The 2024 Benefit Auction takes place from September 13 through October 6. With 440+ pieces of beautiful artwork available for bidding, there is something for everyone to enjoy! At just 12" square, these pieces are perfect for collecting and displaying.
If you have any questions about the auction, please email us at auction@saqa.art. If you are having technical issues, login problems, or app related issues, please contact Handbid directly (service@handbid.com or through their chat function).
PLEASE READ ALL THE AUCTION FAQs BEFORE BIDDING!
- No bidding is allowed between 1 and 2pm when the auction is paused. Bidding reopens at 2pm EDT (GMT/UTC -4)
- A Handbid account is required for bidding. Register Now
- Adding a piece to your cart = IMMEDIATE SALE. Items cannot be removed from cart.
- Shipping will be added at the end of each bidding day: $15 US / $30 non-US (5+ pieces on same day will ship free).
- Available pieces in later bidding sections can be purchased anytime for a buy-it-now price of $1,000.
- After the auction, remaining quilts will be available for purchase for $100 until mid-December.
What is the schedule?
The auction opens with Diamond Day on Friday, September 13 when any piece is available for $1,000; the first bidder wins. The rest of this reverse-price auction is divided into three sections, with a new section open each Monday:
Section 1: Sept 16 - Sept 22
Section 2: Sept 23 - Sept 29
Section 3: Sept 30 - Oct 6
Bid prices start at $750 per quilt and drop each day at 2pm EDT (GMT/UTC -4) until they reach $100 on Saturday. The following Monday, the bidding pattern repeats until the auction closes on October 6. Remaining pieces will be available in the SAQA Store.
Everyone is welcome to bid in the auction - you do NOT have to be a SAQA member.
Where can I see all the auction pieces?
You can use the Auction View page on the SAQA website to see all the pieces. You can search by name and easily view the pieces by bidding section. Click on the thumbnail to see more information about the piece, including a larger image and link to the Handbid page.
Auction pieces can also be viewed on the Handbid platform which is where all the bidding action happens.
Click on a piece to view more information, including statement and donor information. The pieces are all 12” x 12” with about a 1” variance. A few are larger or smaller and the actual size of those is listed in the description.
You can use the Previous/Next arrows to navigate through the individual pieces. Please note that these will be in section (category) order. To return to the main list, click Browse Items.
By default, the items are listed alphabetically by artist first name. You can use to search tool at the top to find a name or title. You can also change the sort order by clicking on the circle/line icon to the right of the search bar.
This will display various sort and filter options. Here you can change the sort order to Item Code (which will re-sort in Last name order) or Highest/Lowest Prices. You can also filter the list to a specific category/section.
How can I see pieces in just one section?
Benefit Auction pieces have been divided up into 3 sections for bidding purposes. You can see the section when viewing details about each piece.
In Handbid, you can view all the pieces in a particular section by using the available filters (see FAQ above). It's a bit trickier since you have to remember to unfilter the items if you want to view a different section. If you are using the app version, swipe left to see the different sections.
You can use the Previous/Next arrows to navigate through the individual pieces. To return to the main list, click Browse Items and then be sure to reset your filters if you want to see other sections!
An easier way to view the pieces by section is to use the Auction View page on the SAQA website. You can just click on the Section names to show the pieces in just that section. You can go directly to the Handbid page by clicking on a thumbnail and selecting the View on Handbid button.
What are the auction basics?
SAQA uses the auction platform Handbid for the Benefit Auction. You must first create an account on Handbid (including a credit card number) to bid on an item. Since this can take a few minutes, we suggest preregistering before the auction opens. Note that this is different than the SAQA website login - you must be on Handbid to access your bidding profile or log back in.
The current bidding price will be displayed on screen and the FIRST person who adds a piece to their cart (aka "bids") is the winner. There is no checkout process - clicking on Add to Cart will complete the transaction. Note that items cannot be removed from shopping carts. All sales are final.
If you are not logged in first, you may need to click the Add to Cart button a second time to complete the transaction. This will NOT charge you twice or add 2 items to your cart. We suggest logging in before you start any transactions to eliminate any confusion.
You will be prompted to pay your invoice after every transaction - you can pay immediately or wait until you are done bidding for the day. Any order that isn't fully paid by 6pm EDT will be manually charged by SAQA staff when your order is processed for shipping.
Shipping fees will be charged once your order has shipped: $15 US / $30 non-US for 1-4 pieces. This fee is added to your invoice by SAQA staff when your order is processed. You will receive an email confirmation. If you win 5 or more pieces on the same day, shipping is free!
Please note that customs fees and taxes may apply to non-US addresses upon delivery. If you have any special shipping requests, please let us know at auction@saqa.com as soon as possible.
I am ready to bid - what do I need to know?
First, you will need to register or select the Register tab from the top of the Handbid pages. If you already have an account on Handbid (or added one without registering for our auction first), you can just use the login link. Not sure if you have a Handbid account? Try the email you may have used before - Handbid will recognize you and prompt you accordingly.
Please make sure you enter your complete address and not just the street address when prompted. You can also update this information in your profile after your account is created. This will greatly expedite shipping and processing.
While a credit card isn't required on this screen, you will be prompted for one when you try to place a bid. Your bid will NOT be recognized until this information is entered. Since other people might be bidding at the same time, the time it takes to enter your card number could be the difference between winning or losing your bid. Therefore we do recommend that you add your credit card before placing any bids (either on the registration screen or via the Account options on the upper right).
If you plan on using the app version of Handbid (or want to receive texts about the status of your bids), enter your cell phone number (not a landline). You can enter all zeros if you prefer not to receive texts or use the app.
Once you register for the auction, you will be assigned a paddle number. You can also request a text to set up the SAQA Auction on your phone. Download the Handbid app from the Apple iTunes App Store or the Google Play store.
Do I have to be a SAQA member to bid?
Absolutely not! We encourage everyone to bid on the auction quilts.
How do I add something to my cart / place my bid?
Once the auction is in progress, an Add to Cart button will be displayed on the detail page along with the current price. Adding an item to your cart is essentially the same as placing a bid.
Important Note: Clicking on the "Add to Cart" button means that you will be charged for this piece if you are the winner. Items cannot be removed from shopping carts. The FIRST person who bids on a piece is the winner.
If you are not logged in first, you may need to click the Add to Cart button a second time to complete the transaction. This will NOT charge you twice or add 2 items to your cart. We suggest logging in before you start any transactions to eliminate any confusion.
SHIPPING & PAYMENT QUESTIONS
When should I pay my invoice?
In addition to an onscreen prompt to pay your invoice, you will receive an email and/or text notification when you have won a piece. You can also view your invoices by clicking on the Account option in the upper right. All of your purchases and payments will be included on a single invoice no matter how many items you win.
You will be prompted to pay your invoice after every transaction - you can pay then or wait until you are done bidding for the day. Any order that isn't fully paid by 6pm EDT will be automatically charged when SAQA staff processes the order for shipping.
What is the shipping charge?
The shipping and handling fee will be a flat rate for up to five pieces at a time on any given date. Shipping and handling within the United States -- $15; International shipping and handling -- $30. If you purchase more than 5 pieces on a given date, your items will ship FREE.
We are happy to hold all your pieces until the end of the auction (a single shipping charge will apply). Please contact us at auction@saqa.art as soon as you win your first piece.
Shipping fees will be added by SAQA staff when your order is processed. You will receive receipts for all transactions via email (check your spam). Everything will be available via the account options as well. We are happy to combine shipments whenever possible - please let us know ASAP once you make your first purchase.
If you win 5 or more pieces on the same day, shipping is free! If you have any special shipping requests, please let us know at auction@saqa.art as soon as possible. Note that any order that exceeds $500 in value will be sent with signature required for insurance purposes. Contact us at auction@saqa.art if you wish to make alternative arrangements.
Please note that customs fees and additional taxes may apply to non-US addresses upon delivery. These are fees imposed by the destination country. SAQA does not have any control over how much is charged. For your convenience, prepayment of these fees may be possible - contact us at auction@saqa.art to find out more details.
Can I have my auction pieces shipped to a different address?
If you need your pieces shipped to a different address than your profile address, please email auction@saqa.art immediately.
Can I pay by PayPal or check instead of a credit card?
If you prefer to pay via PayPal, please contact us at auction@saqa.art for further instructions.
MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS
What is Diamond Day?
Diamond Day is an early bidding window when ALL Benefit Auction quilts will be available for $1,000. It starts on FRIDAY, September 13 at 2:00pm EDT (GMT - 4) and will remain in effect until September 16 at 1:00pm EDT. Did you miss Diamond Day? Pieces in later bidding sections can be purchased for a buy-it-now price of $1,000.
Do I have to use the Handbid app on my phone?
No - you do NOT have to use the Handbid app on a phone to participate. All auction functionality is available via the web interface as well. Some users find it easier to use the browser version, even on their phones or smaller devices, as it's easier to create multiple tabs for bidding purposes.
However, if you like to use apps on your phone or tablet, download the Handbid app for free from the Apple iTunes App Store or the Google Play store. Once you download the app, you can easily find our auction by typing SAQA in the Find an Event field. You can also request a text when you register online, which will send a direct link to your phone.
To learn more about using the Handbid app, watch this video.
How do I know if a quilt is sold?
As soon as a piece has been purchased, it will appear as SOLD when viewing the piece on Handbid. Sold pieces will be moved to the SOLD ITEMS category on the left, but they can still be viewed on the list of all items. You will need to click on the piece to view the full image (it will be grayed out).
If you are viewing the pieces on some of the alternative Airtable views, the Sold status is manually updated by staff and might be delayed. Sold pieces will display after the available pieces. Always check Handbid for real-time updates. You can view just the sold pieces via Airtable.
How do I find out who has purchased a piece?
Artists will be emailed buyer information during the auction once their payment has been received and shipping information verified. If you do NOT receive an email by the end of the auction, please contact us.
Buyer information will NOT be displayed unless the buyer has opted to add a name to their bidding profile.
How can I find a piece by a particular artist?
You can use the search tool at the top of the screen to search for a name, title, or keyword. If you do not see the search tool, you may need to click Browse Items to return the main list.
How can I track my favorite pieces?
One of the great features is the ability to "favorite" auction pieces so you can track them throughout the auction. You need to create a Handbid account first and log in. Tap the heart icon when viewing an item. Your Favorites will then be readily accessible in the app.
Using the browser version? Just select them under ITEM TYPE when accessing the filters (the list of favorites from your profile menu is not functioning).
How do I get back into my Handbid account?
Once you have registered, you may need to log back into Handbid to place your bids. This option is available in the upper right of the Handbid screen. If you have forgotten your login, you can request a password reset email from Handbid. Please note that this login is different than your SAQA login for the website or mySAQA.
How do I know my profile is complete? How can I update this information?
To maximize your bidding success, make sure we have a credit card number and shipping address on file before placing your bids. To check or update your profile information, select Account from the upper right, then Profile (to update your address) or one of the other options.
How can I share details about the auction with others?
We love it when people help promote the auction! You can find graphics and other details on our Auction promotion page. You can refer people to www.saqa.com/auction as this will have all the updated information.
You can also use the social share buttons on the Handbid site to share a specific piece (great for participating artists!) Just search for your name and click through to the detail view. Use one of the social share buttons to create a direct link to your own page. If you choose the option to send via Email, it will generate a short link that is perfect for sharing or using as a link from your custom image.
