Trolling For Auctions

[Harvey A. Kader]

A few points have to be made about what an AUCTION actually is. Once it
is understood what an auction is, then the concept of ADVERTISING for
that auction will become clear. This relates to this Heathkit list, and
its MISUSE and ABUSE.

The definition of auction is "the act or process of bidding". The
definition of bidding is "a statement of what one will give or take for
something - an offer of a price".

An auction is NOT a department store. I think many people confuse the
two. You can NOT give an item back after an auction. All sales are
FINAL. Similarly, you can NOT advertise an auction LIKE a department
store. You can NOT INFLUENCE the auction in any shape or form. You can
NOT RIG the auction. All ILLEGAL activity.

The presence of an auction CAN be advertised by the company running the
auction(auction house), or by an individual running the auction for ALL
the sellers. It is ILLEGAL for each individual seller in an auction to
ADVERTISE his own item up for auction, and to PROMPT people in
advertising with statements such as "three days to go", "one hour to
go", or one minute to go". This is considered as UNDUE INFLUENCE in the
bidding process, and is considered RIGGING the auction. Plainly ILLEGAL.

An auction is a PROCESS, in the same way that voting in an election is a
process. Once an auction is underway, then it CAN NOT be INFLUENCED.
Using an election as an anology, candidates CAN advertise their
positions PRIOR to the start of the vote. Once voting begins in an
election, then it is ILLEGAL for candidates to go door to door saying
"three hours to go", "two hours to go", or to advertise this fact while
the voting is underway. This would be considered RIGGING the election,
and UNDUE INFLUENCE.

Similarly, it is ILLEGAL for an individual selling an item in an auction
to go from house to house, or in this Heathkit list case, from list to
list telling people about his/her item up for auction, and telling how
much time remains. Again, this is RIGGING the auction. Let's keep this
Heathkit list LEGAL. End of story.

Harvey.

Listserver Subscription:listserv at listserv.tempe.gov - "subscribe heath 'name' 'call'"
Listserver Submissions: heath at listserv.tempe.gov
Listserver Unsubscribe: listserv at listserv.tempe.gov - -"signoff heath"