Fluff Factory thread for 2/23/05 - Page 4

[Boobiemama]

Even though most of my auctions are 10%, I have ALOT listed, so that is 10% of a whole bunch of auctions. And I did some 50 and 100%.
I also plan (as do many wahms) to give more than 10% if it ends up going higher than expected. The only reason It doesnt say that in my auctions is because I posted all my auctions while holding and nursing a very sick baby earlier this week. I typed as little as I could.
These auctions are the only time I am able to give to charity. We struggle each month, like lots of people, and i feel good that 2 times a year, I can raise some money to help others.

I think 10% is better than nothing. Dont you think? If I was rich and could donate all my materials and time, I would give more 100% auctions, but I am not.

[MyBaby'sSmile]

I haven't read all of this thread as I just woke up from putting ds to bed :LOL and just came in to turn off the computer

But I agree with the comments I have read on this page. I don't think anyone is out to make a personal profit. I personally set my donation to 20% but now that it has gone beyond retail, the percentage will be increased to reflect it and a copy of the donation will be emailed out to the winner. I'm not a member of the FF, but I put faith in the FF companies that I have dealt with or have heard positive reviews about.

I also know that the time a wahm has with her children is invaluable. So I don't expect a wahm to donate 100% every time to charities when I know that they are taking time away from their wonderful babes to do so.

[MissSugarKane]

Originally Posted by lindsayloo2020

Ok...Well I guess you have answered my question than. That MOST WAHM's will give what is basically whats over retail, and if its not, they will give the percentage. This sounds totally fair to me.

I guess what just bothers me is if the WAHM or auction lister is gaining money (meaning FAR over retail) by putting the word "charity" in the auction. I guess it WOULD bother me if the auction went for say $400, and the item was worth say $80 retail, and the WAHM pocketed $360 and gave $40 to the charity. Yes $40 is WAY better than nothing, but its still kind of sad to me that the wahm would be gaining pretty pennies from using the word charity in the title. KWIM? I may be the only one who feels this way but I have a feeling Im not.

If this isnt actually happenning, than please disregard my feelings as they are invalid. And thanks for answering my question everyone. I have bid on a few auctions as well, as I love for my money to go to charity regardless, but Im tending NOT to bid on the items that are going for WAY over retail but only 10% is given to the charity as I wasnt sure how that worked.

Lindsay I actually posted this on the first FF thread but then removed it because I didn't want to get flamed.Yes 10% is better then nothing but the word charity is making some things go for way higher then they would normally.So I was thinking 10% was not much compared to the profit the wahm is making.I have seen the donation % go up the last few days and I think that is great.

eta: when I say the profit the wahm is making I am referring to the auctions that are in the hundreds of dollars.Not the smaller ones where them wahm will barely make her cost in supplies back.

[Aherne]

I think most the $$$ bid stuff is either

a- donated at 100%

b- hyena bait, therefore charity or not... rabid bidders would have put it far above retail regardless Stuff gets sold above retail for extreme prices every other week of the year (*cough* FM diapers at $100+) and there doesn't seem to be a problem for the most part.

Some of the resident hyena diaper making moms have been busy to try and create special things just for the charity event. More for the aspect of excitement. I don't think any of the moms are riding the coat tails of charity to make a quick buck.

And bidding is up to the bidder. The % of each auction is no secret so if someone wants to bid above retail then that is wonderful... in no way are they being lied to as to where the money goes.

[Just*Lindsay]

Originally Posted by MissSugarKane

Lindsay I actually posted this on the first FF thread but then removed it because I didn't want to get flamed.Yes 10% is better then nothing but the word charity is making some things go for way higher then they would normally.So I was thinking 10% was not much compared to the profit the wahm is making.I have seen the donation % go up the last few days and I think that is great.

eta: when I say the profit the wahm is making I am referring to the auctions that are in the hundreds of dollars.Not the smaller ones where them wahm will barely make her cost in supplies back.

That is exactly what I meant. Thanks for clarifying it Jamie. LOL

[Piffle]

I would love to donate all my auctions winnings to this charity but I just can't afford to do that. I use the money from my business to support me and my son.

I have worked with all these incredible wahm for the past two weeks to bring this charity to life. Many hours have went above and beyond to support these children. I personally spent three hours loading just two auctions b/c I am computer dummy. :LOL

I can proudly say that not one of them is "greedy" or out to make profit off of this charity event. In fact they are the most generous bunch of people I have ever met!

[Piffle]

Originally Posted by MissSugarKane

Yes 10% is better then nothing but the word charity is making some things go for way higher then they would normally.So I was thinking 10% was not much compared to the profit the wahm is making.

I don't agree. I think the auctions going for hundreds would go that way regardless. I remember seeing a MM auction go over $300 and it wasn't for charity( and Morweena totally deserves it). How do you know how much profit the wahm is really making anyways? I haven't made any profit in the year 2005 so far. :LOL

But seriously, it is really tough trying to make a good living with this business but I want to stay home with my son. AND I have enjoyed every minute of the last 2 years and 9 months!

[SarahTorg]

Originally Posted by lindsayloo2020

Everything is beautiful, Id love to bid on everything.

Can someone explain something to me though. Arent people making pretty pennies off of these auctions by using charity in the name? MOST of these auctions are 10%. So say something goes for $300, the person selling it is getting $270 (way over retail right?) and the charity is getting $30? Isnt that a TAD sad to anyone? Im sure Ill get WAAAAY flamed for this, but I was just wondering if I was right or if Im smokin crack and things are going differentely than I have imagined. LOL

Thanks.

Lindsay

Lindsay, in past experiences with fluff stuff, the wahms do donate anything over their retail price. So, if something is set at giving 10%, and the auction does so well, the definately donate beyond that. Then, where are some wahms that are selling tons of auctions at very low prices, so 10% of all their auctions really add up. So, I don't think you are weird for thinking this, but the above is what happens in most cases.

[Just*Lindsay]

I do want to clarify that I do NOT think there is anything wrong with auctioning your items off and making hundreds off of it. That wasnt my point, that the WAHM doesnt deserve the extra money, as they do.

I guess my point wasnt taken. It doesnt matter anyways, this is just MY opinion. LOL

[LittleIslandMom]

Lindsay, I wanted to add my support in that I was wondering similar too - if the WAHM specifying 10% might ultimately also donate anything over retail (or anything over what she felt was a reasonable coverage of her costs and time) - but many of us aren't necessarily courageous enough to give voice to these thoughts.

I am glad the discussion's been had, though, and I do see the point the WAHMs are making... it's true sometimes we have an opinion and we don't see the other side of things until told... the important thing is, what conclusion do we draw in the end?

I like to hear the WAHM's side of things too (it's a very different lifestyle and I can see how many are forced to make very different choices from myself - I work outside the home full-time - because of their decision to stay home with their kids) and I really admire that.

I think it was a good and worthwhile thread and discussion, and isn't that the point of these boards?

[apmama]

Originally Posted by Aherne

b- hyena bait, therefore charity or not... rabid bidders would have put it far above retail regardless Stuff gets sold above retail for extreme prices every other week of the year (*cough* FM diapers at $100+) and there doesn't seem to be a problem for the most part.
.

yep! I totally agree with that! and right now it's going to an awesome cause! Bid on mama's!

[jennyriver]

Originally Posted by Piffle

I haven't made any profit in the year 2005 so far. :LOL

But seriously, it is really tough trying to make a good living with this business but I want to stay home with my son. AND I have enjoyed every minute of the last 2 years and 9 months!

well then jesse, please email me so i can help you out :LOL

i can totally see this...most WAHMs in the FF group obviously have been way undercharging for their stuff for years. not that i think they are trying to make it back on these auctions, but it's about time people did see that what they make is worth more than it typically sells for.

in the beginning, i was on the side of believing that auctions would go higher in the name of charity and a 10% donation meant a big profit for WAHMs when they could donate more. so i see what lindsay and others are saying. but i've thought on it a bit and in the end, NONE of these mamas really "make" much, if any money. i know jesse meant to be mostly funny but she has a point. it all comes out in the wash...jane doe sews all year and makes no profit and maybe is in debt and has actually been selling her stuff for so low that, hourly, she makes just a few dollars. now she puts up a big auction that does very well but she has only agreed to donate 25%. should she give it all to charity because it went over retail? do we tend to send WAHMs extra because we know they rarely make enough to keep their businesses open? true, WAHMs can ask for as much or little as they want for products but we all know that, in general, someone asking $40/diaper isn't going to sell that many that often.

so, in the end, the WAHMs whose auctions sell high aren't getting rich, that's for sure. it may seem that way for these few auctions but once you look at the bigger picture, i think it's obvious they aren't.

i do agree stuff is going higher for charity, and that's a GOOD thing!

[jennyriver]

oh and i meant to add that i have a feeling some of these WAHMs had NO idea their auctions would go so high - so saying 10% for something you expected to sell for lower meant you were getting a smaller profit too. i really think, after reading the "behind the scenes" testimonies from the FF members, it's obvious once it goes over a certain amount the WAHMs do more than they originally promised.

[Piffle]

Originally Posted by jennyriver

well then jesse, please email me so i can help you out :LOL

i can totally see this...most WAHMs in the FF group obviously have been way undercharging for their stuff for years. not that i think they are trying to make it back on these auctions, but it's about time people did see that what they make is worth more than it typically sells for.

in the beginning, i was on the side of believing that auctions would go higher in the name of charity and a 10% donation meant a big profit for WAHMs when they could donate more. so i see what lindsay and others are saying. but i've thought on it a bit and in the end, NONE of these mamas really "make" much, if any money. i know jesse meant to be mostly funny but she has a point. it all comes out in the wash...jane doe sews all year and makes no profit and maybe is in debt and has actually been selling her stuff for so low that, hourly, she makes just a few dollars. now she puts up a big auction that does very well but she has only agreed to donate 25%. should she give it all to charity because it went over retail? do we tend to send WAHMs extra because we know they rarely make enough to keep their businesses open? true, WAHMs can ask for as much or little as they want for products but we all know that, in general, someone asking $40/diaper isn't going to sell that many that often.

so, in the end, the WAHMs whose auctions sell high aren't getting rich, that's for sure. it may seem that way for these few auctions but once you look at the bigger picture, i think it's obvious they aren't.

i do agree stuff is going higher for charity, and that's a GOOD thing!

you Jenny

[MissSugarKane]

Originally Posted by Piffle

I don't agree. I think the auctions going for hundreds would go that way regardless. I remember seeing a MM auction go over $300 and it wasn't for charity( and Morweena totally deserves it). How do you know how much profit the wahm is really making anyways? I haven't made any profit in the year 2005 so far. :LOL

But seriously, it is really tough trying to make a good living with this business but I want to stay home with my son. AND I have enjoyed every minute of the last 2 years and 9 months!

Listen I never said wahms did not deserve high prices for their goods.And no I don't know the exact profit but I am pretty sure it doesn't take a few hundred $ to make the item.Otherwise no wahm could be in business.So again if only 10% was donated there is some sort of profit.Everytime these FF auctions take place I have questioned this.It is not a judgement on the wahms as being greedy as they can't know what something will go for.

And trust me I know it is hard to make a living as a wahm.So far I have failed at that I am not questioning what wahms deserve for their work.I am questioning profitting from a charity auction.Two different things.And it seems to have been cleared up by a few other wahms already.It is an innocent question about the auctions themselves and doesn't need to get personal about the wahms personal incomes.I feel the point of the OP and what I have also said have been missed or taken as a diss and I can't really explain myself any better then I already have.And I have already invested too much energy in something I don't really care that much about.I already know I am going to do the donate direct so this is not even an issue with me.

Now I know why I removed my post the other night...drama

[Trishy]

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...95#post2727295
New day, new thread.