[Archive]

Posted By: Mark Peavey

Shortly after the ten minute rule went into effect, I tried several times to enter a maximum bid of $275. For whatever reason, the system would not accept it. At that point I decided it might accept a straight bid instead. However, having typed in $275 so many times in my futile attempt to enter a max bid, I acccidentally entered $275 as a straight bid. I immediately realized my mistake and called to correct it. To his credit, Steve corrected my bid, and at this point the bid was at, I think, $187 with me having on file a max bid of $275. My bid was NEVER $285 as Steve claims. I had done the math and knew that $275 was one of the ten percent increments. Since the next increment after $275 would be $303, I assumed it would require a bid of $303 to top my maximum bid. However, about an hour later, I received an email stating that I had been outbid, and that the high bid was now $275. Steve has written that while we discussed this on the phone he offered me the opportunity to up the bid to $303. This is true, he did. I declined, believing that since I was the first to claim the $275 increment it should belong to me at that price, unless somebody else bid $303. If I was willing to pay $303 for the card, that would have been my maximum bid in the first place! Having said that, as I stated before, Steve certainly has the right to set whatever rules he wants for his acutions. I have done business several times with him in the past and never had any problems. I certainly don't mean to question his integrity. It just seems like a bizarre policy to me, and seems sure to alienate bidders.