The 2025 Benefit Auction takes place from September 12 through October 5. With almost 400 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. Everyone is welcome to bid in the auction - you do NOT have to be a SAQA member.
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 to each order: $15 US / $30 non-US. Multiple purchases will be combined into a single shipment.
- Available pieces in later bidding sections can be purchased any time for a buy-it-now price of $1,000.
- All remaining pieces will be $100 from Oct 6 through mid-December.
What is the schedule?
The auction opens with Diamond Day on Friday, September 12 at 2pm EDT (GMT/UTC-4, New York Time). 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 15 - Sept 21
Section 2: Sept 22 - Sept 28
Section 3: Sept 29 - Oct 5
Bid prices start at $750 per quilt and drop each day at 2pm EDT (GMT/UTC -4) Monday through Friday. The following Monday, the bidding pattern repeats until the auction closes on October 5. Once a section ends, the remaining pieces will be available for $100 until mid-December.
PLEASE NOTE: Unlike previous years, the drop from $150 to $100 for the active bidding section will NOT take place on Saturday. Prices will be updated on the following Monday between 1-2pm ET when the auction is paused.
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 where you can place your bid.
Auction pieces can also be viewed on the Handbid platform. Recent changes on their platform have made it more difficult to view all the pieces. Watch this short video to learn some tips.
Navigation Tips for Handbid:
- Use the search feature on the left to find a particular piece by artist
- Use the category filter to only see pieces in a particular section
- Click on the heart (must be logged in) to create a list of your favorites
By default, the items are listed alphabetically by artist last name. On the left side, you have some sort, search, and filter options.
Click the pages under the section to navigate through the section. To view more details about a specific piece, click the thumbnail. You can use the Previous/Next arrows to navigate through the individual pieces. However, this will include pieces NOT in the same section. You can use the category filter on the left to only see pieces in a particular section.
The detail page will show 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.
How do I register for bidding?
SAQA uses the auction platform Handbid for the Benefit Auction which offers both a browser and app version. If you haven't used Handbid before, you will need to create an account. Otherwise, login to your existing Handbid account and register for the current auction. Once you register for the auction, you will be assigned a paddle number.
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.
You can 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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR PROFILE HAS YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS AND CREDIT CARD BEFORE YOU 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.
If you are having login problems or technical issues, please contact Handbid directly (service@handbid.com or through their chat function).
How do I add something to my cart / place my bid?
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.
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.
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 will be charged when SAQA staff processes the order for shipping. Note: it's much easier if you pay your own invoice - this ensures that your credit card is valid and will expedite processing.
If you prefer to pay via PayPal, please contact us at auction@saqa.art for further instructions before you bid. You will still need to add a credit card to your profile.
What is the shipping charge?
Shipping and handling within the United States -- $15; International shipping and handling -- $30. 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.
To minimize costs, we will be combining orders so you are only charged a single shipping fee for multiple purchases during a bidding week. We are also happy to hold all your pieces until the end of the auction. 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 at the end of a bidding week. 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.
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.
