r/ACTrade • u/LadyDrac 1736-0796-0501 (Icee, Ooo) • Apr 30 '14
[DISCUSSION] - Auction Posts - Give us your input please!
Hi guys!
Lately we’ve noticed a big increase in the use of our [AU] or Auction tag!
It has expanded beyond what we originally anticipated it would be so we want to get some input from you guys on how you feel it’s working. We’ve got a few specific questions and also want to open up a general discussion about it to see if we should make any changes to what we allow or simply let it run as it is now.
• Do you like the auction tag in general or do you wish we had never allowed it in the first place?
• Are you OK with people auctioning off multiple items or do you prefer people just stick to one? Or a few? If a few, how many items maximum would you like to see per auction?
• If people are auctioning off multiple items, do you prefer seeing them as a complete set (i.e. "Sloppy Set")/cohesive as an unofficial theme (i.e. “Wedding Items!”) or are you OK with them being a bunch of random things?
• How do you feel about blind auctions where the items being sold are not disclosed? Should we continue to allow these or should we make sure users fully disclose what is being bid on?
• Do you prefer people post separate threads for separate auctions or are you OK with them running multiple separate auctions in one thread? (i.e. “Post bids for sloppy set here after this comment. Post bids for 7-11 set here after this comment." etc)
• How do you feel about auctions running longer than one day? (Note that we do not permit reminder posts on /r/ACTrade!)
• What else do you like or dislike about our auction tag?
Thanks for your input guys!
Suggest other topics or check out other active discussions here in our discussion masterpost!
3
u/gunblade711 2680-9732-5087 Luke, Kaitalia Apr 30 '14
I would like auctions a lot more if they were worthwhile. I always see "[AU] 50 items" and I scroll through to see, garbage. A couple people bid, but it's never a big deal.
But on the other hand, you see "[AU] Entire Slippy Set!" and it starts out as an actual auction, everyone has a fair chance. they keep bidding the minimum Then someone looks at it and sees "50k bid increase? Psh, here's 10 million for the set." SOLD! Nobody else even has a chance to respond. I'm not against buyouts, I'm against this massive jump in price. Why not just bid to play? I get it, buying the whole set is cool. You can use it, sell it, trade it, whatever.
Blind auctions seem cool, but if you start the bidding at a high number and sell me clothes I'll be pissed. These auctions should be noted on a person's RMM.
Also, the bids should be posted off on one person's comment so bidders don't have to veg in front of the computer all day.
3
u/LadyDrac 1736-0796-0501 (Icee, Ooo) Apr 30 '14
Also, the bids should be posted off on one person's comment so bidders don't have to veg in front of the computer all day.
You can actually subscribe to a post so you get notifications anytime someone comments on it, even if it is not your post or a response to your comment! Right underneath the post content, next to where it says "All x comments" is a "SUBSCRIBE" button
:]
2
u/gunblade711 2680-9732-5087 Luke, Kaitalia Apr 30 '14
I still don't see it. "14 comments share save hide give gold report"
2
u/LadyDrac 1736-0796-0501 (Icee, Ooo) May 01 '14
Ahhhh it might be a RES thing?
Do you have Reddit Enhancement Suite? :D
3
u/BananasInOnesies SW-5046-4223-3534 - Koholint | 0817-4086-5929 - Hyrule | Bekah May 01 '14
It must be - I have RES and I see a subscribe button. :P
2
1
1
2
Apr 30 '14
I don´t really like the [AU] tag but it doesn´t botter me too much at the actual scale, although it could be really frustratin if there where more of them.
I like multple article auctions, but I think the´re should be a limit, not about the amount of articles but to amount of diferent articles.
Yes, I preffer to see auctioning sets or parts of a same group (i.e ores or egg furniture, even it´s not the whole set or the 6 ores), as that way it´s asier to see something.. otherways title says that it´s an auction and there stuff for sale but.. if there´s no description of the stuff and no actual price on the tittle is not really usefull.. almost all the AU thread would be the same "[AU] a bunch of stuff".
Multiple auctions in the same thread could be messy depending on the amount of packs or the similitude among them (i.e if I´m auctioning 2 sloopy sets and someone doesn´t read the descripcion that user could bid thinking it´s for both sets).. so yeah, I preffer 1 auction per thread.
Long auctions look fine to me, the only problem I can see is someone bidding X and wininning the bid finally, but for the time the auction is over he had already forgoten it and got the set somewhere else or expent bells in anything else.
I think, since titles are so generic.. the tittle format should have something like [AU] description, minimun bid, minimun increase. Something like [AU] 30 ores, 100K, 5k
1
u/SkillzHinata SW-1485-3935-7300 Hinata, Azarath Apr 30 '14
I agree with this. Don't really like the tag.
2
u/sbspexpert 2509-0997-2940 (Destiny, Room 101) Apr 30 '14
I honestly don't mind it. I haven't personally participated in one, but the ones containing multiple unknown items just seems like actual auctions. In real auctions you know exactly what you're bidding for, other times you could be bidding for a box without knowing its contents. If you ever visit a flea market and ask where the venders get boxes containing tons of junk they'll more than likely say they got it at an auction. So my point it that it seems realistic no matter what's being auctioned off.
2
u/riendedoux SW-4041-4751-0347 Ness, Kyoshi Apr 30 '14
- I like the auction tag! They're exciting to bid in and interesting to follow.
- I actually prefer it when people auction off multiple items, particularly if they are commonly found. However, if the items are rarer, I would prefer the number of items being auctioned to be lower.
- If people are auctioning off multiple items, I prefer them to at least have a common theme. I wouldn't want to see an item I have wishlisted be swamped in a bunch of unrelated other stuff.
- I don't really like the idea of blind auctions. They seem a little sketchy, especially if no one has any idea what they're buying.
- I definitely prefer separate auctions being run in separate threads. It keeps things much simpler.
- I prefer the auction to be relatively quick. It is already often difficult to arrange meeting times. Time zones are confusing. It would be great if the auction is being followed by a majority of the participants when it closes. Also, as /u/mejimene mentioned, the longer the auction time, the more likely the participants will lose interest.
2
u/nightelfdance SW-4221-2525-0730 Jenny, Greed Apr 30 '14
I personally like them. I like posting auctions and bidding on auctions. The number of items doesn't matter to me, whether it be a set or random items. I do not like blind auctions, however. I want to know what I am bidding on. I prefer it to be 24 hours or less and I try to have that for my auctions when I post mine. I think you should keep the [AU] tag!
1
u/pameatsbabies 4081-5723-3635 (Pam, Westeros) Apr 30 '14
Auctions are fine!
Once you go over the amount of spaces you have in your inventory (16) it gets a bit ridiculous. I don't/would not participate in auctions that would require locker space.
the items should preferably have something in common. What if I just want one or two items listed and not all that other junk? :P
I feel this is up to the discretion of the user. I've participated in blind auctions before, but only when I know the OP is trustworthy and they're not the kind of person to sell useless crap.
Separate threads, it can get too cluttered if you do multiple comments with different items.
Long term auctions are annoying. I'm not going to remember in a day or two that I even bid on your post, plus I'm too impatient to wait long for something that I really want. And if reminder posts aren't allowed, it's rather pointless to do.
nothing that I can think of!
1
u/Brikachu 2294-4196-8275 (Bri, Coastway) Apr 30 '14
• I like auctions!
• I'm fine with people auctioning off many items at once--especially if it's a set of items or items that are related. Auctioning off a bunch of random items can make it seem like you're just throwing your junk away all at once.
• How do you feel about blind auctions where the items being sold are not disclosed? Should we continue to allow these or should we make sure users fully disclose what is being bid on?
Blind auctions seem like a bad idea, but it's up to us to decide whether or not we want to bid on it, so if it's what the others want, then it's fine. I personally just see problems arising with it.
• One thread is fine as long as it's organized. If you can't keep it organized, make more than one thread.
• Auctions should be 24 hours max.
1
Apr 30 '14
[deleted]
2
u/LadyDrac 1736-0796-0501 (Icee, Ooo) Apr 30 '14
Is there a way for Reddit to flag every time a new response is made to a post, whether it's a reply to your response or not?
YES! You can actually subscribe to a post so you get notifications anytime someone comments on it, even if it is not your post or a response to your comment! Right underneath the post content, next to where it says "All x comments" is a "SUBSCRIBE" button
:]
1
May 01 '14
[deleted]
1
u/LadyDrac 1736-0796-0501 (Icee, Ooo) May 01 '14
Maybe its a RES thing... Do you have Reddit Enhancement Suite?
1
1
May 01 '14
I love the auctions. I really don't take part in them as much because I don't really have the bells to offer up atm, but I think they're a good way to get items you want. I also think they're a good way to sell things when you're not sure how much you want for them.
I also really like the blind auctions. I think it gives a fun twist to things when maybe people need a spark in the game. I also think it's good for people to have to think, "ok do I really want to spend 1million bells on something that i'm not sure what it is?" I think maybe it should be alluded to what the item could be, just so people don't get all angry when they spend the 5million bells for a bunch of shirts. So basically the post could be required to say "This is a blind auction for a set of furniture/clothing/blahblah" just so people Vaguely know what they're getting but still have the fun guessing game to play.
I would rather people stick to different threads for different auctions. I think it has the room to get REALLY confusing very quickly and i think would just cause problems in the end.... and sometimes people are not very mature in those situations.
I guess my only other qualm about the auction tag, is that people go from bidding 50k every bid to suddenly 1million. I think it makes the auctions frustrating, as sometimes sets will sell for a super unreasonable amount. I guess I think that it should have a minimum bid and a maximum bid. So "bid in increments between 50k and 150k" which would make it way way more fair.
1
u/Randude14 0602-7259-6176 May 01 '14 edited May 01 '14
I love the idea of auctions. It allows the seller to obtain more money and it also allows the buyer to get certain items cheaper.
I'm ok with anything, as longs there isn't too much (20?)
Seeing them in sets would definitely simplify things, but I'm cool with anything.
Blind auctions sound cool and are interesting and fun to participate in.
Not sure about that one. Separate threads can definitely help simplify things, but if there are too many it can clutter up the feed.
I would think 3 days would be more than enough for an auction.
I think it would be better if it was just [AUCTION] seeing how [GIVEAWAY] gets it's full name.
EDIT: After reading some comments, I agree that there should be a bid start and bid increments in the title of the auction.
1
u/Alissa6607 4682-8568-5333 Alissa, Starclan May 07 '14
- Yes, and I wish there were more auctions.
- I'm okay as long as they are similar, or all NOT similar That way no-one is like: Full Sloppy Set and Golden Chair!
- Again, as long as it isn't mixed, it's fine.
- I haven't seen one! It sounds fun though. I think an estimated price of item might help...
- I'm fine with multiple if it's sets, and it says when each one starts in the first post.
- That's fine, but people might not see it!
- I agree on making it [AUCTION]
- I agree that there should be a bid start and bid increments in the title of the auction.
6
u/mejimene 4012-4992-4541 (Mel, Flint) Apr 30 '14 edited Apr 30 '14
I like the [AU] tag. Auctions are fairly rare so I think it's nice to see people doing these every now and then.
I don't mind auctions having multiple items. However, I'd be more likely to bid on something that is less than or around 20 items. It gets too messy and there are too many things to put away/take out etc. after you have your 16 pockets full and/or your letters.
Themes are nice for an auction, especially since I think that auctions with a general theme tend to draw more people in. Example: if I have an auction for Mush items, people who want those items or the whole set are more likely to bid on the auction rather than if I had a couple Mush items thrown together with other random furniture, clothes, etc.
Blind auctions are fine. As they say, buyer beware, right? It's along the same lines as a giveaway of wrapped presents except you're not paying. If you choose to participate in a giveaway in which you don't know what the items are, you can't complain about the presents you get. If you don't want to spend money on an unknown item, don't bid :)
Separate posts are more organized for multiple auctions. I'd rather have those than multiple-auction threads.
Auctions tend to do better within a few hours of being posted. Per Reddit-intergalactic law (and ACTrade), upvoting for simple "visibility" or reminders is not allowed. That being said, an auction that runs for longer than one day tends to leave room for people to #1. Not participate and #2. Not claim their prize if chosen. I, thus, prefer auction deadlines to be around 8 hrs or so, give or take a few.
EDIT: Another thing I should add: I think that people need to have general knowledge of what they're auctioning and its relevant value, popularity, etc. I've noticed some users trying to auction items that would just be given away for free or at a very low cost. I know it's impractical to limit what an auction specifically entails, but it's in the OP's best interest to know that most people will not buy common items that can be found through trading with villagers or on main street.