# Website to recycle unclaimed auction lots for charity

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/02/06/website-recycle-unclaimed-auction-lots-charity/
- Published: 2008-02-06T20:50:38+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**A new online auction site, BuyOnceGiveTwice, is to help charities maximise their
auction income by recycling unclaimed prizes.**

Even though supporters at a charity auction can pay thousands of pounds for a luxurious,
often unique prize, some of them never get round to collecting or redeeming their
prize, especially if it is an event or experience prize. [BuyOnceGiveTwice](https://fundraising.co.uk/tag/buyoncegivetwice/)
aims to recycle these prizes to raise funds for charity again at no cost to the 
charity.

Any purchaser of a charity auction item who has not redeemed their prize can now
contact the site and re-auction the lot for the charity. The original charity will
receive 60% of the resale value and, once re-sold, the new purchaser can nominate
their favourite charity to receive the other 30%.

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In other cases, where the purchase has returned the lot to the charity to re-sell,
the charity can contact BuyOnceGiveTwice directly and it will receive 90% of the
resale value. This also applies in cases where the original purchaser defaulted 
on payment.

[BuyOnceGiveTwice](https://www.buyoncegivetwice.co.uk) uses the remaining 10% of
sales income to cover the costs of running the site.

The first lot to be re-auctioned on the site went live on 1 February. A three day
trip to the Italian Alps to watch World Cup skiing, complete with four star accommodation
and flights for two, it comes from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The
charity will therefore receive 90% of the resale value.

BuyOnceGiveTwice has been set up by Mia Woodford and Emma Leschallas who spotted
the potential of wasted lots after raising £500,000 at a single auction at the Cura
Ball.

![(l-r) Mia Woodford and Emma Leschallas](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/u11/
mia_woodford_and_emma_leschallas.jpg "Mia Woodford and Emma Leschallas")

Woodford explained the site’s creation: “I have a long history with charity events
and auctions,” she said, “and along with my business partner Emma Leschallas became
increasingly frustrated at the thousands of charity auction lots being left unclaimed
each year. BuyOnceGiveTwice is a simple idea that will help charities effortlessly
increase their fundraising revenue.”

Leschallas added: “We handle everything from listing and marketing the items to 
taking payment and despatching the items, so the charity needs hardly lift a finger”.

The site is already working with Breast Cancer Campaign, Changing Faces, the Motor
Neurone Disease Association, Orchid, JDRF, Ovarian Cancer Action and Starlight.

 * **[Philanthropic recycling begins at BuyOnceGiveTwice.co.uk](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/02/08/philanthropic-recycling-begins-buyoncegivetwicecouk/)**(
   8 February 2008)
 * **[BuyOnceGiveTwice Holding Free Seminars to Introduce Charities to their Service](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/02/12/buyoncegivetwice-holding-free-seminars-introduce-charities-their-service/)**(
   12 February 2008)
 * **[Get Connected hook up online for their annual fundraiser](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/02/21/get-connected-hook-online-their-annual-fundraiser/)**(
   21 February 2008)