Subject:
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Re: Thoughts on having preferred customers in auctions
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Wed, 27 Jan 1999 21:17:19 GMT
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Viewed:
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2358 times
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Michael Ulring wrote:
> I'll first say that I have a small number of fellow Lego enthusiasts who
> are somewhat closer friends than the rest of you [1]. This group of
> individuals, some local and others who are outside the US, have either
> been very generous in their dealings with me, or we've just gotten to
> know each other over the course of dozens of emails or numerous
> get-togethers.
>
> So, when I was contemplating the start of my new Town auction (which
> I'll shamelessly plug, it's at:
> http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/2436/townauct.htm) I realized
> that there are a few sets that more than one of my friends may have an
> interest in. What is the best way to offer these sets to them without
> sacrificing the value they could bring to me in an auction, or showing
> favoritism between a number of my friends? I wouldn't really feel right
> asking for top dollar from these friends, but I am trying to make back
> some of the money I recently spent on large collections. So what am I
> to do?
>
> A potential solution I have considered, but not yet implemented, is to
> create a preferred customer situation where I grant a select group of
> people a blanket discount in my auction. So if bidder X wants a set in
> my auction, and they are on my special list, I grant them a predefined
> discount on anything they win. Say Mr. X wins 4 sets totalling $200,
> and my discount is 20%, then I only ask them for $160.
>
> A couple problems are:
> 1. Other bidders will think this is unfair because they are bidding
> against people who have a monetary advantage.
This shouldn't be an issue at all. I am almost ALWAYS at a monetary
disadvantage in auctions, especially if I am bidding against Tony, Larry,
Rob, or Gary ;-)
>
> 2. My preferred bidders will bid higher than they would otherwise
> because they are always mentally including their discount in their bids,
> thus driving the price higher than it might otherwise reach. Then if
> the preferred bidder doesn't win, the winning bidder pays more than they
> really should have [2].
THIS one might be an issue.
> Final thoughts:
> There is of course the first rule of auctions which states that the
> auctioneer can do whatever the heck he wants [3]. There is always going
> to be someone who has more money and can bid higher if they want to.
> Okay, so in some cases there are people who have seemingly unlimited
> Lego budgets (you know who you are, point point), but in general it is
> true. I'm open to any opinions people want to share on this, I have not
> yet decided one way or the other myself.
>
> Followups set to lugnet.general 'cause I'm not sure where this should be
> discussed.
>
> (1) I count approx. 75% of you all as Lego friends in one form or
> another, very few are enemies or rivals :-) I've had contact with many
> of you at one time or another, whether to make a deal or just correspond
> about Lego related stuff.
>
> (2) Hard to say what a set "should" sell for, but driving up the price
> artificially not a good thing to do and I fear this type of preferential
> treatment might do just that.
>
> (3) Within reason of course.
> --
> Michael Ulring
> ulringmc@email.uc.edu or ulringmc@columbus.rr.com
> WorldCom Advanced Networks, Software Developer
> http://oz.uc.edu/~ulringmc
> http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/2436/
--
| Tom Stangl, Technical Support Netscape Communications Corp |
| Please do not associate my personal views with my employer |
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