alternative eBay format

[MTI]

Been zing'd by a sniper, eh? The software has been available for years and it's almost a requirement (along with a good 'net connection) to be competitive on the sought after items. Sounds like you need an upgrade!

[sixto]

Why can't eBay have a format wherein the auction doesn't close until a bid has sat for a predetermined period of time? Something like the auction ends with the highest bid that remains unchallenged for a minute after an established closing time. This would give dial-up folks and folks with slow fingers a chance to fend off snipers. The seller can call the aution anytime after the established closing time to prevent malicious runaways.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

[speedy300Dturbo]

You could use something like:

http://www.esnipe.com
http://www.auctionsniper.com

[sixto]

My DSL connection is fast enough. I was thinking from the standpoint of a seller. And we know how eBay favors sellers.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

[MTI]

I'm not sure I understand the issue. How would it benefit the seller, who gets the highest bidder for the time allotted that he has chosen. To modify the procedue would hurt the buyers since there might possibly be "no end" to the auction if the seller keeps it going beyond the deadline, fishing for more bids. As for E-Bay being biased for sellers . . . I guess seller's pay the bills, but E-Bay has responded very well to my inquiries as a buyer, too.

[sixto]

I was thinking of having eBay pattered after a traditional auction where an auctioneer does the going once, going twice bit. Maybe that only works with real time auctions.

I wonder if eBay will implement a scheme to block automated bidder log-in to discourage automated sniping. I get hit with a check one in about ten times I log-in to yahoo mail. Then eBay will the same legal problems as Microsoft...

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

[MBZ12]

Originally posted by sixto
Why can't eBay have a format wherein the auction doesn't close until a bid has sat for a predetermined period of time? Something like the auction ends with the highest bid that remains unchallenged for a minute after an established closing time. This would give dial-up folks and folks with slow fingers a chance to fend off snipers. The seller can call the aution anytime after the established closing time to prevent malicious runaways.

Sixto....I follow the concept. You might be on to something. It would be difficult then to determine an end time. Perhaps if a bid comes in just before closing time and is unchallenged say a minute past the close, that bid wins. But, if a bid comes in prior to the one minute then the auction continues till bidding ends after no bids have been placed after a one minute time period. I don't know...maybe it's too much. Sounds like a good concept, however.