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Subject: 
Re: [DISC] Shortcircuit eBay?
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.market.auction
Date: 
Wed, 28 Apr 1999 00:13:08 GMT
Viewed: 
2589 times
  
In lugnet.market.auction, Rose Regner writes:
> > Here is an argument (of mine) pulled from a previous thread.  It shows one
> > (of many) of the problems with fixed-end auctions.
> > 
> > "I don't know about other people, but I tend to go into an auction (more
> > often a parts auction than an auction server, but the principle still
> > applies)with two things.  A maximum budget, and a list of things I want.  so
> > if I'm looking at A and B, and have a maximum of $20.00, there's a huge
> > variety of prices that can apply.  Most of the options open to me involve
> > being able to reconsider either lot when I get outbid.  If I go with your
> > logic above, I bid $10 on each, and leave it.  What if A goes for $12 and B
> > goes for $3?  I've only got 1 lot that I wanted, and I still had budget
> > available.  If I was able to re-evaulate each time I got outbid (i.e. not a
> > snipe-able system), I could keep bidding on lot A for another 5 bucks.
> > 
> > I know there's some holes in the logic, but the point is there.  I usually
> > know how much I'm willing to spend on something, but I can't very readily
> > predict how much I _can_ spend on something.  Does that make sense?"

> I understand the dilemma, but just because you may want 2 different items
> and have a fixed maximum, and I only want one and have the same amount to
> spend, doesn't mean e-bay is bad, or I am the bad guy. I have a few sets I
> am looking for, and may be willing to spend all my $$ on one lot.

I never claimed other bidders (or you) were the bad buy.  Nor does this
example by itself, I admit, make e-bay bad(1).  It does, however, illustrate a
flaw in a fixed-ending auction, in that it means a buyer goes away unhappy,
and with money unspent, a seller gets less for an item than they could have,
and the auction host gets less money, and a buyer out there who is bitching
about them.

> I fully simpathize with your situation, and I have been there! I just do not
> think that an auction is the place for that situation. One must prioritize!
> 
> For instance, using your example, you went to a store and found 2 Lego sets
> you wanted. You only had enough $ for one. You have to make a decision on
> which to buy. A day later, you come back and the other set is gone. Do you
> blame the store?? You had to decide.

Not really comparable. In my example, I had enough money to "buy" both, but I
wasn't given the opportunity to.  It would be comparable to a store only
allowing you to take 1 item off the shelf in any given day, even though you
want, and can afford 2.

> Although not an auction, I still think that the responsibility is yours to
> decide what you want at the moment. If the TRUE frustration is that the
> prices for what you want is too high, or you do not have enough cash to
> purchase both sets, I do not see how you can blame the auction!

But that isn't the frustration!  I have enough cash, and the prices aren't too
high, yet the system doesn't give me a chance to get both (in my example).
That is where much of the frustration comes from.

James
http://www.shades-of-night.com/lego/

1: I have other reasons for considering e-bay "bad", this is simply an example
of why it's stupid. :)



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: [DISC] Shortcircuit eBay?
 
(...) Like the fact that I just this morning received a "daily eBay update" which was two days stale? It listed my auction (which closed two days ago), with an old high-bid? And I still haven't received the auction-closing confirmation e-mail from (...) (28 years ago, 28-Apr-99, to lugnet.market.auction)
  Re: [DISC] Shortcircuit eBay?
 
(...) And *this* makes eBay bad, IMO. --Todd (28 years ago, 29-Apr-99, to lugnet.market.auction)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: [DISC] Shortcircuit eBay?
 
(...) people (...) (of (...) often (...) with (...) looking (...) bid (...) able (...) could (...) I understand the dilemma, but just because you may want 2 different items and have a fixed maximum, and I only want one and have the same amount to (...) (28 years ago, 27-Apr-99, to lugnet.market.auction)

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