Pool cheats the bidding

[netPH]

Pool cheats the bidding

I've noticed something fishy going on with the countdown timer of the bidding session on Pool.com


I was a participant for an auction on a domain I backordered (adsenger.com)... While looking into the last 5mins close, I NOTICED THAT THE COUNT-DOWN TIMER JUST REPEAT FROM 1MINS THEN BACK TO 4MINS!... bidders thought that the auction was <1mins so therefore, bidders place their maximim bids.... but after that <1min, it would go back again at 4mins!.... that happened 5 times! I thought the final closing price would just reach $1,200 but because of the repeating countdown,.. it reached $1,750+...with 29 or 30 bids... The price wouldn't go up like that if the countdown timer is precise-am I right?... I'm also thinking of some script erors that might be the caused the tweaking... neh, I am now getting to doubt POOL.COM's honesty to us customers.... now, I'm really dissapointed with them... Actually, I got some screenshots of the bidding so I will have proof...

Anyone here noticed the same???

Is it worth to complain?



Thanks,
netPH

 

[rb]

I'm pretty sure that it explains this in their FAQ:
http://www.pool.com/help/FAQ.aspx

When a bid is placed (in a backorder and Domain Marketplace auction) that changes the auction’s price during the last 5 minutes, the closing time will be increased by 5 minutes from the time the last bid was placed. The Auction Close Time will continue to be extended by 5-minute increments from the time of the last bid. When the auction has extended an extra 15 minutes, if a bid is placed within 2 minutes of the closing time the auction will extend by 2 minutes from the time the bid was placed.

 

[Kodeking]

Originally posted by rb
I'm pretty sure that it explains this in their FAQ:
http://www.pool.com/help/FAQ.aspx

Looks like its all valid procedure to me. But you are very observant netPH

 

[suthra]

Yea i too thought like that. But their faq cleared my doubt. But still i think some background fishy stuffs happens in their bid for high value domains and famous domains.

 

[Anthony]

I think auction systems in general seem to be open to manipulation. But Pool mentions how they close their auctions, so at least they let you know.

 

[mole]

Originally posted by Anthony
I think auction systems in general seem to be open to manipulation.

Pool has tightened down a little on this, but yes, you can never tell for sure. Bring on WLS!

 

[spikedo]

They recently changed how they end their Auctions. It is all spelled out in the FAQ. It's getting harder and harder to buy domains for reasonable prices once they hit auction. I've dropped out of a bunch of autcions just because I felt the DN wasn't worth paying three to five times more than its worth.

 

[mole]

Originally posted by spikedo
I've dropped out of a bunch of autcions just because I felt the DN wasn't worth paying three to five times more than its worth.

Yes, once it gets stuck into end-user prices, it is very likely you'll be stuck with that name for life if you are trying to resell it for at least what you paid Pool.

.COM prices are not going to get any higher, but progressively lower in the mid-long term as the other new gTLDs grow in strength.

 

[Bashar]

more minutes more money more greed :P

thats why i dont catch as much as i used in old days last seconds bids

 

[Justin]

Yep, can't do it like Ebay.

I just avoid the bidding altogether because most of the time it isn't even worth it (well, not to me atleast), and just try to backorder another one in it's place.

 

[plugged]

Pool's just out to make some extra money. From a business point of view, it makes a lot of cents (yes, that pun was intended.)