Testing changes to auction system

[AnthonyP]

Hi All,

A few days are up and I will be back in the office this afternoon.

This change had nothing to do with snipe bidding. This is also not some effort to get you all to pay more.

Drop was targeting our list and deliberately registering domain names and then deleting all of them. Many of these targeted domains where being chased by first time/end users who are then left confused and frustrated by this "testing". If I had been at work full time I might have looked into just hiding first bids like drop does or allowing only participants to see the bids, but as I was short on time I took a rather more drastic approached and asked you to bear with me while I look into this further.

While drop are undertaking "Testing" I will probably also have to undertake "Testing" so this argy bargy might continue...

 

[neddy]

While drop are undertaking "Testing" I will probably also have to undertake "Testing" so this argy bargy might continue...

No problems. That's your prerogative.

Alternatively, you could be a business that respects and listens to its core customer base.

These are some of the simple things you could look at:

• Please don't keep moving the goal posts - particularly during the game.
  
  
• Get back to being proud of (and confident in) your platform. You will never win by simply just defending.
  
  
• Show progressive bids because it is transparent and has many benefits all round. Can you imagine a game of footy where the scoreboard was covered until after the game was over?
  
  
• Show live bidding history like most other worldwide domain platforms do. Inspire confidence in your systems.
  
  
• I like the idea of a hidden first bid - it seems to work well on Drop. Why don't you try that instead of your "nuclear option"?

Cheers, Ned

 

[davids]

Hi All,
If I had been at work full time I might have looked into just hiding first bids like drop does or allowing only participants to see the bids, but as I was short on time I took a rather more drastic approached and asked you to bear with me while I look into this further.

Come on, I'd say that's a bit of a cop out... the approach you took would be the difference between something like this to only display the value if there is more than one bid:

if( count( $listing_bids ) <= 1 ) $curr_bid = '-';
else $curr_bid = '$' . number_format( max( $listing_bids ) );

And something like this to kill it all together:

$curr_bid = '-';

If it's anything more than a 5-minute change, you're doing something terribly wrong with the code...

 

[findtim]

i've had a few phone calls today asking my opinion on the NF changes, my first answer is " well my opinion is on dnt, go read it"

the second answer i gave was the NF changes have been quite good for me.... i 've stopped looking at NF, it frustrates me and i am presently non competitive which means cheaper domains for others eg: you need to bidders to start a war.

i seen some names drop "post match" that i might have gone for, and good on those who won, the REAL loser is NF, i know one domain BECAUSE of your current system i just didn't bid you lost a potential $450 , why because i wasn't in the market.

the new owner got it for next to nothing, this is where you are missing out.

and just a note, if you made these changes and were winning domains i would still have the same opinion.

suck it up, eat some crow and take a step back, it just isn't working for you.

every one is "almost" trying to say it nicely.

don't be a "classic coke"

tim

 

[neddy]

Come on, I'd say that's a bit of a cop out... the approach you took would be the difference between something like this to only display the value if there is more than one bid:

if( count( $listing_bids ) <= 1 ) $curr_bid = '-';
else $curr_bid = '$' . number_format( max( $listing_bids ) );

And something like this to kill it all together:

$curr_bid = '-';

If it's anything more than a 5-minute change, you're doing something terribly wrong with the code...

It's all double Dutch to me; but I so admire smart people like you davids!

Anthony is obviously fighting a rearguard action, and is probably being told what he has to say and do. And of course he will probably deny that .............

Commercial reality dictates that for every day this hidden bid nonsense continues, the PR damage will get worse and worse.

My advice for what it is worth is stick to your announced Spring sale for the month of September; have the $10 first bids published (and subsequent bids thereafter); and compete like crazy. And if you lose a few or many names, then congratulate your competitor - and try harder the next day.

You'll get a lot more respect that way - and I imagine a lot more business too.

Just saying ...........

 

[AnthonyP]

Hi all,

We are back to normal again, sorry for any confusion or angst caused during this period.

 

[neddy]

We are back to normal again, sorry for any confusion or angst caused during this period.

Please elaborate. What is normal?

 

[AnthonyP]

To be a bit more clear, you will be able to see current bids.

 

[neddy]

To be a bit more clear, you will be able to see current bids.

That's good - I'll start bidding with you again.

 

[findtim]

That's good - I'll start bidding with you again.

me too

tim