2008 DuPont United Way Auction

How do I donate an item, service or activity to the auction?

  1. You will need this information about your donation:
  2. Name, phone number, e-mail address and DuPont SBU/Functionof the donor
  3. A description of the donated item/service/activity (tip: in some cases it is useful to include a link to website where the item is described)
  4. A digital photo of the item/service/activity which helps to generate higher bids (or a link to a photo)
  5. Thefair market value of the donated item
  6. Other special information about the item,especially Restrictions (e.g. I have tickets to an Eagles game on a specific date)
  7. Send the information to your SBU Auction Coordinator (listed at the bottom of this document)
  8. Once the winning bidder has paid for item/service/activity, the donor will receive an email asking them to contact the winning bidder to exchange the item/service/activity.

I am a bidder what should I know?

  1. Go to auction.dupont.com and click on the “Enter the Online Auction Site” button andselect the “catalog” tab. You may now browse the available items and decide what items you are interested in purchasing
  2. If you had an account last year, you must use that username again this year. Go to the first item in the FAQ’s below to learn how to get your existing username and reset your password.
  3. If you are a new bidder, set up an account with an email address. From the website, select “my account” in the lower left corner to create your account. It is ok to select a fun user ID. It can be your pet’s name, a favorite place or it could be related to the item you are bidding on (e.g. “sore feet” for a parking spot). Your user ID will be displayed when you are the leading bidder on an item. When setting up your account you will decide – by checking boxes - if the system will send you an e-mail notice when you successfully bid, if you are outbid and when you win an item.
  4. Once the account has been created, bid for any item you wish. The bidding procedure is as follows:
  5. Place a maximum bid amount in the bid field.
  6. Like eBay, the auction will bid on your behalf when other bids come in.
  7. If you are outbid, you will receive an email notification of this – if you set up your account this way (see item 2 above)
  8. If you win an item, you will receive an email notification with an invoice instructing you where to send the payment, and who to make the payment out to. Credit card payment will be accepted this year.
  9. Print the invoice out for tax purposes (where available)

FAQ’s

I was a bidder or donor last year but don’t remember by username or password. How do I find them?

Go to and select “My Account” in the lower left corner, click on “Trouble Logging In”, then enter your e-mail address. You will be sent an e-mail note containing your username and a link to reset your password.

Is on-line help available at the ReadySetAuction website?

Yes. Click on “How to Bid” or “Bidding Rules” from the website “HOME” page.

What types of items can be donated?

Here are some suggestions that have proven popular:

1. Experiences/activities - examples - event tickets (Eagles, theater, concert), a week/weekend at a vacation home

2. Activities with leadership - lunch/golf with VPGM

3. Services - salon, landscaping, car detailing

4. Items - gift baskets, iPod, NASCAR paraphernalia

Are there any types of items that will not be included in the auction?

  1. Pets and animals
  2. Homemade alcohol
  3. Used items of very low value (<$5) or used items in poor condition. Several low value items (e.g. paperback books) could be bundled together to create an item with sufficient value.

What file formats can I use for pictures?

Recommended file formats for pictures include .jpg, and .gif. However, any format can be used. Larger images make better photos. The auction team will crop and re-size the image to fit.

I do not have a photo of my item. Who can help me take a photo?

Contact your SBU auction coordinator (listed at the bottom of this document)

Can I use my donation as a tax deduction?

Depending on your tax laws, you can write-off the fair market value of items that you are donating. Please contact your tax accountant for further information.

A receipt template can be filled out by your SBU coordinator at the time of the donation.

Additionally, external businesses (eg, Brew Ha-Ha) can receive a letter with an official United Way letterhead explaining their donations and the corresponding fair market value.

If I am the winning bidder, can I get a tax deduction?

You may be able to get a tax deduction for the amount that your winning bid exceeds the item’s fair market value. . Please contact your tax accountant for further information.

How do I know that the gift certificate I donate will earn its face value in the auction?

Unfortunately, there will be no guarantee that all gift certificates will earn their corresponding face values for this auction. Some gift certificates may earn more, and some may earn less. On average, gift certificates raised 95% of their value in 2007. To increase bidding values even further this year, there is work on-going to improve marketing and to increase the number of bidders.

Can I remain anonymous when making a donation?

Yes, just notify your SBU coordinator and they can set the donation details to make you anonymous in the online auction catalog. In order to manage exchange of items with the winning bidder, you can either work with your SBU coordinator to exchange the item with the winning bidder on your behalf or we do need to collect donor’s contact information.

Who can bid in the auction?

Employees, contractors, suppliers, customers, retirees, family and friends are all encouraged to participate.

How does the Win It Now price work for online auction packages?

When an online auction package includes a Win It Now price, bidders have the option of purchasing the package for the Win It Now price. If this happens, all bidding ceases on the package because the package has been won.

ReadySetAuction automatically disables the Win It Now feature for a package if either one of the following two conditions is met:

  • Bidding reaches 80% or more of the Win It Now price
  • Less than a full bid increment remains between the current high bid and the Win It Now price

If ReadySetAuction disables the Win It Now feature, bidders may continue to place bids until the online auction ends.

How does “Maximum Bid” work?

If you would like to bid on an item, enter your bid in the Place Your Max Bid box and click the Submit Bid button. Note the message "Next bid must be at least..." in the Place Your Max Bid box. Your bid must be at least equal to this amount to be considered a valid bid.

Your bid amount should be the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the item. ReadySetAuction will place incremental bids on your behalf, up to your maximum bid amount, as necessary to maintain the leading bid and win the item.

What payment types are accepted for this auction?

Credit cards or checks may be used for payment. Each winning bidder will receive an invoice with information regarding who to make the check out to, and where they should send the check.

Who can participate in the auction?

DuPont employees, contractors, suppliers, customers, retirees, contractors, and corresponding family members within the Delaware region can participate in this auction. We are also encouraging friends and community members to participate if they would like to do so.

SBU Auction Coordinators

SBU / Primary Lead - Marketing Co-op / SBU Auction Lead
ABS (previously BBM) / Marissa Ball / Maya Sethuraman
Capital Management / Marissa Ball / Derek Bowen
Corporate/Executive Offices / Michele Bard / Nancy Tunstall
CR&D / Marissa Ball / Rajiv Dhawan
Crop Genetics / Amber Shollenberger / Nina Dietrich/Pauline Winner
Crop Protection / Emily Swartz / Marisol Rodriguez/George Tice/Carol Rager
DCSE / Emily Swartz / Abigail Hisler, Eileen Hwang
DPC / Emily Swartz / Elizabeth Tanzilli
DTT / Lindsey Farrell / Greg Mitchell
DuPontBuilding Innovations / Sarah Williams, Suzy Thompson / Mike Adams, Elizabeth Tanzilli
DuPont Hospitality / Emily Swartz / Joanna Schumacher, Mark Hoscheit
DuPont Safety Resources / Michele Bard / June Shi, Patricia Wolfe
EP / Patrick Callaghan / Tamika Abuwi
Finance / Michele Bard / Bob Bandos
FLPR / Lindsey Farrell / Tina Welcher
Human Resrouces / Patrick Callaghan / Jennifer Skowronski
IMAG/ELEC / Karine Tatoyan / Seta Sorenson
IT / Michele Bard / Aley Cheung
Legal / Michele Bard / Sue Slayton
M&S / Lindsey Farrell / Amy Hurff
NOW/AFS / Karine Tatoyan / Hannah Suh
SHE / Amber Shollenberger / Greg Jeanes
Operations / Amber Shollenberger / Jim Reed, Fred Strolle, Irene Meloro, Dan Martin, Erin Mack
P&IP / Amber Shollenberger / Lori Pike
Public Affairs / Emily Swartz / Dan Turner
Sourcing & Logistics / Karine Tatoyan / Aris Lee, Sharon Gar-El
CS - Aviation / Patrick Callaghan / Mark Weeks
Haskell - CR&D / Sarah Williams / Kathy Reed
Performance Elastomers / Suzy Thompson / Monica Mills