The HugeDomains bot and GoDaddy Auctions

whenpillarsfall said:

I'm somewhat relaxed about robots. At the end of the day, no one is forced to pay more than they want to.

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pb said:

At this point I don't think HD is even using an api, I think it's somehow built into the system. Consider this auction from the moment ago:

Bidder 1 (Auto)
2/1/2020 9:52 PM $54
+$5

Your bid
2/1/2020 9:52 PM $49
+$7

Bidder 1 (Auto)
2/1/2020 9:52 PM $42
+$5

Bidder 2
2/1/2020 9:51 PM $37
+$5

Your bid
2/1/2020 9:51 PM $32
+$5

Bidder 2
2/1/2020 9:50 PM $27
+$5

Your bid
2/1/2020 9:50 PM $22

Bidder 2
2/1/2020 9:50 PM $22
+$5

Your bid (Auto)
2/1/2020 9:50 PM $17
+$5

Bidder 2
2/1/2020 9:48 PM $12

The auction was originally scheduled to end at 9:50 PM. One bidder made an offer at 9:48 and they are shown as Bidder 2(!). I made an offer at 9:50 and we were bidding for a while. Then, at 9:52(!), all of a sudden a "Bidder 1" jumps in! Which, of course, turns out to be "Bidder 913932" after the auction ends. Now, answer this, how did they do it "through an api"? The system had to have their offer "on hold" to be "released" when there is someone else already bidding. That's the only explanation (I can think of) why they are "Bidder 1".

So taken all that, here's what I currently believe. HD processes the list of GD expired auctions, assigns a value to each domain and then queue a proxy bid for this value (to be used in case of someone bidding on the auction) or snap the domain between the auction and the closure. So the bright side is, it doesn't matter if you bid on the auction or try to snap it at the closure - if they have the name queued, they will get it anyway (unless you're willing to outbid them). On the other hand, if they don't have the name queued, they won't bid on it anyway, so the only "bad" thing about bidding might be attracting other domainers to the auction, but for HD bot it's probably meaningless.

Attached are some screenshots as a proof for the above paste.

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namesway said:

I honestly don't bid much unless if I want to cost you money for placing a bid. I truly believe I have being beating hugedomains at well either they have it on their list or not. I haven't lost a name for about 2 month once it goes to closeouts. So, this notion they can get it if it is on their list is incorrect...invest in developing an application...

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namesway said:

I honestly don't bid much unless if I want to cost you money for placing a bid. I truly believe I have being beating hugedomains at well either they have it on their list or not. I haven't lost a name for about 2 month once it goes to closeouts. So, this notion they can get it if it is on their list is incorrect...invest in developing an application...

Click to expand...

pb said:

Do you have the api access?

Click to expand...

pb said:

At this point I don't think HD is even using an api, I think it's somehow built into the system. Consider this auction from the moment ago:

Bidder 1 (Auto)
2/1/2020 9:52 PM $54
+$5

Your bid
2/1/2020 9:52 PM $49
+$7

Bidder 1 (Auto)
2/1/2020 9:52 PM $42
+$5

Bidder 2
2/1/2020 9:51 PM $37
+$5

Your bid
2/1/2020 9:51 PM $32
+$5

Bidder 2
2/1/2020 9:50 PM $27
+$5

Your bid
2/1/2020 9:50 PM $22

Bidder 2
2/1/2020 9:50 PM $22
+$5

Your bid (Auto)
2/1/2020 9:50 PM $17
+$5

Bidder 2
2/1/2020 9:48 PM $12

The auction was originally scheduled to end at 9:50 PM. One bidder made an offer at 9:48 and they are shown as Bidder 2(!). I made an offer at 9:50 and we were bidding for a while. Then, at 9:52(!), all of a sudden a "Bidder 1" jumps in! Which, of course, turns out to be "Bidder 913932" after the auction ends. Now, answer this, how did they do it "through an api"? The system had to have their offer "on hold" to be "released" when there is someone else already bidding. That's the only explanation (I can think of) why they are "Bidder 1".

So taken all that, here's what I currently believe. HD processes the list of GD expired auctions, assigns a value to each domain and then queue a proxy bid for this value (to be used in case of someone bidding on the auction) or snap the domain between the auction and the closure. So the bright side is, it doesn't matter if you bid on the auction or try to snap it at the closure - if they have the name queued, they will get it anyway (unless you're willing to outbid them). On the other hand, if they don't have the name queued, they won't bid on it anyway, so the only "bad" thing about bidding might be attracting other domainers to the auction, but for HD bot it's probably meaningless.

Attached are some screenshots as a proof for the above paste.

Click to expand...

namesway said:

I honestly don't bid much unless if I want to cost you money for placing a bid. I truly believe I have being beating hugedomains at well either they have it on their list or not. I haven't lost a name for about 2 month once it goes to closeouts. So, this notion they can get it if it is on their list is incorrect...invest in developing an application...

Click to expand...

wwwweb said:

Curious to know how they gave you API access if you don't bid much, you have to spend a decent amount of money to get access?

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namesway said:

I used to bid a lot last year. And don't get me wrong. That was a mistake as hugedomains always jumps in and coat me money than I was willing to pay. Spend over $200 /per domain where I could have got them for $20 have I waited to closeout. Lesson learned. Never again unless if I absolutely wanted the name.

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wwwweb said:

Yes, your exactly right, now my concern has always been Huge Names with 7 million names, and the most drop catch connections, what are they doing over at Godaddy paying $200 per domain, for domains that should be wholesaling for $20-50?

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namesway said:

I think they are in it to drive domainers out of business.

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wwwweb said:

Well at the same time they are the single largest portfolio holder, and if they can disrupt supply, and demand, they essentially driving up the value of their portfolio, and forcing people to buy from them, making sure there are no cheap domains on the open market to be acquired. I really don’t know, but I hate it when they push single bidders up into hundreds, just based on that one person bidding. They been at it a while, including with the backorder loophole a few years back, any weakness they find in the system, they will game it.

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namesway said:

I used to bid a lot last year. And don't get me wrong. That was a mistake as hugedomains always jumps in and cost me money than I was willing to pay. Spend over $200 per domain. Lesson learned. Never again unless if I absolutely wanted the name.

Click to expand...