I wasn’t sure what I was reading. Surely I misunderstood? We’re making buying at auction easier, aren’t we? Or are we making it more difficult, confusing, and possibly untenable?
Here’s what I read:
This auction is listed on other [auction] site(s.) Being the high bidder on item(s) on this site may not result in winning the item(s.)
In other words, I can be the highest bidder and not the highest bidder at the same time? I might think I’ve won property while I may not have? I have indication I’m the high bidder and no indication I need to bid any more and still not “win?”
I’ve got lots of questions, and mostly they concern, “Why?” Why would any auctioneer do this? I understand selling live, live and online-only, and even live with more than one online platform — but online-only with multiple platforms?
Further, online-only with multiple platforms that do not coordinate with each other who the true high bidder is, and who isn’t? Are you kidding me? Why in the world would an auctioneer do this?
Auctioneers should maybe think about their policies and procedures in regard to how a bidder/buyer would view them. How would you as an auctioneer feel if you were deemed the winning bidder, but weren’t — because you were outbid by a bidder on another platform?
Relatedly, we wrote about our and Steve Proffit’s stance that using the word, “may” in terms and conditions and the like may be imprudent. https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2016/12/05/what-may-be-auctioneers-terms-conditions-worst-word-choice/.
As well, we wrote about this “may have won” issue before and it seems this latest variety is possibly an even worse version of the same: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/auction-bidders-are-told-they-may-have-won/.
All auctioneers reading this should think about how they can make bidding, buying, or otherwise participating in their auctions easier, more clear, more pleasurable — not the opposite. Every other company on earth is already pursuing these same goals.
Lastly, I can only imagine the claim — particularly regarding a high-dollar property — from a “winning bidder” who isn’t … and why would any auctioneer want himself or his client to be the defendant in that case?
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, CAS, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, RES Auction Services and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. He serves as Distinguished Faculty at Hondros College, Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School, an Instructor at the National Auctioneers Association’s Designation Academy and America’s Auction Academy. He is faculty at the Certified Auctioneers Institute held at Indiana University and is approved by the The Supreme Court of Ohio for attorney education.
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