@Paul Nicks @Joe Styler
...no - it is not the first time I got beaten by a bot to a domain that was just available in closeout. It happened hundreds of times.
You have to watch their API bidding scripts. I put in a proxy bid $200 higher and the script bid up $20
every 5 minutes. I had to watch the screen 40 minutes to see the script pass my bid. I added another $200 bid higher and thankfully their script stopped bidding. They try to wear you down.
How do you guys know these are bots? I actually do that myself manually sometimes .. lol. AS LONG AS the API only has access to your last "active" bid (not your larger "proxy bid") then there is no real advantage here aside from the fact the robot doesn't need to take pee breaks! lol
*** VERY IMPORTANT ***:
That being said, I'm very curious to know what information the API does have access to. In a previous version of their mobile site .. there was actually a
BUG/LOOPHOLE where
YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE HIGH BIDDER'S "HIDDEN" PROXY BID .. this logic flaw existed for many many months if not years (before I was actively domaining, and I was buying a couple of names a year just for potential development). I actually reported the problem, but it never got fixed .. the flaw only became "closed" when they revamped the website at some point. I'm very sure malicious sellers could have easily bid up their domain auction to an amount $1 below another bidder's supposedly secret "proxy" bid.
Now that I think about it .. I'm curious is that data still is somehow available .. either via a similar bug / flaw .. or through the API.
@Joe Styler &
@Paul Nicks ..
1- What exactly are all the data fields available to the API?
2- Does the data returned to the API for "Highest bid" include the highest proxy bid, or just the current highest active bid (actual sale price if no more bidding)?
We don't release any stats on number of bidders, either via the website or API. I don't see how knowing a certain number of possible bidders changes the amount you are willing to pay for one specific domain.
I think what he meant was how many people in general have access to the API .. I'm curious about that number as well just to have an idea of how many people we're talking about.
@Paul Nicks...Can I use my one GD auctions account logged in to several computers at the same time to bid on auctions and buy closeout domains? Or would this activity set off any red flags in the auction system? ... Also, perhaps somewhat similarly, can two people be logged into the same GD Auctions account at the same time in different locations, and bid on different auctions on behalf of one entity, such two employees bidding on different domains for the company that own that auctions account?
I don't want to give you an official reply since I don't work for GD .. but I don't see any problems with anything you've mentioned. I have multiple tabs open during auction times. Sometimes I go to the couch and watch TV and make a bid on my cell phone (sometimes connected via wifi .. and sometimes via my cell provider).
Obviously as long as you aren't bidding on your own name.
Don't get me wrong but GD auctions have effectively become expired names auction website.
NameJet is winning it hands down.
As much as the mechanics of the GoDaddy platform makes me want to drive my head through a wall most of the time .. I'd have to disagree with you there in terms of a "buyer". GoDaddy has so many more buying opportunities at vastly better prices that aside from a few names listed at other platforms on
@Domain Shane's blog, I rarely even bother with the other platforms.
You seriously need to give props where props are due .. and GoDaddy's selection of domains is seriously second to none.
Now .. as a seller .. I can see the frustration of where your domain could possibly (probably) get lost in the ocean of 50,000 other domains going through auction each day. In fact, due to obvious time constraints, I don't even look at domains with a starting price above $12 unless they already have bids. I'm sure a lot of buyers with limited time do the same thing.