Push-To-Auction via Google Sites idea

[VURG]

I've often wondered if you could set up Push-to-Auction auctions without using a company that charges you fees. Here is a beta testing page for my domain name for sale for a Push-to-Auction page via Google sites. My idea is that I get somebody to make an offer through the web page and follow it up with an auction within Namepros. I have used a mobile friendly page. I use Google forms to collect watcher data for the auction to ensure that all the watchers of the auction are all notified when the domain is pushed into auction.

This is not a real auction. I am just getting feedback on the idea. What legal requirements would I have to include on the webpage? I'm interested in what feedback I could get.

https://sites.google.com/site/slowauction

 

[eyedomainous]

I used Google Docs for a private auction, with a targeted 'invite only' audience. It works pretty good... as its SSL secure and time-stamps bids.

Its easy to research auction types and legal agreements, then craft your own contract -like a TOS.

 

[Fonzie]

I used Google Docs for a private auction, with a targeted 'invite only' audience. It works pretty good... as its SSL secure and time-stamps bids.

Its easy to research auction types and legal agreements, then craft your own contract -like a TOS.

That is goddamn clever.

 

[MikeRibby]

Very goddamn clever.... I LOVE the concept..

 

[eyedomainous]

BTW, for the 'Invites' I use Google Calendar. This way 'Google' sends the Announcement/Invite days before the auction, and a reminder the day, and time, it begins.

I will likely add automatic email notices for new bids, and Auction Countdown emails.

Another nice thing is bidders can use a 'handle', if they like, to keep things, including their email addy, confidential.

 

[DU]

About two years ago I had read this from craigslist (probably not the same article but the idea):

http://techcrunch.com/2009/03/19/do...-an-auction-using-craigslist-and-google-docs/

 

[alien51]

So how to control fake bids, sabotage, or vandalism? I'm presuming its ok for stuffs that top 50 bucks?

 

[DU]

So how to control fake bids, sabotage, or vandalism? I'm presuming its ok for stuffs that top 50 bucks?

You're on Namepros. You're really worried about names going over $50?

:lol:

The spreadsheet is read only. Can't do much with fake bids.. but since when have fake bids been a problem in this industry?

 

[alien51]

You're on Namepros. You're really worried about names going over $50?

:lol:

The spreadsheet is read only. Can't do much with fake bids.. but since when have fake bids been a problem in this industry?

makes sense LOL

 

[VURG]

Thanks for the feedback. Sedo introduced the Push-To-Auction format around 2-3 months after I suggested on Namepros in July 2006. I had been frustrated with the 7 day time limits for domain name auctions on eBay and came up with the idea of an auction that finishes a fixed time period after the first bid. It has been great to see the idea expand and open up opportunities for domainers.

However, I believe that my original idea for push-to-auction (or what I call slow auctions) hasn't been realised. I also think it is sad that push-to-auction has remained unknown for the last 5 years to non-domainers and the potential of this auction format hasn't been fully realised on the internet community.

My initial idea was one where the buyer pushes the auction, not the seller. Sedo's variant on push-to-auction was one where the buyer makes an offer and the seller pushes the domain into auction. PushToAuction.com tried to set up a system where you could give the buyer the equivalent of the control of being able to push the auction but it still requires the seller to push the domain and so it's what I dreamed about. I glad that I have learned from Sedo and benefited from selling my domains in their auctions but I want to see my dreams realised and so I am working hard to educate people about the potential of Push-To-Auction with a buyer push format.

My hope is that by showing people how easy it is to set up Push-To-Auction websites with free software, that the right people can set up opportunities for domainers and non-domainers to run slow auctions for what they have to sell.

eyedomainous, thanks for all your insight as somebody who has run auctions through Google sites. However, the Push-To-Auction format is still an auction format in it's early stages of growth and so finding legal contracts relevant to the format is quite difficult. Do you have any more insight into generating contracts.

alien51 - I'm still learning how to minimise fraud with this type of auction. The advantage of working through a company that charges fees is that you have somebody else on your side to deal with the idiots. However, my experience is that some of my best customers were through private deals that got to know me through my online presence. Sometimes dealing with the fraud yourself instead of getting a third party opens opportunities. I have considered that it might be better to have a text message based auction than an email based auction as mobile phone numbers are usually considered more private information than email addresses.

I prefer to call push-to-auction auctions as slow auctions as "push-to" is not an adjective and makes the auctions difficult to talk about without adding extra words in some sentences. I use the term slow as slow auctions are significantly slower than other types of auctions due to the potentially infinite time period of waiting for a reserve price to be met. I also consider that educating people as to why they attract better prices than the faster auctions is that it takes time to attract a market and rushing the market often leads to either underpriced sales or low clearance rates for slow moving products(e.g. domain names).