To everyone on this post, I have been both a bidder and a seller on a online bidding platforms, since 1999.
This is what I have always preached to everyone that has ever ask me about bidding online.
Put an absentee bid prior to the live event, that way you bid will be there, that is what I do for every online auction I participated in whether my own or someone else.
Morphy's auction goes way to slow, we are selling at maybe 60 lots per hour, when I was in business I would sell over a 100 per hour.
So if you really want to buy something at any auction, prebid, phone bid or be there.
So let me heard the ***** now.
Dan, my postings yesterday were of course strewn with emotion. Mine is not meant to be a personal attack on you. I don't know your level of participation in these events.
However, the bottom line, this should not have happened. Period! Just a little patience on the hammer, make sure all basis are covered, and this doesn't happen.
Some would say this is the result of internet speed, connection, bla bla bla.... Look, this is not a race. There is nothing in the process driving a need for speed other than the auctioneer wanting to get through all his lots in a given amount of time. And if the auctioneer is paying attention to all basis, and making sure all active bids and bidders are addressed, then this doesn't happen. Does it? It's just that simple isn't it.
And you may say, 'well there are a lot of items to get through we have to be speedy'. No, that is not acceptable. Then split it into three days if you have to. Whatever it takes.
It should not have happened. And all it would take to make sure it never happens to someone again, is a little patience on the hammer and make sure every bidder is covered. Or like I said, don't offer the internet service.
I've lost what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Who knows. And even I say to myself, if it wasn't for Morphy's having their auction I never would have even had such an opportunity. But that doesn't cover it for me. It shouldn't have happened and it should never happen.
Another aspect, and this isn't personal, it's only business.
As an automotive tooling supplier, my customer base is limited to the OEM's and tier 1 and 2 suppliers. And there is ample competition for the work. If we screw up, we are at our whits end to correct the issue and make that customer happy. Not redirect them to other options and pointing out what they did wrong on the project to contribute to the problem. If I did that it would not end well for me I assure you.
However in the auction world, with a potential customer base of some 350 million in the US alone, you seem to beat to a different kind of drum. In stead of hearing my venting and saying even that your sorry it happened, and then possibly doing something about making sure it doesn't happen in the future to someone else, You just want to redirect me and point out what I did wrong. And if I never participate in another Morphy's auction, you won't even feel it.
Again, if your not going to fully honor the internet bids and take the time to make sure they are given equal opportunity, then don't offer the service just to drive up prices.
I had to add one last thing. It's not like I only bid once. I had been high bidder twice only seconds before this happened. So it's not like my bids were not being recognized at all. I was a clear active bidder in the final seconds of this auction and should have been recognized to the end!!!
