in ebay auctions....instead of a rigidly fixed time?...why not this?
mozeppa
Posts: 4,431 ✭✭✭
Would you get more bids if there was a "gray area" (time wise) in ebay auctions....instead of a rigidly fixed time?
We all know that sniping exists.
...how many of you have lost a auction by a penny , or a dollar , or even 5 or 10 dollars?
AND if you had.... say....up to another 3 minutes you'd probably bid again?....would you?.....many times I know I would.
What if ebay instead of rigidly timed auctions were done so that when the time ran out, ....there was a randomized amount of time added to the end of an auction?.... (say only about 20 seconds to 3 minutes, AND NO MORE )
you would know definately that the auction would end within 3 mins for sure....but also it could end in 20 seconds or 1 min. and 7 seconds...OR ANY PLACE in the 160 second timer area...with no other warning.
you couldn't pin down the exact time ...but maybe a few more bids could be recorded...(as many as the randomized timer would allow for)
certainly ebay would cash in.
some bidders would try "hail mary" bids...netting the sellers more money.
I hereby dub this the "GOING.........GOING...........GONE!!!...time (maybe add the sound of the gavel hitting the block at the exact second it runs out.)
what do you think?....would this be interesting on some level?...or am i being silly?...(I'll set myself up you knock me down
)
edited to make smelling errers
We all know that sniping exists.
...how many of you have lost a auction by a penny , or a dollar , or even 5 or 10 dollars?
AND if you had.... say....up to another 3 minutes you'd probably bid again?....would you?.....many times I know I would.
What if ebay instead of rigidly timed auctions were done so that when the time ran out, ....there was a randomized amount of time added to the end of an auction?.... (say only about 20 seconds to 3 minutes, AND NO MORE )
you would know definately that the auction would end within 3 mins for sure....but also it could end in 20 seconds or 1 min. and 7 seconds...OR ANY PLACE in the 160 second timer area...with no other warning.
you couldn't pin down the exact time ...but maybe a few more bids could be recorded...(as many as the randomized timer would allow for)
certainly ebay would cash in.
some bidders would try "hail mary" bids...netting the sellers more money.
I hereby dub this the "GOING.........GOING...........GONE!!!...time (maybe add the sound of the gavel hitting the block at the exact second it runs out.)
what do you think?....would this be interesting on some level?...or am i being silly?...(I'll set myself up you knock me down
) edited to make smelling errers
0
Comments
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
San Diego, CA
The ONLY way eBay will make a change like this is if it will increase their fees.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
<< <i>I tend to think this would defeat sniping software, and without that, a lot of people would choose to simply not bother bidding. >>
Agreed. Bad idea.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>The ONLY way eBay will make a change like this is if it will increase their fees. >>
True, but it doesn't have to be in the form of a new fee. If they thought this would increase the winning bids, they'd make more money on the FVF fee as well as higher PayPal fees in some cases.
But as I said, I tend to think this would chase some snipers away, especially those snipers who can't "be there" when the item ends (or who don't want to bother) and rely on software to enter their snipes. I think this would reduce, not increase, the final sale prices for that reason.
Bad idea as I, and it sounds like others, wouldn't bother to "chase" the auctions. We set max bid or set a snipe at the max bid and walk away.
The way you list would require more babysitting, less ability to bid on multiple auctions closing around the same time, and just overall a PITA for many people.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Millertime
Complete Dime Set
As a bidder you open yourself up to all kinds of unsavory bidding tatics by other parties. As a bidder, you should chose a max. price you are willing to pay at the beginning of the auction and then set up a snipe. If other bids change your opinion you are in trouble.....
but when has bad ideas stopped ebay?
<< <i>I tend to think this would defeat sniping software, and without that, a lot of people would choose to simply not bother bidding. >>
It wouldn't defeat sniping software -- but it would change the nature of the software. Instead of placing one large bid near the end, the software would place many multiples of bids, each one increment above the last, until it was the high bidder. At this point it would continue to watch the auction for any subsequent bids, and if they come, it will continue to place bids increment by increment until either it is the high bidder, or a predetermined max is reached, or the auction is over.
Trust that this sort of software is possible, and that it would be infinitely more frustrating to people than the current snipers.
Yahoo and Overstock already have auction extensions. Look how successful it's made them.
It wouldn't work there.
Lou
ANA Life-Member
<< <i>We all know that sniping exists.
...how many of you have lost a auction by a penny , or a dollar , or even 5 or 10 dollars?
<< <i>
How many of you have "WON" in similar fashion?
I would not be for any system where I end up paying more. There are some things I want, but not at any cost.
<< <i>Snipers suck. >>
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. There's nothing wrong or illegal about sniping. You just didn't bid high enough. There's a word for people who don't bid high enough in auctions: "losers".
5 free snipes per week.
Steve
<< <i>
<< <i>Snipers suck. >>
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. There's nothing wrong or illegal about sniping. You just didn't bid high enough. There's a word for people who don't bid high enough in auctions: "losers". >>
The same may be said about those who don't bid high enough in poker as well.
<< <i>who dug up this silly idea?
LMAO!
On EBay, unfortunately, sniping is the best way to go as a buyer and simply sucks for the sellers! Bottom Line.
A sniper doesn't want a bunch of bids, he just wants it to end at the LOWEST possible amount. Sellers on the other hand WANT a bunch of bids! The more bids the better!
The best scenario for a buyer is a snipe!
The best scenario for a seller is two or more SNIPERS.
The ideal scenario is two or more nuclear snipers!
The name is LEE!
In a real auction, you get the "going once, going twice, gone..." opportunity. That's what overtime would give you. IT may be annoying, but it allows the seller to get max value for his items. I personally won't sell hardly anything by auction, I do it all by fixed price so I get the price I want. As a seller I've been screwed too many times. As a buyer though, I've won quite a few and gotten good deals by sniping. But overtime would be the most fair...
It seems that if they would extend auctions, they would almost certainly make more money in fees (after the sniping software caught up, of course.) Since they don't extend, there's probably a darn good reason, legal-wise.
Any lawyers want to chime in?
<< <i>
<< <i>I tend to think this would defeat sniping software, and without that, a lot of people would choose to simply not bother bidding. >>
Agreed. Bad idea.
Russ, NCNE >>
Ditto. Many people (including myself) use sniping software to avoid having to sit at the computer when the auction ends. A lot of those bids would evaporate, resulting in lower prices.
Death and Taxes" ~~ Ben Franklin
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/mint-sets/1945-mint-set/publishedset/21067
Knutson's 45' Set 2009 Winner
<< <i>As Yahoo never could break in to Ebay's auction market share with much success in the US market. At one time they were becoming a viable second choice, although a distant one. >>
The business model of an online auction for "the masses" pretty much enforces a natural monopoly. Buyers want to look where the most items are for sale. Sellers want to list where all the buyers (and bids) are.
It's unfortunate, but it's a fact of life. Call it a moat, call it an 800-pound gorilla, or whatever other metaphor you want to use, but this is about as perfect a natural monopoly business model as has been created in a long time.
<< <i>The random time suggestion is bad, but the "overtime" bidding system where an auction ends at a certain time or 5 minutes after the last bid is the fairest. >>
It wouldn't be fair at all. Scroll back in this thread and see my post on a software solution to defeat extensions. It would be far more annoying than any sniper.
<< <i>In a real auction, you get the "going once, going twice, gone..." opportunity. >>
What is a "real auction"? My kid's school has a charity silent auction where bidders write their names on a sheet of paper, and auctions end at precise times. You can bet that there's sniping going on there as the clock ticks down and people rush around to place their final bids. eBay's auction model is as "real" as any of the dozen or so other auction models out there.
<< <i>The business model of an online auction for "the masses" pretty much enforces a natural monopoly. Buyers want to look where the most items are for sale. Sellers want to list where all the buyers (and bids) are.
It's unfortunate, but it's a fact of life. Call it a moat, call it an 800-pound gorilla, or whatever other metaphor you want to use, but this is about as perfect a natural monopoly business model as has been created in a long time. >>
I disagree. I don't think buyers and sellers need to find "the most" of each other -- I think they just need a certain critical mass to make it successful. Technically, a seller only needs two buyers -- a winner and an underbidder -- and a buyer only needs one seller, if he has the desired product at the desired price.
eBay is ripe for an overthrow. All they needs is a viable opponent.