Misleading email from Netfleet to encourage higher bids

[Sim]

After putting in a minimum $10 bid yesterday for a dropping domain that is in my "nice to have but not critical" category, I received the following email from Netfleet this afternoon (emphasis mine):

Below are your current bids so far in today's auction:
*****.com.au - $10
Please remember - this is a blind, auction so you cannot see any other bids except your own. Other clients may have placed a higher bid than you on these domains, so please ensure you have entered the maximum amount you are prepared to pay for these domains. You will find out whether you were the highest bidder only following the end of the auction.
1 hour to go! Increase your bid prices to give yourself the best chance at securing these domains - this is your final chance!​

I read that as an indication that I had already been outbid and that I should increase my bid price if I wanted to catch the domain. I wasn't that concerned about losing the domain, so I didn't bother.

So I was a bit surprised later on when I received my invoice and congratulations letter from Netfleet after winning the auction.

Going back and re-reading that sentence I see it doesn't actually indicate that I have been outbid - only that I may have been outbid.

So while it's not a false statement - the language used certainly is misleading, especially since I've never received an email from them like this before. I now know to ignore these emails in the future.

I think Netfleet should be a bit more careful about how they word their emails - it comes across as sheer profiteering by trying to get people to increase their bids for no reason.

 

[Joel]

This email should really only be sent if you have been outbid. Then again, I thought it was a blind auction and you have no idea what others are bidding, so why do they even send this email in the first instance? ie. it's a blind auction but we'll let you know if others are bidding more than you...

 

[Sim]

This email should really only be sent if you have been outbid. Then again, I thought it was a blind auction and you have no idea what others are bidding, so why do they even send this email in the first instance? ie. it's a blind auction but we'll let you know if others are bidding more than you...

I agree - if you haven't been outbid, it seems like profiteering ... while if you have been outbid, it kind of defeats the purpose of a blind auction to be sending an email letting you know you should increase your bid.

 

[johno69]

I don't see a problem with the email.
It doesn't say you have been outbid, it only shows you yours bids, and it reminds you to place your maximum bid.
I can't see an issue, it makes sense for them to want you to place your highest possible bid, that's how they make money yes?

 

[johno69]

it comes across as sheer profiteering by trying to get people to increase their bids for no reason.

They are a "For Profit" business.

 

[TrafficSauce]

I have no problem with this email either and don't find it misleading.

 

[snoopy]

They'll be trying to screw the casual bidder with this. i.e. the person who badly wants one name and gets worried when they get that email telling them that "Other clients may have placed a higher bid than you" an hour before the end of the auction