Comments on: Unique Auction Site Swoopo Expands To Canada, Testing ‘Buy It Now’ http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:10:32 -0800 hourly 1 By: BigDeal.com Reinvents And Legitimizes Swoopo’s Controversial Auction Bidding Model http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-3109040 BigDeal.com Reinvents And Legitimizes Swoopo’s Controversial Auction Bidding Model Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:17:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-3109040 [...] recently wrote about stealth startup Project Fair Bid, which aimed to reinvent and legitimize a controversial bidding model pioneered by Swoopo. Today, Project Fair Bid is emerging from its cocoon as BigDeal.com, an [...] [...] recently wrote about stealth startup Project Fair Bid, which aimed to reinvent and legitimize a controversial bidding model pioneered by Swoopo. Today, Project Fair Bid is emerging from its cocoon as BigDeal.com, an [...]

]]> By: An Introduction to Bidding and Buying on eBay | Online Business Opportunity http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-3036847 An Introduction to Bidding and Buying on eBay | Online Business Opportunity Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:09:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-3036847 [...] Unique Auction Site Swoopo Expands To Canada, Testing ‘Buy It Now’ (techcrunch.com) [...] [...] Unique Auction Site Swoopo Expands To Canada, Testing ‘Buy It Now’ (techcrunch.com) [...]

]]> By: aansa http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-3013916 aansa Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:18:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-3013916 Swoopo is not illegal because you still pay some amount to purchase the product. There is only one winner at the end who saves money. Everybody else who placed their bids loose the money and pay for the product for not only winner but for swoopo as well. Swoopo is not illegal because you still pay some amount to purchase the product. There is only one winner at the end who saves money. Everybody else who placed their bids loose the money and pay for the product for not only winner but for swoopo as well.

]]> By: Pierre http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-1/#comment-2957928 Pierre Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:11:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2957928 This "international auction" is also a decoration: a real international auction would take into account the currency exchange rates... they don't. By letting people from all over the world playing on the same items, they make sure that the timer doesn't go to 0 to quickly because all the 'bidders' fell asleep. The last sentence of your comment Mr Bill doesn't make any sense at all... you go international to make more money and to optimize your system. That's totally fine with me! The marketing BS to disguise that is what pissed me of. This “international auction” is also a decoration: a real international auction would take into account the currency exchange rates… they don’t.
By letting people from all over the world playing on the same items, they make sure that the timer doesn’t go to 0 to quickly because all the ‘bidders’ fell asleep.
The last sentence of your comment Mr Bill doesn’t make any sense at all… you go international to make more money and to optimize your system. That’s totally fine with me! The marketing BS to disguise that is what pissed me of.

]]> By: SevenSnap Is Bringing Controversial “Entertainment Shopping” To An iPhone Near You http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2957474 SevenSnap Is Bringing Controversial “Entertainment Shopping” To An iPhone Near You Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:19:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2957474 [...] greater variety of products that are on sale simultaneously. The site recently introduced a new feature that negates some of the risk involved — even if you lose out on an auction, you can apply the [...] [...] greater variety of products that are on sale simultaneously. The site recently introduced a new feature that negates some of the risk involved — even if you lose out on an auction, you can apply the [...]

]]> By: david http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2916469 david Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:07:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2916469 If you have not tried swoopo you will not understand the implications of this enormously greedy company... Each item that goes on sale in seemingly cheap prices actually give them hugh returns in profit because the addicted bidders have no mathematical skills in calculating that the price of each item sold is often so much more in value than they are worth... and it is almost impossible to win the final bid because swoopo falsely claims the amount of time left in the auction... swoopo keeps adding the time to it to increase their profit, and for bidders to fight over each other until swoopo makes several hundred percent profit over each item sold... Gosh what a scam and what an ingenious way of ripping people off and still looking legal. If you have not tried swoopo you will not understand the implications of this enormously greedy company… Each item that goes on sale in seemingly cheap prices actually give them hugh returns in profit because the addicted bidders have no mathematical skills in calculating that the price of each item sold is often so much more in value than they are worth… and it is almost impossible to win the final bid because swoopo falsely claims the amount of time left in the auction… swoopo keeps adding the time to it to increase their profit, and for bidders to fight over each other until swoopo makes several hundred percent profit over each item sold… Gosh what a scam and what an ingenious way of ripping people off and still looking legal.

]]> By: Howard http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2915217 Howard Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:21:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2915217 Hi Jan, Swoopo launched the Swoop-it-now feature in all markets (including the US) and now you have no loss risk. I hope this works for you. Howard Hi Jan, Swoopo launched the Swoop-it-now feature in all markets (including the US) and now you have no loss risk. I hope this works for you. Howard

]]> By: FUTA http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2896144 FUTA Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:11:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2896144 what they are good at is freezing the countdown timer just as it starts to go to 10 secs... then when it gets going again, it's already finished! crazyhammer.co.uk does this perfectly! absolute and utter scam what they are good at is freezing the countdown timer just as it starts to go to 10 secs… then when it gets going again, it’s already finished! crazyhammer.co.uk does this perfectly!
absolute and utter scam

]]> By: hank h. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2888429 hank h. Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:09:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2888429 I mentioned before but there are other sites such as bidfire.com where the prices stay lower. I think swoopo started off with the idea of giving some consumers amazing deals, but they got too big. Now it's time for other sites such as bidfire (it's currently my favorite because I've been doing well there) to give consumers a chance to come out on top for a little while. I mentioned before but there are other sites such as bidfire.com where the prices stay lower. I think swoopo started off with the idea of giving some consumers amazing deals, but they got too big. Now it’s time for other sites such as bidfire (it’s currently my favorite because I’ve been doing well there) to give consumers a chance to come out on top for a little while.

]]> By: aktenium http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2879004 aktenium Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:36:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2879004 Dear jamie, swoopo isn't doing anything illegal. There no need to do so. They are satisfied with the money they are making from their "customers" who pay them many times, in total, the retail value of each item. As rick said, their bot (with various usernames) makes sure that the items won't be sold before they have earned several times their retail value. I also believe that there is somebody, like the one-hundred-named aforementioned bot, who run from blog to blog to defend them. Uh? eh? Dear jamie, swoopo isn’t doing anything illegal. There no need to do so. They are satisfied with the money they are making from their “customers” who pay them many times, in total, the retail value of each item. As rick said, their bot (with various usernames) makes sure that the items won’t be sold before they have earned several times their retail value. I also believe that there is somebody, like the one-hundred-named aforementioned bot, who run from blog to blog to defend them. Uh? eh?

]]> By: Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform | Design Website Easy http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2876646 Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform | Design Website Easy Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:27:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2876646 [...] business model has been criticized for its alternative bidding system. Swoopo uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...] [...] business model has been criticized for its alternative bidding system. Swoopo uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...]

]]> By: ArticleSave :: Uncategorized :: Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2876029 ArticleSave :: Uncategorized :: Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:01:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2876029 [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...] [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...]

]]> By: The Far Edge » Blog Archive » Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2875586 The Far Edge » Blog Archive » Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:39:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2875586 [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...] [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...]

]]> By: Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform | Newsfed - Aggregate local and tech stories with related videos and tweets! http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2875515 Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform | Newsfed - Aggregate local and tech stories with related videos and tweets! Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:08:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2875515 [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...] [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...]

]]> By: Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform - Programming Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2875351 Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform - Programming Blog Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:59:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2875351 [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...] [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...]

]]> By: Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2875334 Project Fair Bid Raises $4.5 Million For Stealth Auction Platform Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:50:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2875334 [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...] [...] uses a unique pricing model that lets you to purchase virtual “bids” for 75 cents, which can then be used to bid on goods [...]

]]> By: Caveat Emptor: iBidcondo Auctions Off Real Estate At Massive Discounts, But There’s A Catch « Programming and more http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2857584 Caveat Emptor: iBidcondo Auctions Off Real Estate At Massive Discounts, But There’s A Catch « Programming and more Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:02:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2857584 [...] auction strategy is one that reminds me of Swoopo, a controversial auction site we recently covered that allows users to buy inexpensive ‘tokens’ that they use to make bids (even if you [...] [...] auction strategy is one that reminds me of Swoopo, a controversial auction site we recently covered that allows users to buy inexpensive ‘tokens’ that they use to make bids (even if you [...]

]]> By: legal issue http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2857029 legal issue Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:53:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2857029 Its a gambling site, pure and simple and trust me they are headed for a big fall. no age limit either- no warnings that you could bet - sorry "bid" your house and get nothing, no gambling licence and very little responsibility toward its customers, very dirty little business, which is presumably why they wish to legitimise it and are trying to do so in germany at the moment. point is -the business model is based on this very deceit that you could in theory make a single bet/bid and usurp someone who has poured hundreds of pounds into the site and has gone bust/run out of bids. to legitimise the site their site they would have to be an agreed max/ min odds much like a slot machine - a point where their profit was capped and therefore a max price on an item would need setting- the problem with this is that to standardise a profit and set a price/ odds/ bets ratio then the auction would be of no point! whatever they set their profit margin to would reveal the price range the item would "sell" for! this is worse than unlicensed gambling at least in an unlicensed casino you would get paid out on occasion- on swoopo there are no controls on the odds and they are not displayed. i can jail time in the future of this bunch of con artists, the stupidity of punters does not come into it - if im daft enough to leave my door unlocked anyone who burgles me is still a criminal. i hope they get a few years cos this is a proper criminal enterprise- if it isnt then let them take me to court for defamation - see how far they get. im an experienced online poker player sometime gambler and i cannot believe they are still operating, are your kids swoopo-ing- if they are i think you should inform the police that someone has them in the grip of a sophisticated online confidence trick. in the uk we have the gambling commision who when people have lost enough will probably come knocking on their door. Its a gambling site, pure and simple and trust me they are headed for a big fall.
no age limit either-
no warnings that you could bet –
sorry “bid” your house and get nothing,
no gambling licence and very little responsibility toward its customers,
very dirty little business,
which is presumably why they wish to legitimise it and are trying to do so in germany at the moment.
point is -the business model is based on this very deceit that you could in theory make a single bet/bid and usurp someone who has poured hundreds of pounds into the site and has gone bust/run out of bids.
to legitimise the site their site they would have to be an agreed max/ min odds much like a slot machine – a point where their profit was capped and therefore a max price on an item would need setting-
the problem with this is that to standardise a profit and set a price/ odds/ bets ratio then the auction would be of no point!
whatever they set their profit margin to would reveal the price range the item would “sell” for!
this is worse than unlicensed gambling at least in an unlicensed casino you would get paid out on occasion- on swoopo there are no controls on the odds and they are not displayed.
i can jail time in the future of this bunch of con artists,
the stupidity of punters does not come into it – if im daft enough to leave my door unlocked anyone who burgles me is still a criminal.
i hope they get a few years cos this is a proper criminal enterprise- if it isnt then let them take me to court for defamation – see how far they get.
im an experienced online poker player sometime gambler and i cannot believe they are still operating, are your kids swoopo-ing- if they are i think you should inform the police that someone has them in the grip of a sophisticated online confidence trick.
in the uk we have the gambling commision who when people have lost enough will probably come knocking on their door.

]]> By: Caveat Emptor: iBidcondo Auctions Off Real Estate At Massive Discounts, But There’s A Catch | Spin Valley Post http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2855679 Caveat Emptor: iBidcondo Auctions Off Real Estate At Massive Discounts, But There’s A Catch | Spin Valley Post Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:30:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2855679 [...] auction strategy is one that reminds me of Swoopo, a controversial auction site we recently covered that allows users to buy inexpensive ‘tokens’ that they use to make bids (even if you [...] [...] auction strategy is one that reminds me of Swoopo, a controversial auction site we recently covered that allows users to buy inexpensive ‘tokens’ that they use to make bids (even if you [...]

]]> By: Mr. Bill http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-1/#comment-2855668 Mr. Bill Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:28:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2855668 Technically with Swoopo you don't pay if you lose either. According to terms of service bids are nonrefundable so once you've purchased them they are worthless unless you actually use them. So you are giving them something worthless anywhere except at Swoopo to accept your bid. Technically with Swoopo you don’t pay if you lose either. According to terms of service bids are nonrefundable so once you’ve purchased them they are worthless unless you actually use them. So you are giving them something worthless anywhere except at Swoopo to accept your bid.

]]> By: Mr. Bill http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-1/#comment-2855649 Mr. Bill Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:21:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2855649 Click on the icon of 2 hands shaking in the upper right of the auction area. It explains that this is an international auction (most auctions on Swoopo are.) If you click the learn more link in the icons explanation it takes you to their auction type page which explains: International auctions Bidding is open to bidders from several Swoopo countries on most of our auctions. Doing this allows us to offer you a greater variety of products than we'd be able to do if we were to only allow bidding from one country. Click on the icon of 2 hands shaking in the upper right of the auction area. It explains that this is an international auction (most auctions on Swoopo are.) If you click the learn more link in the icons explanation it takes you to their auction type page which explains:

International auctions

Bidding is open to bidders from several Swoopo countries on most of our auctions. Doing this allows us to offer you a greater variety of products than we’d be able to do if we were to only allow bidding from one country.

]]> By: Caveat Emptor: iBidcondo Auctions Off Real Estate At Massive Discounts, But There’s A Catch http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2855630 Caveat Emptor: iBidcondo Auctions Off Real Estate At Massive Discounts, But There’s A Catch Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:15:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2855630 [...] auction strategy is one that reminds me of Swoopo, a controversial auction site we recently covered that allows users to buy inexpensive ‘tokens’ that they use to make bids (even if you [...] [...] auction strategy is one that reminds me of Swoopo, a controversial auction site we recently covered that allows users to buy inexpensive ‘tokens’ that they use to make bids (even if you [...]

]]> By: coney http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2845725 coney Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:58:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2845725 Haha! Don't you think Swoopo would have been shut down by now if that were true? Why wreck a profitable business with bots? Saying that, other sites probably do. Some of the copycat sites have about 100 visitors a day and have about 200 bidders on about 30 auctions...those I will say are a scam Haha! Don’t you think Swoopo would have been shut down by now if that were true? Why wreck a profitable business with bots?

Saying that, other sites probably do. Some of the copycat sites have about 100 visitors a day and have about 200 bidders on about 30 auctions…those I will say are a scam

]]> By: Jan http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2845177 Jan Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:18:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2845177 Watch out for Swoopo's recent changes: As Jason's article announces, Swoopo just started to test a "buy it now" feature on its German and Austrian website, take a look at their today published press handout: http://translate.google.de/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presseportal.de%2Fpm%2F76174%2F1436618%2Fentertainment_shopping_ag&sl=de&tl=en&history_state0= Users can apply the TOTAL costs of their previous bids towards the purchase of an item, which means that, if you have spent 100 bids and the auction is still running, you are able to purchase the item for its announced price (which is usually much above the market price) less the costs of your bids spent so far (50 €; 100 bids x 0,50 € per bid). I wondered myself why they have changed their business model and implemented this feature ... because, as it seems, Swoopo has become more attractive from the user's perspective on the one hand and Swoopo lowers its own margin on the other hand. It obviously doesn't fit to Swoopo's former strategy... Besides the fact that people have started to bid as mad, because they practically cannot lose money for bidding anymore as long as they are willing to pay the price announced by Swoopo, there is an evil aspect coming along this feature: Just take a look at both the German website www.swoopo.de and the US website www.swoopo.com and you will see that all users bid on the same auctions. Well, this fact is not really new ... but if you take into account that Swoopo shows the "buy it now" feature (blue shopping cart item) to its German and Austrian users only, the racing conditions are pretty unfair. While Germans and Austrians cannot lose anymore (as long as they are willing to pay the price announced by Swoopo), US users and users from all the other countries are taken for a ride. They simply don’t know that this feature is exclusive to Germans and Austrians, and, moreover, they don’t know that they practically cannot win anymore. Swoopo pretends them real bargains but conceals that lots of German and Austrian users will have activated their bid butlers loaded with tons of bids – they practically have an infinite amount of “freebids”. Don't you think that this is a REALLY EVIL SCAM??? In my opinion, all users from other Swoopo countries except Germany and Austria should immediately stop bidding, as Swoopo takes them for a ride. @Mr. Howard Hartenbaum from August Capital Inc., Swoopo’s investor: As you said above, you are trying to improve Swoopo's image ... from my opinion, it's getting even worse. I would really appreciate your comment on this topic. Thanks. Watch out for Swoopo’s recent changes:
As Jason’s article announces, Swoopo just started to test a “buy it now” feature on its German and Austrian website, take a look at their today published press handout:
http://translat...history_state0=
Users can apply the TOTAL costs of their previous bids towards the purchase of an item, which means that, if you have spent 100 bids and the auction is still running, you are able to purchase the item for its announced price (which is usually much above the market price) less the costs of your bids spent so far (50 €; 100 bids x 0,50 € per bid).
I wondered myself why they have changed their business model and implemented this feature … because, as it seems, Swoopo has become more attractive from the user’s perspective on the one hand and Swoopo lowers its own margin on the other hand. It obviously doesn’t fit to Swoopo’s former strategy…
Besides the fact that people have started to bid as mad, because they practically cannot lose money for bidding anymore as long as they are willing to pay the price announced by Swoopo, there is an evil aspect coming along this feature:
Just take a look at both the German website http://www.swoopo.de and the US website http://www.swoopo.com and you will see that all users bid on the same auctions. Well, this fact is not really new … but if you take into account that Swoopo shows the “buy it now” feature (blue shopping cart item) to its German and Austrian users only, the racing conditions are pretty unfair. While Germans and Austrians cannot lose anymore (as long as they are willing to pay the price announced by Swoopo), US users and users from all the other countries are taken for a ride. They simply don’t know that this feature is exclusive to Germans and Austrians, and, moreover, they don’t know that they practically cannot win anymore.
Swoopo pretends them real bargains but conceals that lots of German and Austrian users will have activated their bid butlers loaded with tons of bids – they practically have an infinite amount of “freebids”.
Don’t you think that this is a REALLY EVIL SCAM???
In my opinion, all users from other Swoopo countries except Germany and Austria should immediately stop bidding, as Swoopo takes them for a ride.
@Mr. Howard Hartenbaum from August Capital Inc., Swoopo’s investor:
As you said above, you are trying to improve Swoopo’s image … from my opinion, it’s getting even worse. I would really appreciate your comment on this topic. Thanks.

]]> By: Jan http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/26/unique-auction-site-swoopo-expands-to-canada-testing-buy-it-now/comment-page-2/#comment-2844370 Jan Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:12:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=77314#comment-2844370 Watch out for Swoopo's recent changes: As Jason's article announces, Swoopo just started to test a "buy it now" feature on its German and Austrian website, take a look at their today published press handout: http://translate.google.de/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presseportal.de%2Fpm%2F76174%2F1436618%2Fentertainment_shopping_ag&sl=de&tl=en&history_state0= Users can apply the TOTAL costs of their previous bids towards the purchase of an item, which means that, if you have spent 100 bids and the auction is still running, you are able to purchase the item for its announced price (which is usually much above the market price) less the costs of your bids spent so far (50 €; 100 bids x 0,50 € per bid). I wondered myself why they have changed their business model and implemented this feature ... because, as it seems, Swoopo has become more attractive from the user's perspective on the one hand and Swoopo lowers its own margin on the other hand. It obviously doesn't fit to Swoopo's former strategy... Besides the fact that people have started to bid as mad, because they practically cannot lose money for bidding anymore as long as they are willing to pay the price announced by Swoopo, there is an evil aspect coming along this feature: Just take a look at both the German website www.swoopo.de and the US website www.swoopo.com and you will see that all users bid on the same auctions. Well, this fact is not really new ... but if you take into account that Swoopo shows the "buy it now" feature (blue shopping cart item) to its German and Austrian users only, the racing conditions are pretty unfair. While Germans and Austrians cannot lose anymore (as long as they are willing to pay the price announced by Swoopo), US users and users from all the other countries are taken for a ride. They simply don’t know that this feature is exclusive to Germans and Austrians, and, moreover, they don’t know that they practically cannot win anymore. Swoopo pretends them real bargains but conceals that lots of German and Austrian users will have activated their bid butlers loaded with tons of bids – they practically have an infinite amount of “freebids”. Don't you think that this is a REALLY EVIL SCAM??? In my opinion, all users from other Swoopo countries except Germany and Austria should immediately stop bidding, as Swoopo takes them for a ride. @Mr. Howard Hartenbaum from August Capital Inc., Swoopo’s investor: As you said above, you are trying to improve Swoopo's image ... from my opinion, it's getting even worse. I would really appreciate your comment on this topic. Watch out for Swoopo’s recent changes:
As Jason’s article announces, Swoopo just started to test a “buy it now” feature on its German and Austrian website, take a look at their today published press handout:
http://translat...history_state0=
Users can apply the TOTAL costs of their previous bids towards the purchase of an item, which means that, if you have spent 100 bids and the auction is still running, you are able to purchase the item for its announced price (which is usually much above the market price) less the costs of your bids spent so far (50 €; 100 bids x 0,50 € per bid).
I wondered myself why they have changed their business model and implemented this feature … because, as it seems, Swoopo has become more attractive from the user’s perspective on the one hand and Swoopo lowers its own margin on the other hand. It obviously doesn’t fit to Swoopo’s former strategy…
Besides the fact that people have started to bid as mad, because they practically cannot lose money for bidding anymore as long as they are willing to pay the price announced by Swoopo, there is an evil aspect coming along this feature:
Just take a look at both the German website http://www.swoopo.de and the US website http://www.swoopo.com and you will see that all users bid on the same auctions. Well, this fact is not really new … but if you take into account that Swoopo shows the “buy it now” feature (blue shopping cart item) to its German and Austrian users only, the racing conditions are pretty unfair. While Germans and Austrians cannot lose anymore (as long as they are willing to pay the price announced by Swoopo), US users and users from all the other countries are taken for a ride. They simply don’t know that this feature is exclusive to Germans and Austrians, and, moreover, they don’t know that they practically cannot win anymore.
Swoopo pretends them real bargains but conceals that lots of German and Austrian users will have activated their bid butlers loaded with tons of bids – they practically have an infinite amount of “freebids”.
Don’t you think that this is a REALLY EVIL SCAM???
In my opinion, all users from other Swoopo countries except Germany and Austria should immediately stop bidding, as Swoopo takes them for a ride.
@Mr. Howard Hartenbaum from August Capital Inc., Swoopo’s investor:
As you said above, you are trying to improve Swoopo’s image … from my opinion, it’s getting even worse. I would really appreciate your comment on this topic.

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