11 May
2000
11 May
'00
3:56 p.m.
At 08:16 AM 5/11/00 -0700, Marvin wrote:
Sniping (bidding in the last seconds of the auction) is
an on-going argument
that has some strong opinions on both sides. It is most certainly NOT a
lottery or even close. It does take advantage, or perhaps even promote,
ignorant (of the item value) bids. Sniping would be totally worthless if
people would bid what they are *willing* to pay rather than what they are
*hoping* to pay.
There are dozens of types of auctions. Wouldn't it be nifty if eBay
had a type of auction where the bidding was scheduled to end at a
particular time, but that bidding would continue in a going, going,
gone fashion as any auctioneer would do? This would let the N
last-minute bidders hang around until each had explicitly declared
that they were out of the running. Presto, the end of sniping.
To really make it interesting, combine it with a chat room aspect
that lets you see the other bidders.
- John