REAs " Honest Auto Bid (TM) "

[gnaz01]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

In REAs catalog they make the following statement...
"Bidders in many auctions are under the false impression that the privacy of their bids is secure. With the exception of EBay and Robert Edwards Auctions, ALL AUCTION HOUSES CAN SEE EACH AND EVERY MAXIMUM BID THAT BIDDERS PLACE. The auction houses have never claimed otherwise. In the absence of utilizing the Honest Auto Bid style , THERE IS NO WAY FOR THEM TO NOT HAVE ACCESS to the maximum bids when they are placed"

This is a strong statement. I was under the impression auction houses had the ability to adjust the software so max bids could not be seen.
There are many owners of auction houses on this forum. I invite their comments.

I've won several items from REA for several bids under my MAX. I trust them!

[rainier2004]

I believe that to be false.

BST introduced a new secure bidding system as well and they cannot see max bids, not sure about any others though.

True Bid - BST Auctions uses a new software overlay called True Bid, which will ensure that max bids placed will be known to the bidder alone

http://www.bst-auctions.com/default.aspx#

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by gnaz01

I've won several items from REA for several bids under my MAX. I trust them!

My point Greg, is that REA is stating that all other auction houses can see max bids and " there is NO WAY for them NOT to have access to the maximum bids"

[gnaz01]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

My point Greg, is that REA is stating that all other auction houses can see max bids and " there is NO WAY for them NOT to have access to the maximum bids"

Understood, I was just saying that IF they have access to it, and used it, they didn't.

[asphaltman]

I always assume my max bids can be seen. Only use them at this point when I just can't stay up that late...and I have to come with terms if I'm going to get the item it may well be at my max bid.

Honestly the only auction houses I ever thought it was screwy because it seems like EVERY time I won for my max bids were with Mastro and Legendary. Surprise. With REA i've had my max bids hit, and at other times got lucky...maybe a 50/50 split or so.

Assume everyone can see your bids....

[kengoldin]

It is an antiquated statement that has been in REA rules for years.
Prior to going online with our first auction I instructed Bob Freedman of Simple Auction Site that neither I or the staff should have access to max bids.

This comment is in our rules
"Bid with confidence. Our auction software provider has turned off, at our request, our ability to see your proxy/ceiling bids. "

We use the same software provider as BST and others who instruct simple auction site to turn off ability to see maximum bids can do the same
I believe Leon has his site set up the same way.
Ken Goldin
Goldin Auctions

[andybecker]

Originally Posted by kengoldin

It is an antiquated statement that has been in REA rules for years.
Prior to going online with our first auction I instructed Bob Freedman of Simple Auction Site that neither I or the staff should have access to max bids.

This comment is in our rules
"Bid with confidence. Our auction software provider has turned off, at our request, our ability to see your proxy/ceiling bids. "

We use the same system as BST and others who instruct simple auction site to turn off ability to see maximum bids.
I believe Leon has his site set up the same way.
Ken Goldin
Goldin Auctions

this is not exactly true. we do use Simple Auctions, Bob Freedman's group.

we paid Bob to have True Bid overlaid on his software. True Bid takes the "switch" that Ken refers to out of the equation.

we do not have the ability to see bids, passwords, watch lists, etc.

that was very important to us.

Andy Becker
BST Auctions

[kengoldin]

Andy
We do not have ability to see passwords either
It causes a big problem when people cannot log on and call the office or email
Perhaps you asked bob for something unique to you that was extremely similar to what we had in place
In any event, I will edit my post so you do not feel offended as that was not the intent.
Point being that anyone using simple auction software has the ability to reject ability to see max bids

[bobfreedman]

Originally Posted by kengoldin

It is an antiquated statement that has been in REA rules for years.
Prior to going online with our first auction I instructed Bob Freedman of Simple Auction Site that neither I or the staff should have access to max bids.

This comment is in our rules
"Bid with confidence. Our auction software provider has turned off, at our request, our ability to see your proxy/ceiling bids. "

We use the same system as BST and others who instruct simple auction site to turn off ability to see maximum bids.
I believe Leon has his site set up the same way.
Ken Goldin
Goldin Auctions

Ken is 100% correct. He asked from day one to never see anyone's max bids, passwords, email addresses etc.. In fact, every auction house cannot and has not seen any of their max bids for the last 5 or 6 years. BST actually came up with a name for it but all of our customers cannot see their max bids.

Only the two owners of the company (myself included) can turn this feature on or off. No one to date has ever asked us to temporarily or permanently turn this feature off.

Bob Freedman