Rick C said
I guess everyone has their opinion on whether they like it or not. Auction closed.my time at 3:45 AM. I definitely wasn’t staying Awake to watch it end. It’s a max bid and cross your fingers deal for those on the East Coast.
  

Agreed, this auction certainly favors the West Coast. Sucks for the rest of us east of the Mississippi. I also agree the format didn’t seem to keep anyone away. The bidding was robust and I found zero great deals but a few fair ones. The items I watched drew enough bidders to ensure they traded for at a minimum a fair price and in many cases a nice premium for the seller. Still hate the format but if I was on the West Coast I might like the advantage. One can only hope they at least add a Watch list or favorites feature! 

Buck1967 said
You must mean entertaining if you aren’t bidding! I can’t imagine any bidder feels anything other than frustration in this mosh pit of an auction. 
  

Both.  Mostly for what I’m not bidding on, but, also, it doesn’t require one to bid impulsively.

If anyone thought that, as suggested, the website would drive folks away, you are sadly mistaken.  I bid on about ten boxes of ammunition, all antique stuff except one modern box of .275 Holland & Holland Magnum ammunition and I was outbid on every one of them, sometimes substantially!

Buck1967 said
You must mean entertaining if you aren’t bidding! I can’t imagine any bidder feels anything other than frustration in this mosh pit of an auction. 
  

Rick C said

Buck1967 said

antler1 said

Chuck said
Before the last auction I made a list of problems.  I was able to talk with the designer. He knew of most the problems I found and actually fixed a few.  This new format is not user friendly. 
Eric is usually in Cody.  Let him know what you think of the new format. 
  

Best way to let them know is by not patronizing the auction site! That should be a wake-up
  

Honestly, us old guys have no chance. Who wants to stay up until 1 to 3am for the last item in the auction to close so every item can then close! I’ve never heard of an entire auction staying open because someone bid on item 1102? Crazy!
  

End of Auction Timer: At 5:00 PM PT (8:00 PM ET), a 30 second timer will start to count down. This timer resets to 30 seconds when we receive a bid on ANY lot in the auction. The auction ends when we do not receive ANY bids on ANY lots for a full 30 seconds. All items close at the same time. Historically, the 30 second timer runs for 5-6 hours after 5:00 PM PT (8:00 PM ET) and the auctions end anywhere from 10:00-11:00 PM PT (1:00-2:00 AM ET). Again, all lots close at the same time! 
Again… CRAZY!!
  

I don’t know, personally, I like their unique way of doing things and it’s entertaining to follow on a Friday evening.

Buck1967 said

antler1 said

Chuck said
Before the last auction I made a list of problems.  I was able to talk with the designer. He knew of most the problems I found and actually fixed a few.  This new format is not user friendly. 
Eric is usually in Cody.  Let him know what you think of the new format. 
  

Best way to let them know is by not patronizing the auction site! That should be a wake-up
  

Honestly, us old guys have no chance. Who wants to stay up until 1 to 3am for the last item in the auction to close so every item can then close! I’ve never heard of an entire auction staying open because someone bid on item 1102? Crazy!
  

End of Auction Timer: At 5:00 PM PT (8:00 PM ET), a 30 second timer will start to count down. This timer resets to 30 seconds when we receive a bid on ANY lot in the auction. The auction ends when we do not receive ANY bids on ANY lots for a full 30 seconds. All items close at the same time. Historically, the 30 second timer runs for 5-6 hours after 5:00 PM PT (8:00 PM ET) and the auctions end anywhere from 10:00-11:00 PM PT (1:00-2:00 AM ET). Again, all lots close at the same time! 

Again… CRAZY!!

Mike

TXGunNut said
Buck1967-
I was a bit disappointed to learn that the auction house would take advantage of knowing your max bid and use fake bidders to take advantage of that knowledge. I know it's their job to get the best price for the sellers but that sounds dishonest to me. Most states license their auctioneers and I feel quite sure such practices should jeopardize that license but maybe I'm being naive. I know a buyer who will put in bids on dozens of items at big auctions and I can't help but wonder how much this practice has cost his company over the years at hundreds of auctions. Maybe they have different rules for some bidders.
 
Mike
  

Mike, I don't think Wards takes advantage of the bidders.  I have put in high bids many times and got the item for far less than my high bid.

But here is the truth.  Some auction houses do take advantage of the bidders.  Read RIA's bidder form.  They say they can and do bid for the seller.  They are not the only house that does this.  This makes more money for the House. 

I still dislike the new format that Wards is using and hate the 30 second rule. 

I was a bit disappointed to learn that the auction house would take advantage of knowing your max bid and use fake bidders to take advantage of that knowledge. I know it's their job to get the best price for the sellers but that sounds dishonest to me. Most states license their auctioneers and I feel quite sure such practices should jeopardize that license but maybe I'm being naive. I know a buyer who will put in bids on dozens of items at big auctions and I can't help but wonder how much this practice has cost his company over the years at hundreds of auctions. Maybe they have different rules for some bidders.

Mike

antler1 said

Chuck said
Before the last auction I made a list of problems.  I was able to talk with the designer. He knew of most the problems I found and actually fixed a few.  This new format is not user friendly. 
Eric is usually in Cody.  Let him know what you think of the new format. 
  

Best way to let them know is by not patronizing the auction site! That should be a wake-up
  

Im going with that after the last debacle. Sorry they can keep their ammo. 

Rick C said

antler1 said
I cannot find a way to bookmark any items I care to follow. If anybody knows how please post. Maybe just me but this last version is a disaster
  

Buck1967 said

antler1 said
I cannot find a way to bookmark any items I care to follow. If anybody knows how please post. Maybe just me but this last version is a disaster
  

Me either. I’ve sent them an email to see if we are missing it and I will post their reply. 
  

I’m not sure if this is of any help or you already know but, after spending a bit of time navigating their new platform, after logging in I went to the toolbar top left and pressed it and then pressed on my account. When it opens several icons appeared and I pressed on the icon in the 2nd photo bottom and my items appeared(book marked). Just fyi. 

Thanks, you got my hopes up but I believe that is only showing the items you bid on. Every auction site I’ve ever used has a watch list that allows you to save lots without bidding so you can bid later if so inclined. As most auction houses will bid against you with fake bidders, it is unwise in my opinion to bid early. You should never use the max bid as they can see it and will bid you up to your max every time. Most, if not all the major auction aggregators sites disclose they share your max bids with the auction houses and they and their consignors are free to bid against you. I can’t speak for Wards as I have never bid there before but I have learned the hard way it is best to hold your bids until closer to the end of the auction when the auction house has to watch every lot and hopefully is distracted cheating another bidder rather than you 😀

antler1 said
I cannot find a way to bookmark any items I care to follow. If anybody knows how please post. Maybe just me but this last version is a disaster
  

Buck1967 said

antler1 said
I cannot find a way to bookmark any items I care to follow. If anybody knows how please post. Maybe just me but this last version is a disaster
  

Me either. I’ve sent them an email to see if we are missing it and I will post their reply. 
  

I’m not sure if this is of any help or you already know but, after spending a bit of time navigating their new platform, after logging in I went to the toolbar top left and pressed it and then pressed on my account. When it opens several icons appeared and I pressed on the icon in the 2nd photo bottom and my items appeared(book marked). Just fyi.