The Monroe Evening News is advertising a Mistletoe Market auction.

What’s that all about? It’s an online auction of merchandise from our advertisers that you can buy for yourself or for Christmas gifts.

This is the first time my newspaper has hosted an on-line auction. Based on what we are hearing from other newspapers that have tried it, the winning bids for the various items average about 50 percent off the retail value. Yes, that’s significant savings for you, the consumer.

More than 275 items will be on the auction list. They include rounds of golf, spa packages, jewelry, automotive services, furniture, bicycles, entertainment and fitness packages.

The auction list and the rules will be in the Saturday Nov. 7 print edition of The Monroe Evening News. If you don’t live in our circulation area or the print edition runs out at your newsstand, you can access the special section on the e-edition starting Nov. 7 (e-edition is free to 7-day subscribers of our newspaper and paid access for everyone else.)

The auction starts at noon Wednesday Nov. 11 and goes to Saturday Nov. 14. The e-mail registration process goes live at noon Nov. 11 with a link at www.monroenews.com.

If you know someone who does not have a computer, or if your computer access is limited, you will be able to use computers at The Monroe Evening News downtown office, 20 W. First St., Monroe, Mich., to place your bids. The computers and personal assistants (aka my co-workers) will be available for auction assistance in the second-floor lobby, near the social desk in the newsroom, during regular business hours and also from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 11, 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday Nov. 12 and 5 to 8 p.m. Friday Nov. 13.

If you are one of my national readers, you can participate in the online auction too. After you have received a message that you won the item, you can pay online with a bank card or send a check to our newspaper. If you can’t pick up your merchandise in person, arrangements can be made to ship it to you.

For the rest of the details, you’ll want to watch for that special section.