DOWN AGAIN? C'MON GUYS!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a new user and this was only my second snipe for a rare item that I really wanted.

I set the snipe for way over what it could possibly sell for because I can't access e-bay on my work computer

Guess what.

Got home all excited and found that the snipe had not been set and I lost the auction (and to rub salt in the wound the item went for a fraction of what I was prepared to pay!)

Now.....tech problems happen to the best run site.

But.....when I added the snipe late last night there was NOTHING on the site to indicate that there was problem with it.

But.....there was no warning e-mail say that loaded snipes may not go through.

I sent an e-mail to "support" and got a copy-and-pasted reply which led me to this forum where I find out that this is an on-going problem!!!

Why the ^&^%^%&^%^% was there not something on the entry page to warn customers?!?!?!

What a half-***** incompetant way to run a business!

Well folks, I'm off to one of the competitors out there.

I can't rely on a service like this doing what it says on the can and then not alerting their customers to the simple basic point of adding a flash to the front page to say "we have problems".

I feel sorry for businesses that rely on this "service".....wonder how many will also jump ship!

Jeez....I waited three years for that item today. Cannot tell you how sick I am at losing it.

Stop with the 'rare item I'm really wanted' whinge. AS is a tool that helps prevent bidding wars - there is no magic and it is fallible. So if you want to improve your chances of winning that proxy bid or snipe manually. Otherwise use it for what it is, a convenient tool that MIGHT save you some dosh!

R2

R2,
There is a such thing as redundant servers. I have worked in the computer networking industry for almost 15 years and every company that I have worked with has had redundancy either built in already or when I suggested a worst case scenario they put it in within 1-2 months. This would be a good time to point out that a worst case scenario would be
a) complete loss of data and backing up from tapes/off site backup
b) downtime resulting in loss of revenues (most online businesses)
c) loss of customer base due to unavailability of online content.
I would have to say that Auction Sniper is currently accomplishing the last two (since I am not their SysAdmin I cannot say about the first.)
I have to say that this is not a very good way of running a business and a very bad way of running an online business. When you rely on revenue via your website, you really should put in some form of redundancy to make it as user friendly as possible.

quote:

Originally posted by region2:
Stop with the 'rare item I'm really wanted' whinge.

It’s probably mostly a Yank thing. Yank’s hate it when they’re prevented from buying that one last item that will make them complete.

Now, before some “business” owner jumps in and states that their company’s profit suffered, or they lost valuable inventory, or they won’t be able to do this or that, then time to get some counseling. This should be basic policy: NEVER ALLOW YOUR BUSINESS TO BE CONTROLLED BY A THIRD PARTY UNLESS YOU CONTROL THAT THIRD PARTY. If you’re in that situation, then it’s time to reorganize your methods. Perhaps if your customers knew you were so dependent (vulnerable) on another business, they’d be tempted to deal with your competition. Similar situation that some users have made about AS. Perhaps you have a forum that you’ll be so kind as to kept active so that I might make them aware of your short comings – perhaps.

Perhaps AS should/could have been able to predict this. Perhaps someone should/could have predicted every problem that’s ever happened. The important thing is, that once faced with the problem, they took steps to repair it. Yes, yes – I’ve heard it before. All the Monday-morning quarterbacks out there saying that this is “unacceptable” or whatever cliche pops into their heads. But, since none of these users were there, it makes it a whole lot easier for these users to be critical.

I don’t expect this to change anyone’s opinion, but nothing new there.

AS is allowed to have problems, but JUST WARN US WHEN YOU DO! I have no problem bidding manually. But when there is no indication on the front page or the sign in page, how are we to know? Someone of us don't spend the majority of time in the community forums chatting. They were having problems a few days before my wanted item expired, but I didn't know. Had to come here finally and learn it from the Dicks and Ricks.

quote:

Originally posted by JLR:
AS is allowed to have problems, but JUST WARN US WHEN YOU DO!

That may well be a valid criticism. But, I’m unaware of any “retail” site that “warns” it’s users. Ebay does have it’s status page, but one still has to be online to find out about it. This has come up before.

quote:

Originally posted by JLR:
Someone of us don't spend the majority of time in the community forums chatting.

I do hope some of these recent newbies stick around. I GET SO LONELY! The only time it gets exciting around here is when AS is having a problem, which is rare, so I miss getting this kind of “quality time”.

quote:

Originally posted by JLR:
Had to come here finally and learn it from the Dicks and Ricks.

Now that’s original. Did you come up with that on your own or is someone coaching you? (“quality time”) That's just so clever. A little pun on an alternative nickname for Rick (thought it be best to explain that to anyone that didn’t get it).

quote:

Originally posted by Rick:

quote:

Originally posted by region2:
Stop with the 'rare item I'm really wanted' whinge.

It’s probably mostly a Yank thing. Yank’s hate it when they’re prevented from buying that one last item that will make them complete.

Nice to know even the users here at AS are complete JERKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are simply posting VERY reasonable complaints. Complaints ALL users should be very, very aware of. To be criticized by another user for doing so is ludacris. RICK - We welcome you to stay here with the failing service to bid on your "Very Unimportant" auctions. Great job well done. Nice to know even the worst sniper on the web still has customers willing to stick by them (with no reason why??Narrow minded?) A bit unusual. Regardless. All the best with the best of warnings. There are plenty of others. I'm off to another competitor not to be back. All the best to those who continue losing auctions to this companies "issues".

quote:

Originally posted by vrt_76:
Nice to know even the users here at AS are complete JERKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A “Dicks” followed by a “JERKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”? The Yanks seem to always get a little testy right before Independence Day.

quote:

Originally posted by vrt_76:
RICK - We welcome you to stay here with the failing service to bid on your "Very Unimportant" auctions.

“We”?

quote:

Originally posted by vrt_76:
I'm off to another competitor not to be back.

quote:

Originally posted (in another thread) by vrt_76:
I am no longer!!!!!!!!!!!

IM OUT!

quote:

Now, before some “business” owner jumps in and states that their company’s profit suffered, or they lost valuable inventory, or they won’t be able to do this or that, then time to get some counseling. This should be basic policy: NEVER ALLOW YOUR BUSINESS TO BE CONTROLLED BY A THIRD PARTY UNLESS YOU CONTROL THAT THIRD PARTY.

You are spouting nonsense. I take it you're still in university or have otherwise never worked in the business world. A third party you "control" is no longer a third party. This is an oxymoron and does not exist.

quote:

If you’re in that situation, then it’s time to reorganize your methods. Perhaps if your customers knew you were so dependent (vulnerable) on another business, they’d be tempted to deal with your competition. Similar situation that some users have made about AS. Perhaps you have a forum that you’ll be so kind as to kept active so that I might make them aware of your short comings – perhaps.

Or, perhaps, we might go get business tips from somebody who knows their ass from their elbow?

quote:

Perhaps AS should/could have been able to predict this. Perhaps someone should/could have predicted every problem that’s ever happened.

An admirable glossing-over.

quote:

The important thing is, that once faced with the problem, they took steps to repair it. Yes, yes – I’ve heard it before. All the Monday-morning quarterbacks out there saying that this is “unacceptable” or whatever cliche pops into their heads. But, since none of these users were there, it makes it a whole lot easier for these users to be critical.

If you consider AS's response to be acceptable, more power to you. I suspect your world will be back as you like it shortly - with you and the cheerleaders in your echo chamber. You must have quite a lot of time on your hands to be making 15000 posts about how to place bids! (what scintillating conversations those must be)

quote:

Originally posted by aschrock:
You must have quite a lot of time on your hands

Versus not enough time?

quote:

Originally posted by aschrock:
(what scintillating conversations those must be)

Pretty much like this one.

I think we have a right to bitch, after all, your home page come on says
" Our server network is designed for maximum reliability, with cutting edge technology including redundant Internet backbone connections at the PacBell NAP, back up power supplies, and security access for 24x7 availability."
So, I ask again: What the hell happened???