I agree, Patrick. Richard Richard Del Belso
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:28:02 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MOPO] More about my coming auctions that are NOT on eBay To: [email protected] Jeez, as for 'fair' or 'unfair' an argument could be made for both. First, define Fair. Bruce will have unfixed endings because he feels it is fair, given his needs and it will benefit his bottom line. Who can blame him? This is a business and that is certainly fair. In fact, it's likely that Bruce will work out any 'kinks' so that those participating will feel that it is a fair auction in the long run. Still, the task is not simple. For in an 'in person' "Live" non fixed ending auction you don't bid your maximimum amount up front, you are there to 'feel' the room, etc. not to mention see the item in person that you are bidding on. And in person "Live" auctions are not unending but end when someone IN THE ROOM reaches the highest bid for that item. The problem with an online 'auction' is that unless it is "Live" not everyone who is bidding or has bid is in the room at the same time. Not everyone has the same chance to bid their highest amount by using strategy which is what one does when sniping in an effort to 'win' an auction that you may or cannot be present for. I must add here there Sue Heim says it best when you tell her that you 'won' an auction on Ebay. To quote Sue..."Oh, great, congratulations, you won, does that mean you don't have to pay for it?" HA!But to say that it's completely fair to continue an auction unending really means that whoever is present online when Bruce has finally had enough and says "going, going, gone" thinks it's VERY fair and the others either won't know when this moving ending line is about to end or will not be allowed to use the strategy inherent in bidding for items in person. It's as if what's being created is an online 'in person' auction where many of the bidders might need to run to the metaphoric bathroom (or to bed, perchance to dream of a poster they just lost, or work, or T-Ball games, school plays, etc.) when the auction they are bidding on finally ends. In other words, they won't be able to always be there to bid the item up, which means their only option is that they will be forced to bid their highest amount before leaving the computer. The online Ebay 'fixed-ending' auction does provide for a level playing field inasmuch as everyone knows or can strategize using the rules inherent to the game; either bid early and often or learn how to snipe or find a service to do it for you. What does it matter if you bid the most you want to spend with 3 seconds left or 3 days left? It matters a lot if it's online and NOT "Live." A service can make time 'relative' and I just see the confusion of a possibly never-ending auction where the 'finish line' keeps moving as maddening. I mean how is it considered fair if that item you coveted finally ends at 9am in NYC but 5 am in Hawaii or elsewhere around the globe...then you have the audacity to say 'well, I guess you just didn't want it enough?!' That's ridiculous. Maybe I'm not understanding the whole pluses and minuses of this idea, maybe Bruce is planning "Live" auctions which renders all the ideas within this note moot, but the benefit of the Ebay or any fixed ending auction is specific to it being 'online' and not "Live." Fixed ending, online NOT "Live" auctions give the bidder some modicum of control over when and how they will strategically bid, especially when considering bidding on several items from several Sellers, not to mention estimating how and where to budget for those bids when more than one item is desired from those in Bruce's auctions while simultaneously bidding on other items from other Sellers. Now if only Bruce could figure out how I can 'win' an auction, then NOT have to pay for it (and still get the item and live happily every after...). Of course, with all his book giveaways he's the closest I've ever come to it!Patrick TupyOn Feb 25, 2008, at 11:38 AM, Craig Miller wrote: I'm certain you're honest and believe what you say, but auctions that continue until people stop bidding are "unfair"? Really? All the millions of auctions have occurred over time in places that aren't eBay have been unfair, because people could bid until they were through? It's only those auctions where there's an arbitrary ending time that are fair? Especially when some of the bidders have access to external bidding software; that makes them really, really fair. Craig. At 01:36 AM 2/25/2008, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: My Two penneth Bruce I can understand your feelings about fixed end as opposed to extended end auctions, however fixed end I think is the fairest way. If you are at a live auction the hammer drops no more bidding on that item, same should happen on an internet auction, if you have the standard ebay seven days then instead open it up to ten days but the end is the end. Otherwise how long will an auction go on for. If a bidder loses out then so be it, he didn't bid enough. We all have had regrest when bidding "oh I'd have paid an extra $5 or $10" but what if your opponent had bid an extra $100 or $200 would you go that far? Maybe and mybe not. I am sure we have all learned our lessons and had our fingers burned with getting into auction fever, If that is what you wish to encourage Bruce, but my personal opinion is that it is not a fair way to operate. With open ended auctions you could be accused of greed, with such a business operation that you have Bruce, you don't need to be tarred with such a brush as your turnover is exemplarary. The only other point I would make, if you are dispensing with ebay then you are in the position to makes some savings which you can pass on to your customers both sides. This will encourage punters to bid that little extra more. Apart from that I wish you well with starting your own auction site I am sure it will be a success with all the past reputation you have from ebay. Best of luck. Adrian Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Craig Miller Wolfmill Entertainment [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
