> My main concern with the eBay auction algorithm is that it is
>time-limited, rather than bid-limited.... the aution closes after a
>fixed span **no matter what the bidding activity is**.
I have to agree (to a limited degree). The problem is that how do you
decide on how long to extend it. If you are trying to help those
people who might be asleep when their 'high bid' is topped, you
have to remember that no matter when the auction ends, *someone*
who might want it may be asleep.
I'll admit to sniping and being sniped (sometimes I even send mail
off to the winner saying something like 'Well sniped... :-)' )
The reason sniping is done is to get a bid in such that the others
bidding don't have a chance to get in another bid. If the auction
was extended by as litle as five minutes beyond the last top bid,
you wouldn't stop sniping, but you would prevent people from playing
the game just mentioned... there would always (so long as you were
at a terminal) be time to bid again.
But then you have the problem of being able to ensure, within some
timeframe, the end of the auction. Also, it means they have to keep
it on the books for longer...
Megan Gentry
Former RT-11 Developer
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry!zk3.dec.com |
| Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg!world.std.com |
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Received on Mon Oct 18 1999 - 18:48:22 BST