discuss Bot at GD auctions, driving the price just below your maximum proxy bid ?

[Primary Names]

Wanted to ask this to fellow domainers who are active at GD auctions.

Bidder 2739899 - I am calling it a bot, because I have crossed paths with this bot before and so did some others as apparent in this discussion. It was capable of putting a bid with only a few seconds left and had been doing it tirelessly for one and a half hour till it reached a couple of dollars below my maximum proxy bid.

The domain I was bidding had 5 bidders in the beginning. The bot entered only after the price reached mid XX and then kept chasing my maximum proxy. For the last one and half hours it was just the bot that kept extending the auction endtime. While it kept pushing the price and auction endtime, the domain was visible to all human bidders for one and a half hours but not a single human saw the value in the domain expect the bot. This made me realize that I overvalued it and that it was a mistake in my judgement to put 3XX max proxy bid on it. Expensive lesson for me, I guess. Also, FYI it had a GD appraisal value of lower XXXX.

How often does this happen ? I guess my question boils down to....

Recently, has it been possible to win a domain quite below ( not just few dollars ) your max bid at GD auctions ?

If this type of behavior or pattern is rare then I would assume I had been just unlucky. But if this has been happening to all of us, all the time then this is bad news.

 

[noneisnone]

i swear it always happens to me I'm not paranoid not just godaddy every other auction place last time it happened at sav

 

[Primary Names]

@noneisnone SAV has around a thousand miles to go before they could be called a reliable registrar but their auction is fair. Previously, I have won at least two auctions below my maximum proxy. AFAIR, there was a $50 to $100 difference between my maximum proxy bid and my winning bid.

 

[Samer]

Here’s an idea. Dont use Godaddy Auctions?

Bots have took over for a while, we ID’d HD #

Unfortunately, i suspect HD is isnt the only one

Samer

 

[Primary Names]

Here’s an idea.. Dont use Godaddy Auctions?

Obviously I wont once it is proved that it is happening to all.

if this has been happening to all of us, all the time then this is bad news.

 

[Samer]

Obviously I wont once it is proved that it is happening to all.

It’s breathe of fresh air... Calling @wwwweb; called it, from the start, im interested to hear.

Samer

 

[Primary Names]

Bots have took over for a while, we ID’d HD #
Unfortunately, i suspect HD is isnt the only one

I too have been aware of their existence.
Are you implying that Bidder 2739899 is an HD bot ?

 

[Samer]

I too have been aware of their existence.
Are you implying that Bidder 2739899 is an HD bot ?

Nooooo. I’m saying dont let your guard down.
HD#’s ousted, doesnt mean not other entities
Saying HD isnt only one (Wouldnt surprise me)

This # you brought up could be rich guy or gal,
or a bot who knows? Need more data analysis
If it rings a bell with anyone... Let us know.

Samer

 

[NickB]

If the bot don't beat you - the previous owner screws you over, many a time you win the auction but it gets renewed.....and if you win, you have overpaid........

Godaddy Auctions is shite unless you have very deep pockets...

 

[Primary Names]

Saying HD isnt only one

Sure, it is not.
I am just trying to determine if Bidder 2739899 or others like it are there to only drive up the price.

 

[Samer]

Sure, it is not.
I am just trying to determine if Bidder 2739899 or others like it are there to only drive up the price.

The #s hide ID.. If repeat offender, we’ll see!

How obscene could it be?

Samer

 

[Mister Funsky]

2139014
913932
913932
913932
913932
1890745
913932
913932
2139014 (second highest bidder was 913932)
88150 (second highest bidder was 913932)

These are the last ten auctions I've bid on and did not win. 913932 is the bot causing me trouble!

 

[Primary Names]

These are the last ten auctions I've bid on and did not win. 913932 is the bot causing me trouble

AFAIK, 913932 is an HD bot.

Unfortunately most of the folks seem to be missing the point of this thread. This thread is not about whether there are bots in the auctions and point out who they are. Although, they are rampant at GD auctions and making a list of bots in order to recognize them is pointless because bot or not GD does not reveal the id of the auction participants, till the auction finished.

This thread is rather about trying to determine whether these bots always makes you pay your maximum proxy bid amount all the time for all the folks. I know that when you put a proxy bid you are mentally prepared to depart with that money. But if this happens 247 to all the folks then it is quite obvious that the system is rigged for us common folks to overpay. As I made it clear that it does not happen at another platform and I was happy to save the money.

SAV has around a thousand miles to go before they could be called a reliable registrar but their auction is fair. Previously, I have won at least two auctions below my maximum proxy. AFAIR, there was a $50 to $100 difference between my maximum proxy bid and my winning bid.

 

[D Haynes]

So essentially are you suggesting/asking that another bidder would/can somehow know what your proxy bid is? I mean if that was the case and could be proven that would be the end of GD auctions so I'm guessing it isn't the case. Maybe instead of making a proxy bid you bid in increments at the end of the action. That way you can stop when you like and you know that they can't possibly know what you're prepared to pay.

I stopped using GD auctions long ago as it's clear they are more than shady and an fair playing field. I would whole heartedly recommend that nobody use them.

 

[tonyk2000]

trying to determine whether these bots always makes you pay your maximum proxy bid amount all the time for all the folks

IF any auction participant, bot or not, is rewarded for being the 2nd highest bidder - then it would be in his best interest to make the winner pay his max. So, somebody may well to wish to become 2nd highest bidder (still risking to overpay should he end up being the winner). Such a scheme is not new. Some auction houses make it public. Does it apply to GD auctions? Who knows... Maybe under NDA agreements, for some bidders?

 

[D Haynes]

IF any auction participant, bot or not, is rewarded for being the 2nd highest bidder - then it would be in his best interest to make the winner pay his max. So, somebody may well to wish to become 2nd highest bidder (still risking to overpay should he end up being the winner). Such a scheme is not new. Some auction houses make it public. Does it apply to GD auctions? Who knows... Maybe under NDA agreements, for some bidders?

Isn't this just shill bidding and illegal?

 

[tonyk2000]

Isn't this just shill bidding and illegal?

I think it is not illegal. Shill bidding implies some inside knowledge, or bidding on own items. Not the case here. Especially, if there is a good legal team serving the auction house - all public terms, NDA agreements (if any) etc.

 

[D Haynes]

I think it is not illegal. Shill bidding implies some inside knowledge, or bidding on own items. Not the case here. Especially, if there is a good legal team serving the auction house - all public terms, NDA agreements (if any) etc.

I guess it's a bit of a grey area. I mean if it was proven that an auction house was incentivising a 3rd party to bid up an auction without intending to win it then that's shill bidding as even though the item isn't the auction houses it still stands to gain from the greater commission payment. At any rate the solution is still the same - If you think you are being unfairly treated by someone, stop giving them your custom.

 

[tonyk2000]

stop giving them

Yeah, I also stopped bidding on GD auctions... long time ago.

Btw, old but still good related threads:

https://www.namepros.com/threads/huge-domains-sniping-godaddy-closeouts.1135689/

https://www.namepros.com/threads/hu...50-of-expiring-domains-at-godaddy-com.988898/

 

[Primary Names]

So essentially are you suggesting/asking that another bidder would/can somehow know what your proxy bid is? I mean if that was the case and could be proven that would be the end of GD auctions so I'm guessing it isn't the case.

It is a possibility but I am not suggesting anything without a proof. Although, if enough people come forward saying that they have always ended up paying the nearest possible amount to their maximum proxy bid and it has never ever happened that someone has won the domain in say half or two-third of their max-proxy bid, then obviously it is a clear indication of foul play.

Maybe instead of making a proxy bid you bid in increments at the end of the action. That way you can stop when you like and you know that they can't possibly know what you're prepared to pay.

For that to happen we will need to have plenty of time to keep staring at the screen. I believe most of us would be happy putting their max bid and then hope for the best, believing that the auction platform is a fair playing field.