KEDT-TV Auction will start hitting the airwaves on May 3 through May 10th.  Call now or email us if you are interested in becoming involved. 

All About Auction:  What You need to Know to Bid and Buy

What is the KEDT Auction?

The KEDT AUCTION is a once-a-year televised fundraising event for the Coastal Bend’s Public Television station. It involves thousands of bidders and hundreds of volunteers from all around South Texas, so it presents a unique opportunity to promote your business on television and to associate your business with a respected community institution.

Saturday, May 3rd through May 10th,  6 PM—Midnight each night

What do I need to do to bid on an item?

1. Tune in to KEDT and sit down in your favorite chair.
2. Have the popcorn and soda close at hand.
3. Don't forget to have your phone close to you and your dialing finger in shape!
4. Watch the items presented on each board. See something you like? Write down the item number, item name, and your highest bid.
5. Call the bid numbers on the screen and place your bid.
6. Bid early - as soon as you see an item you want to bid on, CALL!
7. Bid your highest bid - don't count on being able to get back through to increase your bid - it may be too late!

Bidding seems simple but it can be intimidating, especially with all the excitement auction creates. The phone banks are loud and the volunteers sometime have a hard time hearing, but they are required to get your personal information (every time you call in a bid, even on the same item) before they can get your bid posted. A few things you can do to help your chances are:

• Talk loudly and clearly
• Have the name of the board your item is on (for example "Table A" or “Treasure Chest B”)
• Have the item number (phone volunteers do not go by item description)
• Remember to bid in whole dollar amounts and that bidding starts at 30% of the item’s retail value
• Get an Express Bid Number to make your bidding go faster.

An Express Bid Number allows you to sign up one time with all of your contact information and get your own bidding number. That way you can save yourself valuable time when you bid by just giving your name, express bid number and current phone number. Call 855-2213 to sign up for an express bid number.

Our Confirmation department will call you either the night of or the morning after you win the item. Please do not call us, we will call you if you are the winner. We make confirmation calls usually within 1 hour of the board closing, up to 10:30 PM. If your board closed after 10 PM you will receive a confirmation call the next morning. The KEDT volunteer will give you information on how to pick up and pay for your purchases. To help us confirm that you are the high bidder, please give us an accurate evening AND daytime phone number where you can be reached for the next 24 hours. If we are unable to reach you we reserve the right to go on to the next bidder. If the item is not confirmed within 24 hours KEDT reserves the right to move on to the second highest bidder or re-stage the item.

The majority of people involved with the auction are volunteers; if you are lucky enough to get a call from our confirmation department, please be aware that these kind folks are donating their time and are usually there for just that one night. If you have questions about an item, ask it at confirmation - they may not have all the answers, but they can refer you to someone who can assist you.

We ask that you pick up your items within 24 hours of your confirmation call. Buyers that pick up their items within 24 hours will receive a Whataburger coupon good for one free Whataburger.

Items valued at $2,500 or more (Dreamboard Items) must be paid for within 24 hours or KEDT reserves the right to move on to the next highest bidder. If you are bidding on an item at this level a member of the KEDT staff will call you the day that the item ends to find out what method of payment you will use if you win the item. When you receive your confirmation call you will be asked to verify payment and make arrangements to pickup the item within 24 hours.

If you would like to bid for multiple nights, please call KEDT and we will hold all of your purchases with a valid credit card until the end of the auction. At the end of the auction your credit card will be charged one lump sum from all your purchases and your items will be placed on hold at Pick Up & Pay for you to pick up.

How does Pick Up & Pay Work?

Pick Up & Pay Hours & Location: 

Sunday, May 6 through Saturday, May 12: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Sunday, May 13, Mother’s Day: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Monday, May 14 through Saturday, May 19: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Certificates can be mailed for a minimal $3.00 charge. You must use a charge or debit card to be able to ship or mail. Your confirmation volunteer can take your credit card number and answer any questions you may have.

What is a Fire Sale?

Fire Sale items are items under the minimum $60 retail value that are offered for purchase in a rapid, one minute segment. Fire Sales can take place any night of the auction at any time and are a great way to get some great merchandise at a great price. They are not scheduled ahead of time and you have to watch carefully to catch one.

KEDT accepts items that are one-of-a-kind or priceless. Potpourri items including sports or celebrity memorabilia and autographed items are very popular.

The items will be offered and sold by KEDT ("The station"). The following terms and conditions, as amended by any posted notices or oral announcements during the sale, govern the sale of all the items listed herein:

1. (a) No Liability: The station does not assume any risk, liability or responsibility for the authenticity, quality, or condition of any items presented in this KEDT auction;
(b) NO WARRANTIES: ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD "AS IS" WITHOUT RECOURSE, AND KEDT MAKES NO, AND DISCLAIMS ALL, WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO ANY CATALOG ITEM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR MERCHANTABILITY. PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS SHOULD READ AND FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS PERTAINING TO ANY AUCTION ITEM BEFORE BIDDING. BIDDERS AGREE THAT NEITHER KEDT NOR ANY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR USE OF ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES SOLD THROUGH THE AUCTION, AND THAT THE BIDDER'S SOLE RECOURSE FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL BE THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER OR PROVIDER OF SUCH PRODUCT OR SERVICE.

2. All bids placed are binding agreements to purchase. If the highest value bid is not paid in full, the next highest bid will be deemed the purchasing bid. Bids will be considered in successive order until an item is paid for in full.

3. KEDT reserves the right, without giving any reason therefore, to reject a bid from any bidder. The highest bidder acknowledged by KEDT shall be the purchaser. In the event of any dispute between bidders, KEDT shall have the sole and final discretion either to determine the successful bidder or to re offer and resell the article in dispute. If any dispute arises after the sale, the KEDT sale records shall be conclusive in all respects.

4. Unless otherwise stated, any travel expenses including airfare, meals, insurance or supplies needed are at the purchaser's expense.

5. ALL accommodations and many other items are subject to availability with advance reservations required; listen for expiration and blackout dates

6. If your credit card is declined, we will submit it a second time. Then, if payment is not confirmed, the item may be offered to the next highest bidder at the discretion of KEDT. The purchase price represents the value of the item purchased and is not a tax-deductible contribution to KEDT by purchasers, except for that amount of the purchase price, if any above fair market value.

7. The winning bidder must redeem all items and/or experiences within one year from the close of the auction unless otherwise indicated on gift certificates.

8. Manipulative practices in auction bidding will prohibit you from buying auction items.

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