Auction limits at ukbackorder

[RobM]

Two things

1) If anyone wants the auction limit lifting at ukbackorder, to list more than the 3 domains allowed, for the next couple of weeks send me a PM and I'll do it. Hoping to get some nice ones on there - black.uk just gone up and video.uk will be going up in the next few days as well as some names/surnames such as jason.uk

2) If you list a domain and it was backordered (there were a lot of backorders) I will automatically email all the people who showed interest informing them of the auction. Obviously though none of their bids will be placed but it gets you interested parties straight away.

 

[Domaintial]

Question, if we get outbid do you have similar reminder to DL where nearing the end of the auction an alert gets sent out? Or do I need to set an alarm

 

[RobM]

Anyone that bids in any auction is automatically alerted when they are outbid. Anyone watching an auction (who isn't a bidder) is alerted daily of its progress and a couple of hours before the auction end. However it's a bit pointless waiting right to the end because not only do you run the risk of missing it but any bids placed in the last 10 minutes extend the auction anyway. Early bids remove the chance of being outbid because people aren't being forced into an 'emotional' response at the last minute which may make them act irrationally.

 

[twostepsbehind]

What are the limits?

 

[Domaintial]

Anyone that bids in any auction is automatically alerted when they are outbid. Anyone watching an auction (who isn't a bidder) is alerted daily of its progress and a couple of hours before the auction end.

So if i'm outbid now, i'll be reminded nearer the end time of the auction, and can come back in then? That works for me.

However it's a bit pointless waiting right to the end because not only do you run the risk of missing it but any bids placed in the last 10 minutes extend the auction anyway. Early bids remove the chance of being outbid because people aren't being forced into an 'emotional' response at the last minute which may make them act irrationally.

Disagree. Although this logic would apply to most major auctions, in experience this doesn't hold true in the domaining space. Waiting till closer to the end isn't about sniping, as the auction auto extends. In the majority of cases (like most auctions on DL for example) its generally domainers bidding against each other (totally fine). All we end up doing (as @bluerock pointed out on another thread recently) is driving up the price early on.

From a buy side, its frustrating when these auctions run for as long as they do, as you have to track and follow. I totally understand why though, from the sell side. The bulk of the price action will be on the last day of the auction, so I'm happy with that.

Was only asking for clarification as not familiar with UKB auctions in the same way as DL auctions

 

[Domaintial]

What are the limits?

From @RobM 's original post, I suspect its that you can only run 3 auctions at a time?

 

[RobM]

I just go by the (now) 2 emails I have from people saying they missed the end of the auction and would've bid - can they do anything. But yes you should be alerted before the end of the auction. You're probably better setting an alarm for safety though.

 

[Sean]

The auction is extended even when the high bid isn't beaten! You could sit there and extend an auction for hours without ever being the highest bidder!

 

[RobM]

So what do you suggest? No extension? If someone bids and they are outbid they don't have time to put another bid in? As this hasn't happened before it's new to me so I'm all ears. If you still have the high bid you are still winning.

 

[Sean]

Extend if it beats the high bid.

 

[RobM]

But they won't know until they place the bid. Maybe I should set them so that the next bid has to be higher than the current maximum bid? But then of course everyone will know what your maximum is well in advance.

 

[RobM]

Or perhaps a lesser extension of a couple of minutes if someone is trying to bid but hasn't got the high bid? This is the problem with people waiting until the last millisecond to put a bid in.

 

[Sean]

I'd make it where a bid increases the current high bidder by a sliding scale, say £5 up to £100, £10 up to £250, £25 up to £500 and £50 for anything over that. I wouldn't extend the finish time unless the high bid is exceeded.

So if I have a proxy bid of £50 but I'm winning at £20, a new bid of £25 would increase me to £30 but not extend the auction. If someone bids £55 then that becomes the new high bid and the auction is extended.

 

[RobM]

Ok I'll have a look.

 

[Sean]

I've never used the site before and I'm surprised somebody hasn't run an auction on for hours just for divilment

 

[Ben Thomas]

I've never used the site before and I'm surprised somebody hasn't run an auction on for hours just for divilment

But then you'd be risking attracting other bidders, I guess lol.

 

[RobM]

Well it did extend too much in the past so I cut that down. It also used to *add* time on but now at least any bid in the last 10 mins moves it to a *maximum* of 10 mins.
I think a failed bid will extend the auction 1 minute so the bidder can decide quickly whether to go again or not.
I'm also putting in so that the high bidder can increase their maximum bid if they can't be around. A few people have asked for that. As it stands you have to wait to get outbid to place another.

 

[dee]

Well it did extend too much in the past so I cut that down. It also used to *add* time on but now at least any bid in the last 10 mins moves it to a *maximum* of 10 mins.
I think a failed bid will extend the auction 1 minute so the bidder can decide quickly whether to go again or not.
I'm also putting in so that the high bidder can increase their maximum bid if they can't be around. A few people have asked for that. As it stands you have to wait to get outbid to place another.

This....

This sounds spot on

 

[Domaintial]

I've never used the site before and I'm surprised somebody hasn't run an auction on for hours just for divilment

I've experienced exactly this on some DL auctions in the past... but its really not the end of the world if you're seriously chasing a name... (2 pence)

 

[RobM]

I've added in the option to increase your maximum bid if you are currently winning the auction.
I have also made it so that any *successful* bid in the last 10 minutes will extend the auction to a maximum 10 minutes. However any unsuccessful bids in the last 90 seconds will extend the auction 90 seconds. This gives people a chance to bid again without the risk of auctions dragging on for a long time.