Unfair Auction Bids?

[Logan510]

Although it would be easy to, I'm not going to be as rude as those of you who took the time and energy to go out of your way to show just how big an A hole you could be. DrWatson at least made an attempt at humor. Batty Scrooge, Thank you for your input. Fantastic Four, thank you for your thoughtful reply. tth2, take two aspirins and read it in the morning. I'm sorry for those of you who lacked the critical thinking necessary to see beyond the $1 increments up to lets say the $1000 increments stage at which point you may reconsider offering me that kind of money to delete the thread. A decent person would have just read my post and decide to move on without leaving snide comments behind.

Hey, your first few posts around here are going to be baptism by fire. Don't take it personally. You haven't met any of the real "A holes" just yet. Well, maybe one or two.

 

Relax, settle in and once it's decided you aren't a shill, you'll have a pretty fun time around here. (thumbs u

 

I must be lucky, I never got any krap for being a n00b. I wonder if I've recived "non shill" status yet

[michaellee]

I have thought about this as well.

I remember winning an Ebay auction for $3050.

I had placed a $3500 bid early,and with very little time left,someone bid $3000.

I won,but also realized that if i had only bid $3000 at the beginning,i would have still won the book for $3000,as i had the earlier "same" bid.

So in those situations,Ebay gets an extra $50,for absolutely nothing.

Not that it's something that's stopped me,or is going to stop be from bidding on future stuff,but just an observation inline with the OP's thoughts.

That's exactly what I'm saying. And it doesn't affect just the final bid, it's happening on every bid all the way through. It offends my sense of fairplay. Just another example of the giant corporations stacking the deck against the little guy every way they can. And I have bids in at two different auctions right now so I guess I'm playing the game even though I feel it's crooked.

[VintageComics]

I have thought about this as well.

I remember winning an Ebay auction for $3050.

I had placed a $3500 bid early,and with very little time left,someone bid $3000.

I won,but also realized that if i had only bid $3000 at the beginning,i would have still won the book for $3000,as i had the earlier "same" bid.

So in those situations,Ebay gets an extra $50,for absolutely nothing.

Not that it's something that's stopped me,or is going to stop be from bidding on future stuff,but just an observation inline with the OP's thoughts.

That's exactly what I'm saying. And it doesn't affect just the final bid, it's happening on every bid all the way through. It offends my sense of fairplay. Just another example of the giant corporations stacking the deck against the little guy every way they can. And I have bids in at two different auctions right now so I guess I'm playing the game even though I feel it's crooked.

 

What about Flaming_Telepath's explanation that you have to beat the underbidder as opposed to match their bid in order to win (unless it's a tie obviously, then the earlier bid wins)?

 

The only real discussion that I see you have here is the increment, and that is written up within the rules of the auction house.

 

 

[kdoginohio]

So your problem is that Peter must pay $52, rather than $51, to 'beat' Harry?

 

Tell you what, mate...I'll pay you the $1 that's been 'stolen' if you'll delete this thread.

 

NIck, If your taking dontations to delete this thread, I'm in. I re-read it several times. I feel like I'm just waking up from sedation.

 

DR,X

Why on earth would you need to re-read it? Did you forget the "safe word"?

[Transplant]

Spend the $1 on paragraphs.

[Ares]

I want to know which auction house is selling books to a Harry Peter.

 

One with no Bush?

[mycomicshop]

Michael is referring to our auctions, which we opened for the first time yesterday afternoon. You can blame me for the Harry Peter example which is provided here:

 

overview of auctions and bidding

 

I see Michael's point. If I'm high bidder at $10 but have a max of $20 in, and somebody else bids $15, I was at $15 first, so it's not unreasonable to expect to hold the high bid at $15, not $15 plus the increment.

 

I set up the proxy bidding to be very similar to eBay's on the assumption that that's what most people are familiar with. There's a pretty thorough description here: ebay proxy bidding

 

I'm curious if there's any strong preference from the community one way or another. I wouldn't be opposed to changing it.

 

Conan

[DR.X]

Although it would be easy to, I'm not going to be as rude as those of you who took the time and energy to go out of your way to show just how big an A hole you could be. DrWatson at least made an attempt at humor. Batty Scrooge, Thank you for your input. Fantastic Four, thank you for your thoughtful reply. tth2, take two aspirins and read it in the morning. I'm sorry for those of you who lacked the critical thinking necessary to see beyond the $1 increments up to lets say the $1000 increments stage at which point you may reconsider offering me that kind of money to delete the thread. A decent person would have just read my post and decide to move on without leaving snide comments behind.

 

You need to lighten up a little. We like to have a little fun around here and you obviously have a thin skin. I dont see in any of the posts where someone was calling you names, or an A Hole.

But aside from that, your argument in your original post states, and I quote you

 

" . Peter shouldn't be forced to go to $52 to beat Harry's $51."

 

No one is forcing Peter to go to $52. He has put in a maximum bid of what he's willing to pay. He's covering himself here with a maximum bid.

 

DR.X

[michaellee]

I have thought about this as well.

I remember winning an Ebay auction for $3050.

I had placed a $3500 bid early,and with very little time left,someone bid $3000.

I won,but also realized that if i had only bid $3000 at the beginning,i would have still won the book for $3000,as i had the earlier "same" bid.

So in those situations,Ebay gets an extra $50,for absolutely nothing.

Not that it's something that's stopped me,or is going to stop be from bidding on future stuff,but just an observation inline with the OP's thoughts.

That's exactly what I'm saying. And it doesn't affect just the final bid, it's happening on every bid all the way through. It offends my sense of fairplay. Just another example of the giant corporations stacking the deck against the little guy every way they can. And I have bids in at two different auctions right now so I guess I'm playing the game even though I feel it's crooked.

 

What about Flaming_Telepath's explanation that you have to beat the underbidder as opposed to match their bid in order to win (unless it's a tie obviously, then the earlier bid wins)?

 

The only real discussion that I see you have here is the increment, and that is written up within the rules of the auction house.

 

My contention is that by virtue of the higher proxy you have already beaten the underbidder who has really only matched you. You've demonstrated a willingness to pay a higher price than he is. You got to his bid first, he should have to go the next increments, not you. The increment level is irrelevant, $1, $10, $1000, the effect is the same. I'm really amazed by all the people who defend the practice that I see as screwing everybody who bids at an auction.

[DiceX]

Although it would be easy to, I'm not going to be as rude as those of you who took the time and energy to go out of your way to show just how big an A hole you could be. DrWatson at least made an attempt at humor. Batty Scrooge, Thank you for your input. Fantastic Four, thank you for your thoughtful reply. tth2, take two aspirins and read it in the morning. I'm sorry for those of you who lacked the critical thinking necessary to see beyond the $1 increments up to lets say the $1000 increments stage at which point you may reconsider offering me that kind of money to delete the thread. A decent person would have just read my post and decide to move on without leaving snide comments behind.

Hey, your first few posts around here are going to be baptism by fire. Don't take it personally. You haven't met any of the real "A holes" just yet. Well, maybe one or two.

 

Relax, settle in and once it's decided you aren't a shill, you'll have a pretty fun time around here. (thumbs u

 

I just don't know where to begin with this.

 

 

[DiceX]

Spend the $1 on paragraphs.

 

Chicken Dinnah!

 

 

[Comicopolis]

How do you feel about this auction situation? Am I unreasonable or totally out of line in my thinking here or what?

 

Situation is fine. If you don't like the rules of the auction house then don't bid with them.

 

They are there to make a profit, not pander to everyone's whim.

Profit? WTF? That is harsh - I thought this was hobby...., ?

 

Should the hobby be made up of socialists?

 

 

Do you hate socialists?

[michaellee]

Michael is referring to our auctions, which we opened for the first time yesterday afternoon. You can blame me for the Harry Peter example which is provided here:

 

overview of auctions and bidding

 

I see Michael's point. If I'm high bidder at $10 but have a max of $20 in, and somebody else bids $15, I was at $15 first, so it's not unreasonable to expect to hold the high bid at $15, not $15 plus the increment.

 

I set up the proxy bidding to be very similar to eBay's on the assumption that that's what most people are familiar with. There's a pretty thorough description here: ebay proxy bidding

 

I'm curious if there's any strong preference from the community one way or another. I wouldn't be opposed to changing it.

 

Conan

Thank you, Conan. I purposely didn't name your auction because I didn't want to single you out, as I stated in my OP, I believe all or most auctions are setup similarly. I guess I won't be winning much at mycomicshop auctions now. I'll still keep buying from you though.

[Comicopolis]

Watson really is turning soft.

 

It's your influence.

[VintageComics]

How do you feel about this auction situation? Am I unreasonable or totally out of line in my thinking here or what?

 

Situation is fine. If you don't like the rules of the auction house then don't bid with them.

 

They are there to make a profit, not pander to everyone's whim.

Profit? WTF? That is harsh - I thought this was hobby...., ?

 

Should the hobby be made up of socialists?

 

 

Do you hate socialists?

 

Nope. There's very little that I hate and people are not on that list.

[the blob]

is the complaint about the $1 incremental bump? what if it was a penny, would that be ok?

[dupont2005]

Get your greedy hands off my penny

[DiceX]

How do you feel about this auction situation? Am I unreasonable or totally out of line in my thinking here or what?

 

Situation is fine. If you don't like the rules of the auction house then don't bid with them.

 

They are there to make a profit, not pander to everyone's whim.

Profit? WTF? That is harsh - I thought this was hobby...., ?

 

Should the hobby be made up of socialists?

 

 

Do you hate socialists?

 

When they nurse on my teat, yes.

 

 

[adamstrange]

I have thought about this as well.

I remember winning an Ebay auction for $3050.

I had placed a $3500 bid early,and with very little time left,someone bid $3000.

I won,but also realized that if i had only bid $3000 at the beginning,i would have still won the book for $3000,as i had the earlier "same" bid.

So in those situations,Ebay gets an extra $50,for absolutely nothing.

Not that it's something that's stopped me,or is going to stop be from bidding on future stuff,but just an observation inline with the OP's thoughts.

That's exactly what I'm saying. And it doesn't affect just the final bid, it's happening on every bid all the way through. It offends my sense of fairplay. Just another example of the giant corporations stacking the deck against the little guy every way they can. And I have bids in at two different auctions right now so I guess I'm playing the game even though I feel it's crooked.

 

What about Flaming_Telepath's explanation that you have to beat the underbidder as opposed to match their bid in order to win (unless it's a tie obviously, then the earlier bid wins)?

 

The only real discussion that I see you have here is the increment, and that is written up within the rules of the auction house.

 

My contention is that by virtue of the higher proxy you have already beaten the underbidder who has really only matched you. You've demonstrated a willingness to pay a higher price than he is. You got to his bid first, he should have to go the next increments, not you. The increment level is irrelevant, $1, $10, $1000, the effect is the same. I'm really amazed by all the people who defend the practice that I see as screwing everybody who bids at an auction.

I think it's easier to understand "proxy bidding" when you look at how it came about.

 

The auction houses originally only allowed you to bid in person so Harry and Peter would bid one after the other until one gave up. If Harry couldn't attend, then he would have to get someone else to be his "proxy," who we'll call Tom, who would know Harry's max bid and who bid against Peter. Every time Peter bid, Tom would have to bid the next increment up or concede to Peter.

 

Eventually auction houses offered to perform the proxy bidder role. As such, they do not give any advantage to the proxy bidder and therefore they will still insist that Harry's bid (executed by proxy) exceed the bids from Peter.

 

An auction house could chose to handle it differently, but they are basically saying they do not wish to give any special advantage to the proxy just be because they bid earlier than other bidders. They will only give an advantage to the proxy when there is a tie as ties go to the first bidder.

[JazzMan]

I think Peter and Harry need to come into the real world of understanding how auctions work so it leaves the rest of us to wander into better arguments or checking out the scantily clad women in the WC.