REA issues again...

[Aaron Seefeldt]

I got booted from the site and can't get back in...

[mcgwirecom]

I did not like the way they handled it. there were some issues from about midnight until quarter after. Then they were fixed. They originally said they would add the time they were down to the closing times. I was the high bidder at midnight and also at quarter after. I was able to get back on and it said the lot was closed and i won. then i got the email saying they were adding time. So it opened back up around 12:20 and said 10 minutes left. Then when the time ran out they restarted the 10 minute clock. they kept doing this until 1 am and THEN they decided to end the auction at 9PM Monday. I do not like how they handled that. either make the decision to end the next day right away or stick to the original adding of time. Of course on Monday someone bid at the last second pushing up my bid that should have won the night before. as I said the issues were only about 15 minutes and after that no one bid for 45 minutes.

[perezfan]

"I did not like the way they handled it. there were some issues from about midnight until quarter after. Then they were fixed. They originally said they would add the time they were down to the closing times. I was the high bidder at midnight and also at quarter after. I was able to get back on and it said the lot was closed and i won. then i got the email saying they were adding time. So it opened back up around 12:20 and said 10 minutes left. Then when the time ran out they restarted the 10 minute clock. they kept doing this until 1 am and THEN they decided to end the auction at 9PM Monday."


That was my experience as well. Bidding capabilities were only down for a few minutes, and the issue seemed to be fixed quite soon thereafter (around 9:15 Pacific time). It was the countdown clock that drove me nuts, as it malfunctioned 5 times in a row (for the lots that continued to receive no bids).

Therefore, I thought REA postponed the auction because of the malfunctioning countdown clock (which could not successfully close out any lots). I didn't realize it was postponed because some prospective bidders said they couldn't get in to bid.

The initial communication was not at all clear, but I'm sure they were caught off guard and in somewhat of a panic mode. I did manage to hold on and win one lot, which was nice. Knowing Brian and REA, I doubt this will happen again, and definitely cut them some slack.

[Topnotchsy]

Goldin was dealing with this issue extensively over the last couple of years, and I believe it is tied to the platform (and the vulnerabilities or limitations therein). I believe it has happened to other auctions over the last couple of years as well. It is frustrating that this is going on, and I am not sure there is a way to prevent this (outside of what Goldin did, in building their own platform).

At the same time, given that this has been an issue recently (I think REA even had an issue at least once in the last couple of years) I definitely think a clearly articulated approach is warranted and followed (such as pushing the auction end a day).

The issue is certainly frustrating for everyone involved, but in my opinion, at the very least, people should be able to know how it will be handled.+

Edit: For me, the delay worked in my favor as I was able to up a bid that I had (and didn't get back in time otherwise), but I imagine the person I outbid is likely frustrated.