would be salads and another year desserts, etc. I always used to purchase that book.  The last couple of years they stopped doing it.  

[hennypenny]

Ours used to have an auction. It was such fun. I bid on a painting done by a Los Angeles artist. When it arrived it was really not right for our home so donated it to our son's school to auction off.

[cotton4me]

I don’t recall our PBS station ever having auctions but they sell merchandise associated with the programming.  I’ve purchased some books/CD's over the years on heart health, healthy eating, fitness, etc. 

[151949]

WQED in Pittsburgh has cooking shows and then they give the cookbooks as gifts when you make a pledge - I have several of their cookbooks.

[hookedonq]

We made a (somewhat large) donation during an Andrea Boccelli show and received tickets to his concert. Our seats were amazing, the show was fantastic, and we feel good about the donation going to PBS.

[x Hedge]

@Plaid Pants2,  I thought this was a wonderful topic and I'm surprised response has been sluggish.

PBS has T W O  HUGE annual fundraising auctions in my area.

There is one, in spring I think, that auctions all manner of artistic pieces, and another in fall that auctions merchandise or services.

Each auction runs about 15 straight broadcast hours a day for a full week, and the whole south-eastern portion of my state gets involved in donation, volunteering, and buying what is put up for auction.

I guess I was under the impression all larger cities put on their own PBS fundraising auctions since these have been going on annually in my area around 40 (?) years.

Congratulations on your restaurant certificate. Hope you have a great meal. Your certificate covers your meal, but don't forget to leave a tip!

[shoptilyadropagain]

I did but it was probably 30 years ago.  A local jewelery store had donated a gift certificate so I bid on it and won.  I don't remember the price but I do know I won it for a little less than face value.  I ended up getting a necklace with it.  I wore it a couple of years and then gave it to my mom.  I don't think she wears it anymore but still has it.  As for the local jewelery store....it's gone now as the owner is now in his upper 80's.