Didn't intend to suggest the auction/raffle hunts were anonymous.
Not everyone who attends SCI, DSC, etc., are veteran members, often having joined at or within a month or two prior to attendance. Thereby these "bidders" only see the auction or raffle the first or second day of a one or two day attendance and they make a bid that most likely is not incontention of winning, yet they win the auction/raffle having little to no clue who the outfitter is until they are notified.
Those that are veteran members of the organization have a better chance of knowing something about the outfitter or chance to vet the outfitter because of the amount of email solicitations.
Raffle ticket buyers, may just buy the ticket because the organization is wanting donations for a worthy cause, with little to no information as to what the raffled article is. They don't really expect to win. They win. Now they have to figure out everything.
Either I have missed their post or don't remember reading them.