Michael J. Mahon wrote:
> vcgm.groups@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
>
>> Items can be posted in auction format (buy-it-now can be used for flat-
>> rate sales) with descriptions and a photo gallery for each. Bids on
>> items within the last two minutes of an auction will extend that
>> auction by 30 minutes, making sniping a thing of the past.
>
> ...and making emotional p***ing contests in the middle of the
> night a thing of the present. ;-)
>
> Think about the price that would make you a satisfied buyer if
> you won and a satisfied loser if you didn't--then snipe that bid
> to protect it from people who like to steam open envelopes...
>
> As you can see, I much prefer sealed-bid auctions. ;-)
I can think of one good way to outright discourage sniping. Introduce a
random posting dither to any bids placed in the last few minutes, with the
uncertainty growing higher as the finish time approaches. That should
neatly
prevent the pile-on of automatic snipes in the last few seconds.
