There is no doubting the money always goes to a good cause, but being swept up in the excitement of bidding can lead to less than satisfactory outcomes for the successful bidder.
But the disappointment usually centres on how much one paid for the said item or perhaps the quality of the item, rather than the actual item itself.
Well this wasn't the case at a recent industry function. On auction at the time was a signed pair of swimmers Grant Hackett wore during the 2007 World Championships.
The problem for the audience was the item was delivered at the last minute unframed and there was not time for organisers to embellish its presentation.
The winning bid came from the back of the room, an area where the stage couldn't be seen well at all.
And unfortunately during the swimming trunk auction video screens around the room were already displaying the next item to be auctioned and that was a trip for two to the Whitsunday Islands.
Inevitably the person who claimed Hackett's togs actually thought he had successfully bid for the Queensland holiday.
We suppose he could always put the piece of memorabilia on and swim to the Whitsundays. And knowing how delayed Qantas flights are these days, he'd probably end up getting there faster.
