[Boatanchors] auction time linked to what timing source?

[J. Forster]

I think they have a number of 'puters scattered worldwide that take the
bids and time tag them.

As soon as an auction has closed, another machine goes out and polls all
the bid taking 'puters and decides the winner. I've noticed at the end of
an auction, there is a several second delay before the winner is
announced. This computer likely goes out and asks each of the others "What
is your highest bid on item number 123456789"

-John

===============


> I have often wondered how their computers handle the arrival
> of 10, 20 or 50 snipes at the last minute. Perhaps the computer
> looks at your feedback rating (yeh, right).
>
> 73, Dick, W1KSZ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
>>Sent: Feb 12, 2010 8:02 PM
>>To: Pete Lancashire <pete at petelancashire.com>
>>Cc: Boat Anchors List <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>, jfor at quik.com
>>Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] auction time linked to what timing source?
>>
>>It won't, IF you set a sniper.
>>
>>It's only showing bids that expose you to being racheted up, as per the
>>example. That's the whole reason to snipe.
>>
>>If there are two snipers, and one is set for $200 and one for $201, the
>>$201 bidder wins.
>>
>>(Note: if this were the situation and both bids arrived at essentially
>> the
>>same time, it's not entirely clear what the eBay 'puter would do, because
>>you have to bid at least ONE BID INCREMENT above the previous one. It
>> MUST
>>do something deterministic, but I don't know what it does.)
>>
>>-John