Live auction decline

**Attilio** · 05-11-2003, 10:05 PM

Are alreday several weeks that live auction continue its negative trend.

There have been just a few weeks of initial enthusiasm but then things started slowing down quickly.

My very personal and modest opinion is that, as it is, the live auction is going to die definitely in very few weeks more being no longer a convenient option for both sellers and buyers.

I sincerely do not know if there is a good solution, others pointed out that, probably, the system itself is not the best one to facilitate the buyer-seller match and their points are good ones.

However I would give to live auction a chance more, changing the actual format.

My personal and modest suggestions are:

1) Publicize a bit more the auction inviting buyers to check out the auction list.

2) Eliminate starting price changing it to reserve price.

3) Inivite sellers to list their names as soon as possible and invite buyers to place proxy bids on the names of their interest no matter if the bids are under the reserve price.
(I would suggest that actual number of bids received by each name and maybe actual highest bid too are showed on the list.)

4) On Friday afternoon proxy bidding is closed and only the names who received at least one bid will be sorted randomly and placed on live auction on following Sunday.

5) Live auction starting price for each name would be higher bid.

6) If on live auction the price do not reach the reserve the seller will be then free to contact higher bidder/s to try in find an agreement.

I am absolutely not sure it would work and almost sure that there are better options .

Thanks,

**Banned: CoolHost.com** · 05-11-2003, 10:38 PM

Great points, Attilio!

I updated the "Sales Data" thread after tonight's Live auction.

Is the Auction system "fatally flawed"?!?
Appreciate your input.

**Mr Webname** · 05-12-2003, 12:50 AM

Can't see no.4 working, it's bad enough already - remove the option of having domains IN the auction and we all might as well pack up and go home.
Fewer and fewer people are attending the auction and so the prices are low - this means good names aren't being risked and the whole thing spirals into decline.
The only way to improve the situation is to get more to attend but that isn't going to happen on its own, but more competition for sales means more successful auction.
I admit that I don't attend because it's held at 2am my time and I just can't be up from my bed then!

**Banned: CoolHost.com** · 05-12-2003, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by Mr Webname
Fewer and fewer people are attending the auction and so the prices are low - this means good names aren't being risked and the whole thing spirals into decline.
The only way to improve the situation is to get more to attend but that isn't going to happen on its own ...

But how can this be? Platinum and Gold memberships are increasing ... yet there is worse attendance at the Live auctions now more than ever?!?! I don't understand.
Nobody dares to place a $1.00 Starting bid anymore ... when this used to be the norm. How can this be!?!? I don't get it.

Management said things would be improved by LAST WEDNESDAY (5/7) ... but, to date, nothing has been announced. In fact, the "fatally flawed" thread where that was promised has been closed. Why is the Live auction being ignored by management?!?! I, and no doubt many other paid members can't figure it out.
OUCH.

IMHO, of course.

See you.

**Banned: Tippy** · 05-12-2003, 08:07 AM

I'd say that most of the Domains which where listed and sold went for what they are worth, which isn't much.

The bulk of the higher starting priced Domains to me where over priced ( for resellers ) and not all that great in quality.

Mike

**Banned: CoolHost.com** · 05-12-2003, 08:16 AM

Originally posted by Tippy
The bulk of the higher starting priced Domains to me where over priced ( for resellers ) and not all that great in quality.
Mike

Yeh, I saw two (for $8 and $12, respectively) that met this criteria.

But what I really want to know ... where is management on this issue?!?!
Thanks.

**beatz** · 05-12-2003, 08:33 AM

Sounds like asking ebay management for help if your stuff doesn't sell to me.

Problem is easily described:

- Crappy names with too high starting price
- No great names at all.
- Everybody's looking for that $50000 name available for $20

So what?
That's life, don't blame management for it.

**Banned: Tippy** · 05-12-2003, 08:37 AM

Eat my Underwear Cool

Mike

**Banned: CoolHost.com** · 05-12-2003, 08:47 AM

Originally posted by beatz
So what?
That's life, don't blame management for it.

Read, Beatz. I am basically "blaming management" for not following through on what was promised last week ... about something/changes being done to improve the Live auctions, most noticibly attendance. Is it your opinion that the Live auctions are OK the way they are now, Beatz?

For the record, I made another $50.00 last night, and am well ahead of the game, to date. People like me, I guess, should not be "complaining" ... but I want to see a more lively Live auction(s) for EVERYONE (paid membership).
Thanks. All opinions are most welcome.

**Banned: CoolHost.com** · 05-12-2003, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by Tippy
Eat my Underwear Cool

Mike

Ewwww.

Just kiddin', Tippy! LOL.

You make a good point, I'm just more concerned about the lack of response from management, is all.
See you.

**shortcutgramp** · 05-12-2003, 08:52 AM

Sounds like beatz has stated it perfectly !!!!!!!!
Problem is easily described:

- Crappy names with too high starting price
- No great names at all.
- Everybody's looking for that $50000 name available for $20

So what?
That's life, don't blame management for it.

**Banned: Tippy** · 05-12-2003, 08:56 AM

Don't knock it till you try it Cool, ya might like it

whats your favorite flavour, Grape or Strawberry

Mike

**beatz** · 05-12-2003, 08:58 AM

I'm not saying the live auctions are doing OK, but i'm saying things won't change until people offer better names, have lower starting prices on crappy names or stop expecting to get that one million dollar name for $20 - so, nothing much management really can do to improve the auction.

Even if a zillion new "potential buyers" are redirected here, crappy names will still be crappy names that rarely sell.

Implementing new fancy technical things, redirecting traffic and so on won't change this fact.

It's like with making music:

You can have the best recording equipment in the world - still, if you don't have a great song, all the fancy equipment won't help you at all.

**Banned: CoolHost.com** · 05-12-2003, 09:06 AM

Beatz - Wouldn't it be nice to hear from management?!?

Good points, though.

Tippy - Thanks for making me puke up my iced coffee!

See you guys.

**Mr Webname** · 05-12-2003, 09:07 AM

Who in their right mind is going to risk good names in the present climate?
Put them in at a reasonable rate and nobody wants them - few weeks ago -RJ- put in about 4 good 2-character .org names with a reserve of $225-$250 and no takers - what do people want? Surprised to see that -RJ- didn't put any of them in again? (Hope you don't mind me mentioning you -RJ- !)
Now would you risk putting them in at a starter of $1 for 2-3 bidders to haggle up to $50?
The auction seems to have become a place for a few guys to pick up a few for $1-10 and that's about it at the moment. If we all want improvement we all need to participate where possible and practical.

**Attilio** · 05-12-2003, 09:29 AM

I mainly agree with Beatz points.

That for I think that if anything can be done is to offer high priority to the few names generating any real interest.

Possibly if we would have a 30 minutes auction with 15-20 decent names all getting bids and generating even just 2-3 sales only but at decent prices we might have a chance to invert the spirals.

With reserve price none would risk to undersell his names, however allowing buyers place bids under reserve seller would have at least an idea about how much people here are willing to pay for the name and if he likes could contact highest bidders to try in close the sale at reasonable price.

thanks,

**INFORG** · 05-12-2003, 11:49 AM

I don't normally use the auction because I don't like the interface, but this week I decided for kicks I would throw in half a dozen $1.00 proxy bids on a few that I felt I could turn.

Imagine my surprise to actually win 3 of them.

I think the "live" part of the auction and the whole javascript thing keeps most people out and it has declined from there.

My vote is for an eBay style auction primarily aimed at the reseller market. I am against reserve price auctions for this though as it quickly turns into one of those similar domain auction sites with completely outrageous reserve prices and nothing actually selling. Your reserve should be the opening bid - if it is a crazy amount you deserve to get zero bids and mocked in the forum.

I have been in a buying mood lately, so I would like to see a good reseller auction.

My .02