question Dodgy GoDaddy auction bidder. Would you pay?

[Pretty_Cool_Huh]

I won the domain sos DOT me yesterday for $777 USD. However Bidder 33258 drove the price up in minimum bid increments (fast and bot-like) starting from their last $455 proxy bid until $770 where they could see my maximum proxy bid. Therefore I think the auction was compromised and I might not pay. The auction transcript is below in case I'm somehow mistaken about the auction details and logging.

I saw reference to bidder alias 33258 on another thread, but nothing noteworthy. Hopefully this will alert others to this bidder.

Are the Godaddy auction terms still valid when there’s evidence of fraudulent bidding? My opinion is the contract/terms can’t be easily defended and the name should be re-auctioned and the bidder suspended for some time.

I was considering raising my next proxy bid to $1250 USD, so while I was ready to pay more, I have a low tolerance for bullshit. I’m ready to throw it all away, i.e. sacrifice the name and break a possibly invalid contract with Godaddy unless a fair outcome is reached. Convince me otherwise, because I still want this name and want to use it for a project.

While some others might see it as a business and financial decision to simply move on, I think tolerating bad behaviour is like a festering infection, and auction platforms should patch compromises like this asap. If the name can’t be re-actioned, then the next fair outcome might be for Godaddy and Bidder 33258 to pay me an equal amount of $157.50 each as a form of civil penalty or restitution, because it may be reasonably inferred that the bids where fraudulent somewhere between $455 and $770 ($315).

If Bidder 33258 wishes to get in touch and pay me $157.50 or offer an explanation or apology (along with the name if they’re awarded it as runner-up), I would likely let this matter go. Otherwise I’m putting up $100 via Paypal to the first person who can provide me with publicly/freely verifiable personal or business details of Bidder 33258 via private message. Depending on the jurisdiction, I may be prepared to spend a few thousand in small claims process to recover a fair amount of at least $157.50 plus other costs.

If Bidder 33258 is awarded sos DOT me even at their $770 bid, it may still be considered to be a fraudulently gained asset, and therefore they or anyone that acquires the name from them should know the name may be recovered in the process.


Bid Date Bid Expires Bidder Bid Amount
2020/09/15 10:32 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $777
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $770
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $760
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $750
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $740
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $730
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $720
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $710
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $700
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $690
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $680
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $670
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $660
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $650
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $640
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $630
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $620
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $610
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $600
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $590
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $580
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $570
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $560
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $550
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $540
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $530
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $520
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $510
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $500
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:44 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $495
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:43 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $490
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:43 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $485
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:43 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $480
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:43 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $475
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $470
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $465
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $460
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $455
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $358
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $353
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $348
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 10:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 33258 $343
Comment:
2020/09/15 10:32 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) My Bid $338
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 08:39 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 4409586 $333
Comment:
2020/09/15 08:39 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 4409586 $325
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/08 10:19 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $320
Comment:
2020/09/15 08:38 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $306
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/15 08:38 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 4409586 $301
Comment:
2020/09/14 11:53 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $260
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/14 11:53 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3126181 $255
Comment:
2020/09/14 11:53 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $236
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/14 11:53 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3126181 $231
Comment:
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $206
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3126181 $201
Comment:
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $196
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3126181 $191
Comment:
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $186
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3126181 $181
Comment:
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $176
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3126181 $171
Comment:
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $166
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/14 11:52 PM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3126181 $161
Comment:
2020/09/12 08:30 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $156
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/12 08:30 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 4409586 $151
Comment:
2020/09/08 10:19 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3534242 $128
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/05 01:41 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3925207 $123
Comment:
2020/09/05 06:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3925207 $106
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/05 06:42 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 4409586 $101
Comment:
2020/09/05 01:41 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 3925207 $15
Comment: Automatic Bid
2020/09/04 06:53 AM (PDT) 2020/09/15 10:50 AM (PDT) Bidder 7000785 $10
Comment: auctionMerge

 

[gilescoley]

You really don't need to start multiple threads on the same thing.