MEARS Auction Problem?

[truvalue123]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

It worked kinda like that, but not exactly...different items had different time left...most were together , but, not all...As I reread the new auction rules, the lot by lot closing is still in effect, but, the time is now 30 minutes, not 15..and, items without bids basically stay open longer...

[Chris78]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

I believe if anyone placed a bid on any auction lot within the 30 minute period, ALL auctions would be reset for another 30 minutes. That was the way I interpreted it. I did not like the new system. I went to bed and did win the one item I had bid on.

[esigs]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

Greg, I forgot the mention that of the 3 lots I placed bids on, one I was outbid within the first 30-minute and I didn't re-bid, while the other two went thru two 30-minute cycles and one of them closed but the other cycled thru again until someone outbid me on the 4th cycle. The only difference between the two lots was that the one that closed was of much lower value, from a player who's not well known and had little if any use. It's odd that the system would malfunction on both lots but differently, as one closed after 2 30-minute cycles (instead of 1) while the other stayed open longer.

[truvalue123]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

James, Troy responded to me as well..put the blame on Simple auction, but, said bids will stand..cost me one item-but, I left before time was done, so, I likely didn't bid as I didn't know when it was going to end.....I prefer the 15 minute rule, but, could live with 30..but, not what happened Satursday

[esigs]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

Did anyone have any issues with Mears this past Saturday? They changed the auction close by lot from 15 to 30 minute, but I had items I bid on cycle thru multiple 30-minute cycles and not end. After 3 cycles, I was outbid on one of them. I emailed Troy and he replied it was caused by their web host Simple Auction related to the change. I searched the forum and found this thread where a similar problem happened due to a server issue, hosted by the same company. Back in 2013, I had a similar problem of a lot I bid on not closing for multiple cycles without any additional bid being placed. It seems too critical to their business to have as a recurring problem.

[BU54CB]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

That was the problem I had when I initially called in. I was asked what lots I wanted to bid on, and I said that I had been outbid on a particular one and now wanted to do initial bids on others, but I had to be able to see the lots in order to decide which ones.

That's a good example of a situation Mears needs to address as part of their plan for dealing with a vendor failure. I would suggest a catalog pdf file that could be reached without going into the auction itself (available from the home page).

I agree, I think Grey Flannel has a pdf of their auctions available on the site, at least last time I looked.

[BVC]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

Sure, phone bidding is available, but if the site isn't working properly, would you have all the information to call in a bid?

That was the problem I had when I initially called in. I was asked what lots I wanted to bid on, and I said that I had been outbid on a particular one and now wanted to do initial bids on others, but I had to be able to see the lots in order to decide which ones.

That's a good example of a situation Mears needs to address as part of their plan for dealing with a vendor failure. I would suggest a catalog pdf file that could be reached without going into the auction itself (available from the home page).

[BVC]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

I wasn't bidding, so I could really care less. It's just my opinion, but this is the way Mears makes a good deal of its living and isn't a mom and pop shop. They shouldn't need for something to happen to have a back up plan, having a plan is part of doing business.

If I had items in the auction and I knew internet bidders couldn't bid, I wouldn't be happy. Someone who did have items posted in this thread and wasn't thrilled. Sure, phone bidding is available, but if the site isn't working properly, would you have all the information to call in a bid?

I worked for software vendors for years. Our customers depended on us to have back-up plans for software fails. If we didn't, and got caught in a situation similar to what hit Mears the other day, we were out the door.

Phone bidding IS the back-up in a situations where the vendor's software (or server) fails and the vendor can't get it up and running immediately. The only other option is to have your entire auction on another vendor's software as back-up, and that is not practical.

[BU54CB]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

If you are trying to bid, and can't, you make a simple phone call. If you weren't really interested in bidding, then you give up. Extending the opening round of bidding until 11:00PM Eastern, seemed very fair to me, to both sides. You call what they did "insufficient" - you can't create a vendor back-up plan during the problem, and who knows what the vendor had promised them in advance, in terms of back-up plans? I think what they did at the time was entirely sufficient. If they don't get a back-up plan guaranteed for future auctions, then I agree that their planning is insufficient



Agreed - 'computer vendor 101'.

I wasn't bidding, so I could really care less. It's just my opinion, but this is the way Mears makes a good deal of its living and isn't a mom and pop shop. They shouldn't need for something to happen to have a back up plan, having a plan is part of doing business.

If I had items in the auction and I knew internet bidders couldn't bid, I wouldn't be happy. Someone who did have items posted in this thread and wasn't thrilled. Sure, phone bidding is available, but if the site isn't working properly, would you have all the information to call in a bid?

[BVC]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

I believe it was actually a problem with the Simple Auction Site platform that caused all of the chaos.

Agreed. They claimed that they have lots of servers, and only some were affected. What you are saying makes more sense than 'server issues', as the 15-minute rule started at 8:00 Pacific and ended at 8:15 Pacific, despite claims that it was only some of the servers. If that were the case, bids by the people on servers that weren't affected, would have kept the auction running past 8:15. Given how many AH's are on this vendor's software, there should be enough pressure to get it fixed.

[MikeKam]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

Agreed - 'computer vendor 101'.

I believe it was actually a problem with the Simple Auction Site platform that caused all of the chaos.

[BVC]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

I'd be pissed either way because nobody knew what was going on. How does extending the auction help the bidders and consignors if most weren't aware of the situation. Its entirely possible many of the bidders didn't try to bid again after they couldn't get on and didn't know the bidding was extended.

If I was a consignor or bidder, I would not be happy at all. In my opinion, what Mears did was insufficient to both parties. They should have backup equipment to ensure this type of situation doesn't happen.

If you are trying to bid, and can't, you make a simple phone call. If you weren't really interested in bidding, then you give up. Extending the opening round of bidding until 11:00PM Eastern, seemed very fair to me, to both sides. You call what they did "insufficient" - you can't create a vendor back-up plan during the problem, and who knows what the vendor had promised them in advance, in terms of back-up plans? I think what they did at the time was entirely sufficient. If they don't get a back-up plan guaranteed for future auctions, then I agree that their planning is insufficient.

Or their 3rd party vendor hosting the auction should have a backup plan.

Agreed - 'computer vendor 101'.

[BU54CB]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

I'd be pissed either way because nobody knew what was going on. How does extending the auction help the bidders and consignors if most weren't aware of the situation. Its entirely possible many of the bidders didn't try to bid again after they couldn't get on and didn't know the bidding was extended.

If I was a consignor or bidder, I would not be happy at all. In my opinion, what Mears did was insufficient to both parties. They should have backup equipment to ensure this type of situation doesn't happen.

Or their 3rd party vendor hosting the auction should have a backup plan.

[BU54CB]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

I understand, from a bidder's perspective, what some of you are saying. You thought you won an item and then found out later the auction was still going. BUT, on the otherhand, if you were a consignor in this auction, you'd be pissed as heck that bidders couldn't access the site to make bids on your items. I got 3 or 4 emails from Mears explaining the problems and that bidding would be extended because of it. You have to look at both sides of this, and what could Mears do about it besides what they did? I mean the auction only went until 9 15 pacific time. It wasn't like it went on all night and morning like most the other auctions do.

I'd be pissed either way because nobody knew what was going on. How does extending the auction help the bidders and consignors if most weren't aware of the situation. Its entirely possible many of the bidders didn't try to bid again after they couldn't get on and didn't know the bidding was extended.

If I was a consignor or bidder, I would not be happy at all. In my opinion, what Mears did was insufficient to both parties. They should have backup equipment to ensure this type of situation doesn't happen.

[Longroad23]

Re: MEARS Auction Problem?

I had the 2 Braun's in that auction. Disappointed there was an issue.