Do "robots" bid at GoDaddy Auctions?

[GoWeb]

Yesterday was a very harrowing day for me at GoDaddy auction of AutismTest.com.

The auction kept extending to well past 2 hours after the time it was supposed to end. I finally gave up because I didn't know WHEN it will end. The auction ended at $455 with 75 bids in all but there were only 1 other bidder, bidder 7, after auction crossed $170.

What worried me is the way of bidding by the other bidder ("bidder 7"). This "guy" or "the robot" it may be, kept bidding up ONLY the minimum ($5) at the very end of the 5 minute extension every time a bid was placed. I was on proxy bid of $250 first, then $450 but this guy/robot worked from $170 to $250, then from $250 to $450 only in increments of $5 every single time. This seems quite unbelievable to me that some HUMAN would sit through the auction for over 2 hours and only bid up $5 knowing full well there is an overriding proxy bid to his evey bid.

Has any of you experienced this? It's not very difficult to program a script to bid but I think only very few people are capable of this. Could it be that GoDaddy does it for themselves or for a partner, maybe like BuyDomains.com?

Here is the bid log, look at timestamps of bidder 7:

Bid Date Bid Expires Bidder Bid Amount
2015/08/24 02:15 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $455
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:25 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $451
Comment:
2015/08/24 02:10 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $450
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 02:10 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $445
Comment:
2015/08/24 02:05 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $440
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 02:05 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $435
Comment:
2015/08/24 02:00 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $430
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 02:00 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $425
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:55 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $420
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:55 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $415
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:50 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $410
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:50 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $405
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:45 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $400
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:45 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $395
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:40 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $390
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:40 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $385
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:35 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $380
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:35 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $375
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:30 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $370
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:30 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $365
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:25 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $360
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:23 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $355
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:10 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $350
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:18 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $345
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:13 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $340
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:13 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $335
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:08 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $330
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:08 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $325
Comment:
2015/08/24 01:03 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $320
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 01:03 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $315
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:58 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $310
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:58 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $305
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:53 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $300
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:53 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $295
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:48 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $290
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:48 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $285
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:43 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $280
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:43 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $275
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:38 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $270
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:38 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $265
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:33 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $260
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:33 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $255
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:28 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $250
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:28 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $245
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:23 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $240
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:23 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $235
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:18 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $230
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:18 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 8 $225
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:15 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $220
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:15 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $215
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:10 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $210
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:10 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 7 $205
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:57 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $200
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:05 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 3 $198
Comment:
2015/08/24 12:01 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $193
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 12:01 PM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 3 $188
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:57 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $161
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 11:56 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 3 $156
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:53 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) My Bid $151
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:50 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 5 $146
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:53 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 5 $133
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 11:53 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 3 $128
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:51 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 5 $113
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 11:51 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 3 $108
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:51 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 5 $93
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 11:51 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 3 $88
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:50 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 5 $50
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 11:49 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 4 $45
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:49 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 4 $43
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 11:41 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 3 $38
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:49 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 3 $35
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 11:49 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 4 $30
Comment:
2015/08/24 11:41 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 3 $22
Comment: Automatic Bid
2015/08/24 10:19 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 2 $17
Comment:
2015/08/19 01:20 AM (PDT) 2015/08/24 02:21 PM (PDT) Bidder 1 $12

 

[Ms Domainer]

He could be using a sniping service.

 

[equity78]

I have watched two bidders min bid for 12 hours.

 

[GoWeb]

I have watched two bidders min bid for 12 hours.

That must have been so terrible for them. Remember the domain name as well?

 

[equity78]

That must have been so terrible for them. Remember the domain name as well?

https://www.namepros.com/blog/the-e...eetviewapp-com-which-closed-at-13-007.845898/

 

[Kostas]

I have encountered similar situation in the past. The other bidder was bidding exactly 27 seconds before the end of the auction regardless of whether or not I had a proxy bid. After 2 hours, I finally let him/her/it have the domain(in the meantime I contacted godaddy and they told me that there isn't anything suspicious with the bidder but there is no way this was a person imo)

 

[GoWeb]

I have encountered similar situation in the past. The other bidder was bidding exactly 27 seconds before the end of the auction regardless of whether or not I had a proxy bid. After 2 hours, I finally let him/her/it have the domain(in the meantime I contacted godaddy and they told me that there isn't anything suspicious with the bidder but there is no way this was a person imo)

Exactly my point, did you check later on the WHOIS for that domain? Was it BuyDomains.com or some other agency?

It would be interesting to note WHO gets the domain (AutismTest.com) if it doesn't get renewed.
I will keep a tab on it, let's see what comes up. From the owner, we will know about the bidder and if there was any programming behind it.

 

[Ms Domainer]

Does anybody here know anything about sniping?

If someone engages a sniping service (eSnipe comes to mind -- not mine), then he/she has an advantage over someone who tries to snag an auction by hand.

Sniping is particularly good if one is waiting for an auction to go to BIN.

When I was buying jewelry on eBay, I used esnipe to my great advantage.

So, in that sense, a "bot" might be bidding.

 

[RU]

I guess this is a Hugedomains bot.

 

[Domain Lead Finder]

Man I hate those guys who wait until the last second to increase the price by the least possible amount of money. But in retrospect, its the best way to get me out of an auction because I simply do not have the patience to wait around and it certainly has its own merits. That 12 hour auction mentioned above is just crazy :D

 

[Kostas]

Exactly my point, did you check later on the WHOIS for that domain? Was it BuyDomains.com or some other agency?

It would be interesting to note WHO gets the domain (AutismTest.com) if it doesn't get renewed.
I will keep a tab on it, let's see what comes up. From the owner, we will know about the bidder and if there was any programming behind it.

I think I checked and saw that it was under privacy but I am not 100% sure. I tried to find the domain through my inbox(from the godaddy message that usually notifies me that I have been outbid) and through namebio(I remember the price to be around $600) but couldn't find it.

 

[JudgeMind]

I have encountered similar situation in the past. The other bidder was bidding exactly 27 seconds before the end of the auction regardless of whether or not I had a proxy bid. After 2 hours, I finally let him/her/it have the domain(in the meantime I contacted godaddy and they told me that there isn't anything suspicious with the bidder but there is no way this was a person imo)

I could definately see this, same thing happens on eBay

 

[Name Trader]

So there are bots bidding on GoDaddy and eBay. Shock Horror!!

 

[Name Trader]

The 64k question is "How do we join the party?"

 

[GoWeb]

The 64k question is "How do we join the party?"

Learn Python and learn to manage Selenium Headless Browser with it. Google it.
Or probably use some "sniping" service as explained by @Ms Domainer

 

[Name Trader]

Are there any Python / Selinium Headless Brower users out there?

 

[GoWeb]

Are there any Python / Selinium Headless Brower users out there?

I use it all the time, for everything to do with task automation for data. You mostly need Linux for it and python installed. Here is a small python script (named "njlist.py") that I use to download prerelease names from Namejet everyday and load to a database for my usage:

#!/usr/bin/env python

import os
import time
from selenium import webdriver
from pyvirtualdisplay import Display

curpath = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))

display = Display(visible=0, size=(800, 600))
display.start()

#first make sure "chromium-browser" is installed: "apt-get install chromium-browser"
#chromedriver needs to be downloaded and copied to /usr/bin directory, "chmod 755 /usr/bin/chromedriver"
#from http://chromedriver.storage.googleapis.com/2.12/chromedriver_linux32.zip

chromedriver = "/usr/bin/chromedriver"
os.environ["webdriver.chrome.driver"] = chromedriver
chromeOptions = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
prefs = {"download.default_directory" : curpath}
chromeOptions.add_experimental_option("prefs", prefs)

driver = webdriver.Chrome(executable_path=chromedriver, chrome_options=chromeOptions)
driver.get('http://www.namejet.com/pages/downloads.aspx')
element = driver.find_element_by_xpath('//a[@id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_hlPreReleaseAll"]')
element.click()
time.sleep(5)

driver.quit()
display.stop()

 

[Name Trader]

Let me study that and try to use it. Do you have another one for the NameJet Deleting Domains?

 

[GoWeb]

Let me study that and try to use it. Do you have another one for the NameJet Deleting Domains?

It's quite simple once you get some hold of python, You replace this line:

element = driver.find_element_by_xpath('//a[@id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_hlPreReleaseAll"]')

with this:

element = driver.find_element_by_xpath('//a[@id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_hlPendingDeletes3"]')

This would get you download list for "next day" pending deletes. See below:

 

[DU]

The 64k question is "How do we join the party?"

As I've said before many times:

GoDaddy has an auction API. Use that dont' scrape.

I have watched two bidders min bid for 12 hours.

You need to get out more


Stub you can also use PHP if you prefer if you know that better.