Dynadot

GoDaddy Introduce Bidder IDs in Auctions

Spaceship Spaceship
Watch

Bob Hawkes

Top Member
NameTalent.com
Impact
40,788
Starting AFTER tomorrow (Apr 11) GoDaddy will introduce buyer IDs for auction bids.

"Each bidder will be given a unique bidder identification number, which will be different and unrelated to the customer account number to prevent social engineering. Bidder identification numbers will be automatically assigned sequentially, and they can not be changed by a bidder. The only way for a bidder to get a new or different bidder ID is to create or use another GoDaddy Auctions account."

Full details in Elliot Silver's Domain Investing blog post at this link.

https://domaininvesting.com/godaddy-to-introduce-bidder-ids-to-auctions/
 
Last edited:
35
•••
The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Starting tomorrow (Apr 11) GoDaddy will introduce buyer IDs for auction bids.

"Each bidder will be given a unique bidder identification number, which will be different and unrelated to the customer account number to prevent social engineering. Bidder identification numbers will be automatically assigned sequentially, and they can not be changed by a bidder. The only way for a bidder to get a new or different bidder ID is to create or use another GoDaddy Auctions account."

Full details in Elliot Silver's Domain Investing blog post at this link.

https://domaininvesting.com/godaddy-to-introduce-bidder-ids-to-auctions/
A unique number is great but a username is memorable and something they clearly don’t want.
 
8
•••
So now instead of bidder 1 or 2, you’re bidder 184346. Great way to clarify the bidding system 😒
 
10
•••
Thanks for sharing @Bob Hawkes

Good step moving forward
 
3
•••
Thanks @Bob Hawkes. Indeed very useful change from godaddy. This provides just enough transparency and information about the bidder and bidder trading patterns.
 
1
•••
So now instead of bidder 1 or 2, you’re bidder 184346. Great way to clarify the bidding system 😒
But after a while you will get to know who bidder 184346 is based on where the name ends up. I'm assuming the unique number is assigned once, and that becomes your bidder id when using that GD Auctions Account.

But on the other hand, some buyers might open secondary accounts for bidding so their identity remains anonymous...
 
6
•••
But on the other hand, some buyers might open secondary accounts for bidding so their identity remains anonymous...
That’s exactly what will happen. They need bidding handles like NJ which are more identifiable imo.
 
4
•••
Thanks for sharing Bob, I did not read the article admittedly, so I will ask here, how does this help? How can we identify someone from their bidder ID?
 
1
•••
How can we identify someone from their bidder ID?
First let me stress that my only information is from Elliot's blog post, which is based on a communication he got from GoDaddy.

I perhaps should have (sensitive to copyright limitations) also included the following - it is only AFTER the auction that people will be able to see the unique IDs.
"During the course of an auction, the individual bidders will continue be masked as they are now (“Bidder 1,” “Bidder 2,”…etc). At the conclusion of the auction, participants in the auction will be able to see the unique bidder ID number for all participants in the auction. This will allow third parties to track who was bidding on their auctions. "

The bidder IDs will be unique so that one can see if the winner also won other auctions, or bid on many auctions. Also, since the number has been assigned sequentially, if it is a newly created account that should be obvious.

My personal view? Not as much as many justifiably desire in terms of transparency, but definitely a step forward.

Bob
 
Last edited:
4
•••
It would be good if @Joe Styler or @Paul Nicks joined the thread to provide any additional insights and information. In particular, is it correct that only one GD account is allowed? If not what are the conditions under which a company or individual can have more than one account?
 
Last edited:
5
•••
First let me stress that my only information is from Elliot's blog post, which is based on a communication he got from GoDaddy. I totally understand that it is not as much as many wanted.

I perhaps should have (sensitive to copyright limitations) also included the following - it is only AFTER the auction that people will be able to see the unique IDs.
"During the course of an auction, the individual bidders will continue be masked as they are now (“Bidder 1,” “Bidder 2,”…etc). At the conclusion of the auction, participants in the auction will be able to see the unique bidder ID number for all participants in the auction. This will allow third parties to track who was bidding on their auctions. "

The bidder IDs will be unique so that one can see if the winner also won other auctions, or bid on many auctions. Also, since the number has been assigned sequentially, if it is a newly created account that should be obvious.

My personal view? Not as much as many justifiably desire in terms of transparency, but definitely a step forward.

Bob

In my opinion that's always what you get from GoDaddy just enough.

It reminds me of a quote from Eight Men Out, a story about the 1919 Black Sox scandal in Major League Baseball.

Sport Sullivan:
You know what you feed a dray horse in the morning if you want a day's work out of him?

Jimmy:
What?

Sport Sullivan:
Just enough so he knows he's hungry.

https://www.quotes.net/mquote/28049

Paul Nicks:

You know what you give a domain investor always busting our balls on transparency?

Joe Styler:

What?

Paul Nicks:

Just enough so they think they you are listening.
 
7
•••
A step in the right direction but is the bidder ID # constant across multiple auctions? Also, why would an investor need multiple auction accounts? For an auction of a non-expired domain, multiple accounts still open the risk of bidding on one's own auctions to drive up the price.
 
1
•••
0
•••
We do not have legal terms around how many accounts someones can have. We have various terms with language saying things like you need to provide real information on the accounts, you cannot shill bid, you cannot commit fraud, etc. I'm not a lawyer and I am not going to interpret our terms anyone with serious questions about it should contact our legal team or your own counsel.
Basically though we watch to make sure people are acting correctly behind the scenes, we always have and will continue to do this regardless of the bidder ids people can see or not see. We have manual and automated checks in place to make sure people are not creating multiple accounts in order to game the system or cheat in any way. If you have an SEO company from your home and you have an account for that to help clients, and you have an account for your personal websites or domain investing business and you treat them separately thats ok. If you're using them to bid on the same auctions, or you are banned in one account for failing to pay for a domain you won and try to start using the other to get around that, etc basically breaking the rules we have in our terms, then we will not look kindly on your multiple accounts.
I think at the end of the day it is really about how you use the accounts that matter and if you use your accounts for a legitimate reason and for legitimate participation in the auctions you should be fine. If you are trying to game the system in some way you're probably going to be blocked from the auctions no matter how many accounts you create.
 
5
•••
2
•••
I perhaps should have (sensitive to copyright limitations) also included the following - it is only AFTER the auction that people will be able to see the unique IDs.
"During the course of an auction, the individual bidders will continue be masked as they are now (“Bidder 1,” “Bidder 2,”…etc). At the conclusion of the auction, participants in the auction will be able to see the unique bidder ID number for all participants in the auction. This will allow third parties to track who was bidding on their auctions. "
That is unfortunate. I don't understand what they are afraid of.​
 
3
•••
That is unfortunate. I don't understand what they are afraid of.​
They’re afraid of transparency which will lead to lower sales results.
 
6
•••
First let me stress that my only information is from Elliot's blog post, which is based on a communication he got from GoDaddy.

I perhaps should have (sensitive to copyright limitations) also included the following - it is only AFTER the auction that people will be able to see the unique IDs.
"During the course of an auction, the individual bidders will continue be masked as they are now (“Bidder 1,” “Bidder 2,”…etc). At the conclusion of the auction, participants in the auction will be able to see the unique bidder ID number for all participants in the auction. This will allow third parties to track who was bidding on their auctions. "

The bidder IDs will be unique so that one can see if the winner also won other auctions, or bid on many auctions. Also, since the number has been assigned sequentially, if it is a newly created account that should be obvious.

Bob
Essentially you can already do these things after the fact by running whois searches so by only revealing the ids after the auction has ended not much has changed.
 
1
•••
I don't participate in Godaddy Auctions!

Cheers
Corey
 
5
•••
But after a while you will get to know who bidder 184346 is based on where the name ends up. I'm assuming the unique number is assigned once, and that becomes your bidder id when using that GD Auctions Account.

But on the other hand, some buyers might open secondary accounts for bidding so their identity remains anonymous...

So when ppl on NP chat say "x is on GD auctions IM BIDDIGN!"... and then ppl screenshot that and do a trace analysis everyt ime they say they bought a new GD auction domain...

then you'll know who's who. So when u see someone like Mike Mann bidding it up, you'll know who he is.. wow.

Such a bad idea lol.
 
1
•••
My understanding is it shows bidder IDs after the auction.
This just seems like an empty gesture really.

I don't really see how this is going to bring much needed transparency. While GoDaddy is my preferred registrar, I will still avoid the auctions for now. I will pass on public auctions with no true bidder IDs.

Brad
 
5
•••
They’re afraid of transparency which will lead to lower sales results.
I guess GD needs to see at least one more case of employee bidding and/or other irregularities made public to finally introduce _real_ transparent auctions. And this will happen, earlier or later... It should be obvious enough for all parties involved that recently announced "half measures" are similar to lets say treating appendicitis with vitamins (instead of surgery).
 
Last edited:
2
•••
For me, GoDaddy is good for closeouts and less than $100 auctions, So i don't care :)
 
1
•••
I reviewed the new terms. However, I don’t see any good faith disclosure of bot or API accounts competing with manual bidders or terms regarding their usage. Did I miss something or is that a separate document? This is something most new people "stumble into" with experience. Unfortunately, no change to registrant renewal after auction ends, the "not auctioneers", "no obligation to monitor", "not escrow", and most glaring is pointed out above in this this thread that bidder ID is not obligatory even after the end of the auction- why not state "SHALL PUBLISH" instead of "may publish your unique bidder number." ?

Does that "MAY" mean that the auctions if won by the Bots are going to be undisclosed versus the manual bidder winners? How many API's are allowed in an auction- unlimited?

Otherwise, it’s well written, concise and easy to understand.
Cut and pasted sections:

GoDaddy is not an auctioneer or an escrow agent.”

“You acknowledge and agree that GoDaddy is not a bank, and the “Transaction Assurance” process is a payment processing service rather than a banking service. You further acknowledge and agree that GoDaddy is not acting as a trustee, fiduciary, or escrow agent with respect to your funds.”

“You acknowledge and agree that GoDaddy may publish your unique bidder number once an auction in which you have participated has been closed or ended.”

“Under all circumstances, a Seller is prohibited from bidding on his or her own listing. Additionally, “Shill bidding” is strictly prohibited. Shill bidding is bidding by anyone—including the Seller, family, friends, roommates, employees, or online connections—that artificially increases a domain name’s price or apparent desirability. Violations of the above policy may result in the following actions being taken by GoDaddy, including:

  • Listing cancellation
  • Account suspension
  • Referral to Law Enforcement”
“These Expired Domain Names may be listed on the Site on the date of their expiration, however, no sale will be final until forty-five (45) days after the date of expiration. During the redemption period, as described in the Domain Name Registration Agreement, the original registrant has the right to reclaim the Expired Domain Name.”

GoDaddy has no obligation to monitor the Services, but reserves the right to do so. “

Revised: 4/9/19
Copyright © 2006-2019 GoDaddy.com, LLC All Rights Reserved.

https://www.godaddy.com/agreements/showdoc?pageid=dna_member
 
4
•••
Starting AFTER tomorrow (Apr 11) GoDaddy will introduce buyer IDs for auction bids.

"Each bidder will be given a unique bidder identification number, which will be different and unrelated to the customer account number to prevent social engineering. Bidder identification numbers will be automatically assigned sequentially, and they can not be changed by a bidder. The only way for a bidder to get a new or different bidder ID is to create or use another GoDaddy Auctions account."

Full details in Elliot Silver's Domain Investing blog post at this link.

https://domaininvesting.com/godaddy-to-introduce-bidder-ids-to-auctions/

Although this measure has the potential to decrease fake bidding to artificially inflate price, still, automated bidding (using bots on multiple accounts) can still be used to achieve the same objective.

I guess Godaddy will go the Flippa route of banning accounts with suspicious activity.
 
2
•••
Back