Potomac Valley Aquarium Society

Rules for the Bidder:

1. All persons wishing to participate in bidding are required to register with their full name and address. Bidding numbers will be assigned to all buyers. To obtain a bidding number, buyers will be required to leave either a driver's license or military ID, or a blank signed check or cash deposit.
2. Everyone will be required to settle their accounts before they leave. All accounts must be settled as you depart, at which time your ID will be returned.
3. Items may be inspected only before the auction and during breaks.
4. Bidding will run as follows: $1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50... The auctioneer has the right to alter this on an item at his/her discretion.
5. Successful bidders will have their items brought to them. An authorized bidder may run a tab and pay by cash or check. See the treasurer before the auction. Proper identification will be required in these instances.
6. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
7. In all cases the decision of the auctioneer is final.
8. To accommodate out-of-town travelers or those who need to leave early, a "Priority Item" system may be used during the auction. For a fee of $2.00, buyers may request a specific item be brought to the auction block, as long as it is marked with an appropriately color-coded sticker supplied by the auction committee. This fee will be collected up front, in cash, and is not applied to any bids placed on the item. This fee does not guarantee that the person who paid the fee will win the bid on the item. A limited number of priority item stickers will be available at each break in the auction, at which time buyers may bring such items to the auctioneer to pay the fee and label the item as "Priority".
9. Credit Cards or PayPal cannot be accepted for auction payments.

Auction Rules

Rules for the Seller:

1. You do not need to be a PVAS member to buy or sell hobby-related items, including fish, plants, equipment, etc. in the auction.
2. Registration of items for sale will begin at 9AM and will end at 12 Noon. Auctioning will begin at 10AM. Items arriving after 11AM may not be placed on the tables until after the first break. You must be in line by 12 Noon to register.
3. All items must be labeled with the identity of their contents, to include: number, name, sex (if possible), and other pertinent data. Use a waterproof marking pen and adhesive label. Labeling equipment will be available at the auction site, but items must be labeled before being registered. "Pair" means one of each sex. "Mated Pair" means a pair that have spawned with each other. "Trio" means one male and two females. "Reverse trio" means two males and one female. "Unsexed" if you are not certain.
4. Supplies: All equipment MUST be labeled as to working condition, missing parts, and any other pertinent data. Used lightbulbs, open containers of medicine or food, and used carbon or resins will not be accepted. PVAS reserves the right to reject any item judged as unsuitable for auction.
5. Proper fish bags must be used. Live items must be bagged with ample air and water (don't overfill the bag with water, leave plenty of air space. About 2/3 air and 1/3 water is a good guideline). Make sure the bag is of a suitable size for the fish in it. Do not overcrowd fish. Please double bag fish that have sharp fins or protrusions. More than one bag may be joined together as one item if necessary. Fish packed in Ziploc or similar bags will not be registered. If a fish is registered in a bucket, tank, bowl, etc., the container will become part of the item and it will be auctioned as a unit. PVAS reserves the right to reject any improperly packed item and to re-bag any item if necessary. PVAS reserves the right to charge sellers a $1 rebagging fee per item.
6. Each item to be auctioned will receive a label with an item number. The order in which these are auctioned will be determined by the auction committee and/or chairman after the auction begins.
7. Items will be offered as is and will be sold as one item. Once registered, the contents of an item may not be split.
8. Each item carries a starting $1.00 minimum bid, unless the seller assigns a higher minimum (make sure to include the minimum on your label, the starting Minimum bid is $5). The seller may lower the minimum on an item that does not sell. Items that do not sell will be set aside and offered again at the very end of the auction or the seller may get the item immediately.
9. No payment will be made to the seller on the day of the auction. Payment will be forwarded by mail within approximately 10 business days after the auction date. It is the seller's responsibility to give PVAS a proper name and address to receive payment. Envelopes for this purpose will be filled out during registration.
10. PVAS Members: The seller will receive 75% of the seller's price. PVAS retains 25%.
    Non-members: The seller will receive 70% of the seller's price. PVAS retains 30%.
    For any item selling for $2 or less, PVAS retains the full amount.
11. All items not sold must be claimed at the close of the auction, or they will be disposed of at the discretion of the auction chairman.
12. The auctioneer retains the right to set aside any improperly bagged or marked item, or any sick or otherwise unsaleable item.
13. Livestock restricted by either federal or state statutes will not be accepted.