As far as I knew, thats how I thought it worked ^^

I'm still waiting on German bidding. You bid an exceptionally low number, then toss all the other bidders into Dutch ovens... so you get the auction for really cheap.

My only confusion was that I was expected to pay the lowest of the three bids. At first, I thought the top three bidders won a slot, and it was as simple as that. Then there was my end of the bidding, where I wanted a more complex commission, and people started asking questions about why I paid more than the other two people. For the most part though, these comments have died down. I've seen a couple more, but I explained the situation and there isn't a problems anymore. So everything's cool now=)

I just think you should hold an auction where the top three bidders get in, and the rest don't. Make it as simple as that. Perhaps I'm not understanding the "low bid" part. If there's a specific reason behind doing that, share it with me so I understand better. The dutch bidding thing was the first time I've ever bid that way, so I was kind of clueless. I'm sorry it got so complicated on my end=)

I just think you should hold an auction where the top three bidders get in, and the rest don't.

Um, that's -exactly- how it works right now...

Perhaps I'm not understanding the "low bid" part.

The closing cost per item uses the lowest winning bid as the price each winner pays per item because that was the lowest of the winning bidders bids. And it's completely fair. This is how the Dutch people have done their public auctions for centuries. The reason as a bidder that you'd want to bid higher than the lowest required though is similar to the Proxy Bid function on a normal auction - it keeps your bid in the winner's list and ensures that you'll get one of the items for sale. But the price should reflect what you're willing to pay for the item, not what you want to pay at the end. What everyone pays at the end is the bid of the lowest winning bidder. The lowest winner sort of "sets the bar" for what everyone pays.

I think what you may be confused by is that the seller put ladder options inside a Dutch Auction, and the two do not mix well under the current arrangements on the system. However, we DO have plans to eventually add both Normal Ladder and Dutch Ladder auctions to the FurBuy system, which will alleviate that specific confusion (assuming sellers aren't confused by the option to run another two possible types of auctions). Sometimes it's difficult to add more functionality and rules without confusing folks though, so it's been sitting on the back burner stewing for us as to whether or not we move forward with Ladder Auctions.

Does that help any? =)

Yeah, thanks. I get the "dutch" theme. It's cute. It's just that I wanted the option to buy a super high quality commission slot, which Ksharra listed at the $350 level. After the bidding, the lowest bid was $250. I still ended up paying $350 on the side though, just to get the better commission slot. I wasn't complaining, but in my case, the whole dutch bidding system was kind of a waste. Then I started getting people asking me speculative questions. After answering a few, I just decided to send these people your way and leave it alone, since you and Ksharra are the system administrators. I didn't want to risk the chance of creating more drama. Between the three of us, we know how sticky that can get.

I'm not mad or anything, especially since Ksharra has agreed to do a 15 character commission for me for the $350. I think that's a great deal, especially considering the artist. I'm just trying to help other people understand how the system works. And like I said in other journals, I'm not crapping on FurBuy, especially considering the fact that you guys run it for free=) I just don't want more confusion like I had with previous experiences, to save other people the trouble.

We're not accusing you of anything, calm down. =D I was just explaining the background for Dutch auctions because, after all, you stated you were confused. =) Furthermore, there's nothing against our rules in negotiating with the seller to alter the conditions of the auction outside of the site, as long as both parties are satisfied with the arrangement and can leave positive feedback for one another. =) So in short: It's all good, dude. =D

Oh, I'm not upset or anything, I just figured the situation warranted explaination=) It just that after everything that's gone on, I want to make my intentions clear. I'm just here to help. I appreciate what you guys do, and I enjoy contributing to the fandom. That's why I'm offering my constructive feedback on these matters.

It makes perfect sense to me, and I don't even do Dutch auctions that often.

I am a bit confused by "the price you pay is equal to the lowest of the winning bids". How many bids would you consider "winning" bids? The highest bid, that won, or the top 3-4 bids?

The top X bids. Say the auction was for three items, and the top three bids are $100, $115, and $130. Those three people are each obligated to only pay $100 each.

Makes sense to me. Highest bids for however many slots there are become winners. Of that group, the lowest bid is what they all pay. Easy enough to understand.

makes sense to me

Hmm, I think it's confusing because another "larger" auction house uses a different technique. The winner of their Dutch Auction has the option of paying their winning bid price for as many of the items that are available. They can take one or all. (Their bid price is a per piece bid.)

If they don't purchase all of the items, then the second winning bidder gets a chance to buy the remaining items at their bid price, and so on down the chain of all bidders till all items are sold (or the bid price drops below the minimum bid.)

That's slightly different than the explanation I'm reading here.

Well in our Dutch auctions, you CAN set a quantity of how many items you are willing to buy. So for example you want 3 prints at $10 each, you bid $10 and set a quantity of 3. Easy enough...?

It made sense to me. I just bid because that's what I'm prepared (or can afford at the time) to pay for it.

I understand the how it works, though regardless of the history of a dutch auction, I'd perfer from a seller's standpoint if the top x bidders paid at the level they bid..