TDNAM - Auction sniping!!!

[SJM211]

I've been bidding in 10+ expired domain auctions on TDNAM over the last few days and it seems I always have the high bid until around 5 seconds before the auction closes - then someone comes in and exceeds my maximum bid and wins the name. It's really frustrating!! :td: - has anyone else had this problem?

I have noticed that they now auto-extend some auctions if there are late bids - any one know what the criteria are for auto-extension? Surely they should do this for all names. It would make sense for them as they would make more money and it would make it much more fair for the bidders..

Simon

 

[TLDnetworks]

Why not just bid the max amount you're willing to pay?

It's a proxy bid, so if they try with 5 seconds and it's below you max you'll win. If it's over you max it wouldn't matter anyway, and if nobody bids, you still win tha name at the lower price...

 

[fonzie_007]

The same thing happens on ebay. It is frustrating but it is what makes auctions interesting.

 

[floatingworld]

the answer is simple: you snipe with your maximum

 

[SJM211]

Why not just bid the max amount you're willing to pay?

It's a proxy bid, so if they try with 5 seconds and it's below you max you'll win. If it's over you max it wouldn't matter anyway, and if nobody bids, you still win tha name at the lower price...

True, but that basically makes it a sealed bid type auction and if they bid $51 to your $50 you loose and you get no chance to up your bid.

I guess I'm annoyed as I'm pretty sure it's the same person each time - just got me again on a different auction too. All the names have PR, lots of backlinks, yahoo/dmoz listed and they all get snapped up in the last 5 seconds.. If it was an auto extending auction then I guess they'd probably outbid me anyway but there's someone who's obviously doing very well for themselves out of this...

 

[TLDnetworks]

True, but that basically makes it a sealed bid type auction and if they bid $51 to your $50 you loose and you get no chance to up your bid.

Not sure what you mean by "Sealed bid type", but if the most you'd pay is $50 then it doesn't matter whether the aution closes at $51 or $501... Look at each auction on it's own merrits - bid what you WANT to pay for the name; backlinks and all. Someone that REALLY wants a name will be placing their best foot forward and you'll have no chance if you're holding back. If you're up against someone with deep pockets and wants the name at any cost - you'll loose anyway. Even if you put in a bid of $500 for a name that's only worth $50, they can still place a $1,000,000 bid in the final seconds...

Bottom line is - Bid what you want to pay for the name and Good Luck. :wave:

 

[IAmAllanShore]

But Sealed auctions keep too much of your money "in limbo" for some bidders to be comfortable, which is the current setup on TDNAM that Simon is referring to.
As well, simply bidding the maximum you're willing to pay can sound like an "easy" plan, but as auction psychologists would tell anyone/everyone, never actually pans out... Can you really get down to the dollar how much you would value "_greatnamehere_.com"? And without an automatic extension, wouldn't losing the domain by $20 be a heart breaker? The extension allows the MARGINAL cost of an upgraded bid to be considered.
In any event, eBay has a few hundred "sniping" programs; I wouldn't be surprised if someone tech-savvy has created one for TDNAM for their own use.
-Allan :gl:

 

[robertjr]

Dam Snipers!

 

[VURG]

All the auctions finish when I'm asleep. I'd probably snipe too but at the end of the day I'd prefer to stay in bed. It's great to live in Australia!

Allan, your right they have started using the sniping programs on a small scale in tdnam.

Here's an example:
https://www.tdnam.com/trpItemListing.aspx?miid=3349669&

 

[AdoptableDomains]

Allan is correct about the sniping problem for some. Yes if you are only bidding one bid, then bid the max you can afford or think it's worth.

The problem is not everyone has an unlimited budget. For example, say you have a budget of$300. Say you are bidding on 20 domains, and really want to get at least 2-3 of them. You could bid $300 on one and still be outbid. If you bid $300 on all, hoping for only one, then you may actually win all and can't afford it. many people wait on the status of one auction to decide their needs and budgets on another auction. the only real tool against sniping is the last minute extension. Then there's the debate on how long that should be.

BTW, I have sniped a few I really wanted just to minimize a bidding war. I've also put my first bid in at the last minute so as not to call attention to an auction as a hot property and bringing in other bidders from the most active or popular lists. There is strategy to winning just about any auction. You just have to become very familiar with the rules and how other people operated and react to plan accordingly.

 

[robertjr]

Allan & Mark - Nice posts!

 

[SJM211]

As well, simply bidding the maximum you're willing to pay can sound like an "easy" plan, but as auction psychologists would tell anyone/everyone, never actually pans out... Can you really get down to the dollar how much you would value "_greatnamehere_.com"? And without an automatic extension, wouldn't losing the domain by $20 be a heart breaker?

Exactly.. I guess I'd probably not win a lot of these auctions even if there was an extension as I don't have the kind of funds that some people seem to have but it would be nice to have a chance to raise my maximum bid in order to try and secure the name.

The two things that really bug me are that:
1. TDNAM seem to auto extend some auctions (seemingly at random) and not others - what is the point in this? IMO it should be all or nothing.
2. Maybe this is just me but I have a hunch that it's the same person sniping every auction I go for and that just really grates :hehe:

BTW, I have sniped a few I really wanted just to minimize a bidding war. I've also put my first bid in at the last minute so as not to call attention to an auction as a hot property and bringing in other bidders from the most active or popular lists.

I've also watched many names and not placed a bid 'til late on in order to not draw too much attention but I can't be in front of the computer at all times so usually I tend to just hope noone else spots it.

Anyway, thanks to all for the comments/tips - will try to employ some cunning snipes myself in the future

 

[Malaysia]

yeah just bid what u wanna pay