Things that could make a Live Auction better

[equity78]

Maybe the live auction format cannot be improved upon.

Maybe its like the BCS in College Football, that system was despised by many although the top SEC teams don't mind over the last decade because they have had one team in just about every one of them and won the last 6.

The format will be a change to a 4 team playoff making more happy, but now the selection committee will get critiqued and analyzed over and over. 4 team playoff why not 8 team, ok 8 team playoff why not 16 ?

People obviously did not like the domain picking abilities of Rick for the live auction. If Rick asked Frank Schilling to do it next year some would cheer but then those that did not get picked would boo Frank.

So maybe crowd sourcing is an option. Rick asks for submissions and after 500, he closes that.

Then there is a site set up where people can make their suggestions and those with the largest amount of votes gets into the live auction. Of course this can be messed with so its up to Rick to create a system that cuts down on this as much as possible.

Of course some will disagree with the crowds picks but at least its a way for more people to have a say.

My other out there suggestion is a $100 price guarantee, I think anyone who considers themself an expert in domaining should be able to pick domains they feel confident will get bids of at least $100, the event organizer could put there rep on the line by paying $100 for any domain that does not get $100 bid. I know that's out there but would be fun.

Quality Video and Audio would be another step

Online Verified Bidding

What would you add to make it better ?

 

[Blake]

Equity78,

I'm not sure I have much to add but I'll say what I think just for the sake of getting it off my chest. I always feel this "Traffic" type auctions are like a country club for the "IN" crowd. It's almost like the "Good Ole Boy System" to me and that makes me walk away. So my suggestion would be a whole lot of transparency.

I think these auctions are much like applying to sedo's auction....you get rejected but you have no damn clue why. How about telling the submitter why the name was rejected and setup standards to keep with etc. If your running an auction you should have a mindset on what metrics/volume/price to keep in mind. I think if this bit of information was made public it would have cut out the shit and brought quality to the front.

I may be crazy but I think the first and biggest step in the auction arena is transparency...after which we can make adjustments as needed.

Transparency + Quality Standards for Submissions = Win!

Cheers
Blake A. Worthington

 

[equity78]

You are right Blake there are no standards, if a name like forbiddengirls.com gets in what get's rejected ?

 

[DU]

Most auctions work because you have collectors always SEEKING products.

Car collectors are looking for that 1954 Desoto Adventurer II Coupe
Coin collectors are looking for that 1907 Rolled Edge Eagle
Art collectors are looking for a Rubens
Poster collectors are looking for that Hendrix Filmore original

They go to auctions for the purpose of their collections.

Even industry auctions (Diggers, Cranes, Buildings) are purposeful.

Domain auctions are more like Foreclosure auctions - it's about recouping investment by the seller. Buyers don't seek out auctions as an end user - most end users would HATE auctions preferring a buy it now price.

No one in their right mind collects domains. People/End users seek domains when they need them so you're always going to get reseller value.

The T.R.A.F.F.I.C auction should be a loss leader or you should donate quality names in lieu of entry fee.. the auction should be a FEW names.. some to benefit Charity.. NO RESERVE with GUARANTEED selling price. Let the organizers put their money where their mouth is - it's about entertainment, not business (or should be)