Auction Closed?
 

It looks like the auction has closed and reopened twice now! This is crazy!

I'm leaving for the evening....maybe you could place a bid for me Lean?:)

It is crazy, there are actually looting rioters in the streets of my neighborhood because of this!

I'm sure they'll get it all figured out and just end the auction tomorrow or something.

Damn it! This is frustrating.

Just got an email that's it's back open, but still can't get in. I'll keep trying.

folks
 

All we can say is we apologize. We might have to end the auction tomorrow evening instead of this evening but that is not confirmed yet. Scott and I will discuss it and post about it here and email all registered bidders shortly, say in the next 30 minutes or less. I am sure the hosting company is working on it but we have to make a decision in the best interest of our consignors, while keeping our bidders in mind too. We apologize for this catastrophe. It was very much beyond our control.

I forgive you.

Looks like they got it fixed...seems to be working AOK now...

[5 mins later...spoke too soon...]

The site seems to finally be back and stable again.

Not sure about the stable part. Managed to get a bid in a minute ago but then couldn't get back to the auction.

Jeff: Looting rioters, you say. That's just crazy. It's only old baseball cards.

Leon & Scott: Having fun yet?

I guess it is tomorrow...all the lots now have 22+ hours on them...

9:46 cst nope

I
 

was on there for a few minutes but now it's frozen up again...

the only thing we can do
 

It looks as though our host got hit with a Denial of Service (DOS) attack. Someone was jamming the lines with IP addresses and it was cratering the site. We can not be 100% certain it won't happen again. We have made a decision to extend this auction by 1 day. It will now end tomorrow evening, with "open ended" extended bidding starting at 9pm EST. There is really not much else we could do since many folks had other things to do and were not able to bid properly. Same rules, same everything but the "open ended" extended bidding will start tomorrow night (March 7th), at 9pm CST. We apologize very much and will also send an email to all registered bidders. We feel this is the fairest thing to do at this point. The systems changes have been made already.

Good call. See you tomorrow. Thanks for the update and keep smiling!

Addendum
 

Bidding is still open and will continue until 9:00 EST on Sunday evening March 7th, although it may be sporadic tonight while the entire system is scanned for the IP's wreaking havoc with our site. Apparently someone does not wish us good will.

Scott and Leon

Thanks for keeping us updated throughout, Leon/Scott. You did the best you could under the circumatances and made the right decision. Much tougher for bidders to deal with an all night auction tomorrow night with work on Monday but what can you do? Many of the auction houses regularly end their auctions on weeknights anyway........

If Rooster Boy knew as much about computers as he does about double wides and poultry molestation I would strongly suspect he was the source of the problems.

Another day?
 

I understand why you're doing it -- technology isn't always predictable -- but can I throw in a small plea from one insignificant bidder? Please drop the "extra 15 minute" rule. It's a sham. What's magic about 15 minutes? Why not keep the thing open an extra hour? Or a day? Or a week? Why ever close it? Eventually the really big spenders will find a way to amortize their earlier massive debts, probably with a federal subsidy, and find themselves able to outid the rest of the world. The longer the auction goes, the less likely it is that my top bid, based on what I can reasonably afford, will be able to survive.

This is, of course, great for those whose stuff is being auctioned. And for those with more money than brains. But not so good for the average collector.

Don't fret too much Scott & Leon.....you're not the first auction house this has happened to. I can remember at least two other auctions just this year that had to extend a day due to website issues.


Steve

a different mission
 

Hi Bob,
With all due respect what you are asking for is in direct opposition to what our mission has to be. We have to do as good as we can for the consignors and get them the highest amount for their valuables. The trick for collectors is to make the right decisions on what is there, with respect to "value", or also, unless the item is needed for a collection :). (do we really "need" any of this stuff?) .

So for that reason I am quite sure the rules will have to stay the same. Please do consider using the max (or is it "up to"?) bid feature. No one sees that amount except you. We know it's not perfect but it is a good system when keeping our goals in mind. Thanks again for the feedback and support. Good luck if you go for anything!!

All things considered, you're definately doing the right thing.

Cool. Auction now extended through Sunday night.
Good call guys.

Auction reopened?
 

I'm sure the consignors will line up to support this decision. However, as a bidder, I am disappointed. I got my bids in early, before the computer closed the auction.

If the 3 lots I 'won' last night go to someone else, I will be unhappy. The auction rules say the auction is over when the computer ends the auction.

Everybody knows to bid early, or use the 'Max Bid' option.

Ron R

Oh you guys will be fine, stop whining. None of you work tomorrow, right?

I don't think anyone is particularly happy with what happened (auction house, consignors, bidders). But.... stuff happens. We have to roll with it.

For anyone who is seriously upset about it -
may I suggest this book.....

http://www.tradeport.com.ph/uploads/...eseForKids.jpg

Extension was really the only option
 

Extending the auction was the only option from our perspective. We had a multitude of people who were trying to bid but due to the bombardment of the site by an outside perpetrator were unable to. In fairness to bidders attempting to bid and acquire items and the sellers ablility to offer said pieces under a stable bidding environment, extension was the logical decision.

We will close at 9:00 EST this evening under the same rules that would have been applied last night under normal operating conditions.

In all probability the vast majority of items will end up at the same level they would have achieved had the auction ended up undeterred with a problem free closing.

Scott and Leon

Turns out it was just some guy jogging.

Scott and Leon, I like the decision you made. It was the fairest thing to do for your consigners -- who are the people your auction truly represents. I'm sure that will earn you some business in the future, including mine.

When did the joggers in your neighborhood start carrying torches and pitchforks?

(Edited to add: Neighborhood fun run in North Texas.)

Let's try again.... (fingers crossed). At least it makes the oscars more interesting!

Does the 15 minute clock ticking away have any meaning? I supposedly bid with only 15 seconds left. I then looked at one of the other lots I was bidding on, and it said there were only 10 seconds left (when it should have been 15 minutes, since I had just placed a bid). Then, it ticked down to zero. And stayed there. Now, at least on my screen, it just says "hit refresh." When I do, it still says "hit refresh." How do I know how much time is really left? Thanks.

15 minutes
 

Paul,

The 15 minutes go by the quarter hour, the clock resets at the top of the hour, 15 after, 30 after and 45 minutes after. When no bid is received in one of those 15 minutes periods the auction will end automatically. At this point so many bids are being received this is irrelevant. Once bidding slows down the 15 minute period will be more of a factor.

Scott

where is the 'clock'?

I don't see any countdown.

thanks.

You may have the wrong browser...for instance, Firefox will not show a countdown, but Explorer does...

that must be it.
I have Safari and Firefox on a mac.

no countdown clock on either.

OK, now I get it. So if the clock is close to zero and I'm not winning, I need to bid or risk having the auction end. But if the clock is near zero and I'm winning, I shouldn't get too excited because the clock will probably reset to 15.

yes
 

Yes, that is correct Paul....my explanation about the 15 minute increments in the other thread (just now) explains it in some detail with an example.....

It's nights like these I wish I lived in California (or Hawaii).

It looks like 2:30 EST end time.

Wishful thinking, Jeff

Invoices
 

It looks like I won two lots. When will the invoices be sent out?

no paper but.....
 

As is normal we won't send paper invoices in the US mail unless the buyer requests it. Online invoices will be available later today online, after you login to your account. They will also be sent to all bidders via email. We will send out an email to registered users when they are ready. It looks like everyone that wanted to bid had ample time to bid. We saw no issues last night, or this morning, with the sytem. Thanks to all who participated.

As a consignor and buyer
 

I thought you handled everything perfectly. I didn't bid on a lot this time but hopefully I'll bid on more next auction.

S&H
 

Leon I just checked my account. It shows S&H as $2,000.00 - ?????????

Has to be an error. After it's corrected I'll get my check out.

system generated
 

The system generates an unreal amount of shipping and handling ($2000) so folks know invoices are not done yet. We will get them done today and let everyone know via emails. thanks again

**edited to add we are in the middle of doing them at this moment...they should be ready within the next hour or two (at very most)....They will be emailed after that.

I couldn't be happier with the handling of Leon and Scott's auction....I won a lot for a good price and I consigned an item that sold for more than I hoped..I guess I had a good night...:)

Thanks again Leon and Scott

Invoice
 

Thanks Leon. I'm an impatient sort. I want to mail payment today so that I can get the cards ASAP.

The R73 Indian Gum lot will fill some holes in the master set I'm working on.

Done!!!!
 

Invoices are DONE and online.

An email has been sent to all registered bidders. Please login and access your invoices . No paper invoices will be sent unless requested by the bidder....best regards

Payment mailed
 

I just mailed my payment.

Leon - do you send email notifications when the cards are mailed?

Another great job with your auction, guys. This is the third one now that I won something. Invoice received and payment to go out tomorrow morning.