FRACTAL AUCTIONS ARE HAPPENING AGAIN.

[lishd]

every time this happens, i tell you it may be the last time. & though we somehow keep getting lucky, i gotta say - this may be the last time you get a chance to purchase these items.

Comments

[qw01]

What constitutes an "active bidder"? I placed a bid, but does that mean that I can come back as the auction is ending and jump in on the final bids, or would that be considered sniping? How often must I bid to be able to bid as it ends?

[lishd]

basically, there is no sniping. for example:

bidder 10 puts in a bid at 7:59pm.
8pm arrives.
bidders 1-9 are able to continue bidding despite it being after end time, because they were active on the bidding before the set auction end time.

but, in this scenario:

bidder 2 puts in a bid at 7:59pm.
8pm arrives.
bidder 1 puts in a bid at 8:03pm.
8:18pm arrives.
bidders 2-10 did not bid for 15 minutes past the last "active" bidder, so the auction ends with bidder 1 winning.

does that clear it up? i'm glad to give more examples or answer any other questions. :)

oh, & to answer your question directly: the fact that you bid once is enough to allow you post-auction-end bidding, but within the window. if there are no bids for 15 minutes after the auction ends AND the bidding goes quiet, the auction is over. by saying there's "no sniping", i mean to express that putting in a bid at 7:59pm won't automatically win you the prize. :)

[qw01]

Thank you! :)
Would be sniping if people keep bidding, I don't, and then I come in at 7:30 and start bidding again?
eta: not saying that's what i'm planning to do! i'm just curious.

[lishd]

you don't have to worry about whether something is or is not sniping - my rules eliminate the ability to do it. you're perfectly welcome to return to bidding near auction end.

"sniping" is putting in a bid just at the close time, so no one else has a chance to go "hey, i'll go higher". it can be done on ebay - hell, i do it all the time. :) since LJ auctions are across time zones & done via email/comments, & since email isn't instantaneous, it's only fair (imo) to allow post-end bidding the way i have.

[qw01]

ok, thanks :)

[lishd]

my pleasure. :)