Auction Rules

A bidding number will be provided and included in your packet when you arrive at the Auction. This number must be used for all bidding in both the Live and Silent Auctions.  You are financially responsible for all items purchased with this number, so please use only the number assigned to you.

All sales are final.  There will be no exchanges or refunds on items except where specified in advance by the donors.  All items are sold on an “as is” basis.  Unless otherwise specified, all items, vacations and services must be used with one year of the Auction.  All items are sold as outlined on the Auction bid sheets and cannot be changed or modified unless expressly stated.

The buyer waives any claims for liability including, but not limited to, personal injuries or damages against Cary Academy, the PTAA, and the donor of the property or services.  Cary Academy makes no express or implied warranties on Auction items other than the manufacturer’s warranty.    

Silent Auction

Each item of the Silent Auction has a bid sheet attached to a clipboard on the table on which it is located.  You may place a bid by writing your bidder number and your name on the line for the amount bid on the bid sheet.  Please include your name, as we may need it to reconcile bidder numbers and names.

Guaranteed Purchase: You may write your name and bidder number at the bottom of the sheet under "Guaranteed Purchase."  If you agree to this amount, you may buy the item for the listed price.  If someone is willing to pay the "Guaranteed Purchase" price, bidding stops on this item. Not all items have a "Guaranteed Purchase" price.

An authorized person may disqualify a bidder who blocks a table prior to the close of bidding.

Bidding sheets may not be removed from the table.

The closing bid approved by an Auction official constitutes the winning bid.  An Auction official will resolve any disputes, and the official’s decision is final.  

Live Auction

The Live Auction will begin at approximately 9:00 pm, and will continue until all items have been sold.

To make a bid during the Live Auction, raise your bid number to the auctioneer. When the auctioneer recognizes you, you can call out your bid.

The auctioneer will acknowledge the high bidder.  The recorder will write the high bidder’s number and bid amount on a bid sheet that will be given to the cashier for check-out.

The auctioneer retains the right to announce conditions for the sale of any item.  If the auctioneer determines that an opening or any subsequent bid is not commensurate with the value of the item offered, he might reject the bid and withdraw the item from sale.  There may be a minimum bid on some items.  The auctioneer will be the final arbiter of any dispute.  

Payment/checkout

Payment in full on the evening of the Auction is required and may be made by cash, check, Discover, MasterCard or VISA. 

All sales are final.  There can be no exchanges or refunds except where expressly noted.

You are responsible for removing your purchases from Cary Academy by the end of the evening unless otherwise arranged with Auction Commitee.

The Auction Committee has endeavored to catalog and describe items and services accurately on-line and on the bid sheets, but everything is sold as is.  Certain Auction items and/or services may have restricted uses or other qualifications that affect value – for example: vacation home is non-transferable.  Purchasers are bound by the precise restrictions specified by donors.  The terms are not negotiable.  Please read carefully any specifications or limitations.  Unless otherwise specified, all Auction items and services must be used within one year after the date of the Auction.

The Auction Committee makes no express or implied warranties or representations of any kind or nature with respect to the property or services, and in no event shall it be responsible for the accuracy of descriptions, genuineness, authenticity or condition of the property or services.  No statement in the program, the bill of sale, the invoice or elsewhere, or made at the sale, shall be deemed as a warranty or representation or an assumption of liability.  By his or her purchase, the buyer waives any claim for liability against Cary Academy, the PTAA or the donor of property or services, and Cary Academy, the PTAA nor the donor is responsible for any personal injuries or damages that may result from the utilization of property or services sold.

Check out will not begin until 10:00 pm to allow all silent auction winning bids to be entered.    

Tax Talk

Tickets to the Cary Academy Benefit Auction are NOT tax-deductible unless otherwise noted on your response card or online order form.  Tuition Raffle Tickets are NOT tax-deductible.  

In general, the tax-deductible amount of purchased Auction items is the difference between the price paid at the Auction and the fair market value of the goods and/or services provided..  A good-faith estimate of the item’s fair market value will be clearly listed in the Auction on line catalog and on the bid sheet.

It may be difficult to establish a fair market value for one-of-a-kind items, such as works of art, autographed sports memorabilia or similarly unique items.  In these cases, as with any tax situation, the establishment of fair market value for tax purposes should be done in consultation with your tax advisor.  

Vacation House Rules

Vacation house occupancy is not negotiable unless stated otherwise and must be used within one year of the Auction unless stated otherwise.  No house parties of any kind are permitted, and no pets are allowed.  Please note individual restrictions.  Adult supervision is mandatory.