REAs " Honest Auto Bid (TM) "

[kengoldin]

It is an antiquated statement that has been in REA rules for years.
Prior to going online with our first auction I instructed Bob Freedman of Simple Auction Site that neither I or the staff should have access to max bids.

This comment is in our rules
"Bid with confidence. Our auction software provider has turned off, at our request, our ability to see your proxy/ceiling bids. "

We use the same software provider as BST and others who instruct simple auction site to turn off ability to see maximum bids can do the same
I believe Leon has his site set up the same way.
Ken Goldin
Goldin Auctions

[andybecker]

Originally Posted by kengoldin

It is an antiquated statement that has been in REA rules for years.
Prior to going online with our first auction I instructed Bob Freedman of Simple Auction Site that neither I or the staff should have access to max bids.

This comment is in our rules
"Bid with confidence. Our auction software provider has turned off, at our request, our ability to see your proxy/ceiling bids. "

We use the same system as BST and others who instruct simple auction site to turn off ability to see maximum bids.
I believe Leon has his site set up the same way.
Ken Goldin
Goldin Auctions

this is not exactly true. we do use Simple Auctions, Bob Freedman's group.

we paid Bob to have True Bid overlaid on his software. True Bid takes the "switch" that Ken refers to out of the equation.

we do not have the ability to see bids, passwords, watch lists, etc.

that was very important to us.

Andy Becker
BST Auctions

[kengoldin]

Andy
We do not have ability to see passwords either
It causes a big problem when people cannot log on and call the office or email
Perhaps you asked bob for something unique to you that was extremely similar to what we had in place
In any event, I will edit my post so you do not feel offended as that was not the intent.
Point being that anyone using simple auction software has the ability to reject ability to see max bids

[andybecker]

Ken,
no need to edit, as you had no reason to know what we paid Bob to do.

and sorry if I came off as defensive, I wasn't offended in the slightest, again just clarifying what we paid Bob for.

[Robert_Lifson]

Ken is correct that this has been in our catalog verbiage for years - since 2004 when we conceived of and paid for the software security modifications that define Honest Auto Bid. If the Simple Auctions has now added the capability to totally eliminate access to passwords also, then this is great improvement, and does make this verbiage in the REA catalog regarding security outdated (and in that case will be updated in the future).


Sincerely,

Rob L

Robert Lifson
President
Robert Edward Auctions, LLC
P.O. Box 7256
Watchung, NJ 07069
908-226-9900
908-226-9920 fax
www.RobertEdwardAuctions.com

[kengoldin]

Thanks Rob. Nice post.

Originally Posted by REA

Ken is correct that this has been in our catalog verbiage for years - since 2004 when we conceived of and paid for the software security modifications that define Honest Auto Bid. If the Simple Auctions has now added the capability to totally eliminate access to passwords also, then this is great improvement, and does make this verbiage in the REA catalog regarding security outdated (and in that case will be updated in the future).


Sincerely,

Rob L

Robert Lifson
President
Robert Edward Auctions, LLC
P.O. Box 7256
Watchung, NJ 07069
908-226-9900
908-226-9920 fax
www.RobertEdwardAuctions.com

[bobfreedman]

Originally Posted by REA

Ken is correct that this has been in our catalog verbiage for years - since 2004 when we conceived of and paid for the software security modifications that define Honest Auto Bid. If the Simple Auctions has now added the capability to totally eliminate access to passwords also, then this is great improvement, and does make this verbiage in the REA catalog regarding security outdated (and in that case will be updated in the future).


Sincerely,

Rob L

Robert Lifson
President
Robert Edward Auctions, LLC
P.O. Box 7256
Watchung, NJ 07069
908-226-9900
908-226-9920 fax
www.RobertEdwardAuctions.com

It was added about 5 years ago

[Robert_Lifson]

Bob, that is great and a very impressive improvement. We have spoken many times during the past five years and you have never mentioned this to me. Just for clarity, is it accurate that all auctions using the Simple Auctions software cannot access passwords? (and thus cannot access maximum bids, even if they have chosen not to have maximum bids displayed in the administration system). Or is this just an option that is used by some? I understand from Ken and Andy’s posts that they utilize this security feature, and my hat is off to them, and to you also for providing the capability. Do all other auctions using Simple Auctions also have no access to passwords? (Goodwin, Sterling Auctions, Al Anderson political auctions, Oldpoliticals.com etc) or is this a security option that is used only by some? How many have no access to passwords vs do not have access? Whatever the answer, I appreciate that the option is there. It's a big deal in my opinion.

Sincerely,


Rob L

Robert Lifson
President
Robert Edward Auctions, LLC
P.O. Box 7256
Watchung, NJ 07069
908-226-9900
908-226-9920 fax
www.RobertEdwardAuctions.com

[bobfreedman]

Originally Posted by kengoldin

It is an antiquated statement that has been in REA rules for years.
Prior to going online with our first auction I instructed Bob Freedman of Simple Auction Site that neither I or the staff should have access to max bids.

This comment is in our rules
"Bid with confidence. Our auction software provider has turned off, at our request, our ability to see your proxy/ceiling bids. "

We use the same system as BST and others who instruct simple auction site to turn off ability to see maximum bids.
I believe Leon has his site set up the same way.
Ken Goldin
Goldin Auctions

Ken is 100% correct. He asked from day one to never see anyone's max bids, passwords, email addresses etc.. In fact, every auction house cannot and has not seen any of their max bids for the last 5 or 6 years. BST actually came up with a name for it but all of our customers cannot see their max bids.

Only the two owners of the company (myself included) can turn this feature on or off. No one to date has ever asked us to temporarily or permanently turn this feature off.

Bob Freedman