DL 2540 the 8:35 PM BOS-RDU 717-200 ended up oversold by seven tonight. It was originally fine by the 5:30 PM BOS-RDU ended up getting delayed until tomorrow at 11 AM so my flight ended up oversold. I accepted a $500 gift card (went with the Amex), a night at the Hilton Logan Airport, two $15 meal vouchers and a C+ seat on the 6:10 AM flight. I ended up losing the upgrade I'd had on 2540 but I'll be okay.

DL 6218, a CRJ-700 from RDU-DTW today oversold. Due to weather from the last few days and half a dozen positive space crew members they needed volunteers badly. They took me on the spot before boarding for $1,000 and sent me to another gate. My final destination is GRR and I was told I couldn't get in until midnight. We looked at alternate options and found LAN. I said I'd arrange my own ground transportation if they gave me $1,500 and the agent went for it. So I'm going to arrive LAN at 3:31 PM instead of GRR at 1:11 PM. I'll take it!

LAS-DTW, 2:16PM oversold by 6. They made numerous announcements looking for volunteers. I walk up and they agreed to give myself and my wife $500 each to switch to the red eye at 11:40. They didn't have FC or C+ available, so I agreed for $1,000 we would be cramped in coach. Delta paid for a taxi back to the bellagio where we lounged in the pool (still had a key card) and then walked the strip for 4 hours. Took a taxi back to LAS (paid by delta) and used our $50 food voucher, and then hung out in the Centurion lounge and had some drinks.

11:40PM flight is oversold. They ask for volunteers, I told them $800 each and we would take the 6:25am flight, and we were put into FC. They countered with $700 each and FC. Had to wait for quite a while to get a "manager approval" on the amount. They paid for taxis to and from the strip where we just killed time in different casinos.

In the end, 16 hour delay, some pool time, and $2400 in amazon gift cards.

I thought I made out like a bandit, but after seeing some of these stories here, I know to start with a higher offer!

SLC-IAH on Saturday afternoon two weeks ago. Plane change required a few bumps. Offer was $1000 and hotel, flight the next morning. I was on paid F ticket so said that i would volunteer if they can keep me in first tomorrow. No problem. Agent was kinda desperate so i should have held out for more lol.

I was on the way back from Australia. Hesitated when agent said I’d have to grab my bag in Houston the next day, so they went and grabbed my bag off the plane and delivered to baggage claim for me.

Upon online checkin, I got the offer to volunteer. totally, forgot about this and headed to th SC. Now, I have some rookie questions.
Would the sc agent have been able to see I was on the volume volunteer list
Should i have checked in immediately with the GA
What are the typical 101 I should ensure once i place myself on the volunteer list

The SC agent can see that you're on the volunteer list, but it won't matter. You should go to the gate and talk to the gate agent ASAP. Some of them go by the volunteer list and some ignore it. Also, the GA is the only one who can actually process volunteers; the SC agents can't do anything except tell you you're on the volunteer list and tell you how much the flight is oversold by.

BOS-ATL last night, oversold by 6. Offer was $1000 for a BOS-ATL flight 22 hours later (NYC weather had everything way oversold.) They ended up not actually needing anyone.

Yes that definitely happens. I was the beneficiary of it once of not more.

Typically no... though you could likely argue for a refund of the difference in fare if your protection flight is downgraded to economy. Otherwise, you will get the same compensation as someone sitting in Y.

It's really a question of how badly they need the seat, and how generous the agent/Red Coat that day is feeling (again probably tied to how badly they need a seat).

We've seen stories of people offered $9,500 after Delta made a mistake in Delta One for ATL-LHR and paid out that much in a Delta voucher to allow someone to get off.

Usually though Delta One seats as VDB volunteers get at least $1,000 - sometimes $1,800 plus. You won't know if you don't try and volunteer and see what the gate agent says for the particular flight in question.