SkyAuction, ugh

[DawnM]

We have used SkyAuction for years with only one place that was an issue. I have always recommended them.

I am SO frustrated right now.

I finally found an auction for an Orlando condo, but it was an auction, not a buy it now.

I saw that the auction was ending in 55 minutes so I stuck around to stay online and bid.

It says right on the auction:

If a bid is made within 3 minutes of auction's close, 3 minutes will be added to the auction. A maximum of one hour will be added with new bids.

Two minutes before the auction's end, SkyAuction CHANGED the entire page to end FIVE hours later. So instead of ending at 3pm it now ends at 8pm.

WHAT THE HECK????????????

Why don't they post that they will/might do that? That is nowhere on the auction.

It doesn't seem right.

So, at 8pm, might they extend it until midnight?

UGH!!!!!!

 

[HopperFan]

I use them too and won an auction last Friday. Went through the added 3 minutes quite a few times. This auction had 1 available and right at the end when we were finally in Buy It Now range (about $60 below) it suddenly came up 2 available. Of course that means that I bought it and they offered it to the next person in line as well. Had it said 2 to begin with am sure we would not have bid it up as high as we did. Still saved money from Buy It Now, but aggravating. I guess there is some more very small print somewhere to cover all that.

 

[DawnM]

Yeah, but to add 5 HOURS to the auction at the last min?

I don't see any small print for that.

 

[HopperFan]

Yeah, but to add 5 HOURS to the auction at the last min?

I don't see any small print for that.

Yup. "SkyAuction.com reserves the right to postpone, delay, interrupt, or cancel any auction for any reason, at any time."

 

[DawnM]

Yup. "SkyAuction.com reserves the right to postpone, delay, interrupt, or cancel any auction for any reason, at any time."

Ah, thanks. I did miss that.

Dh said it is probably because it didn't meet some min. amount that they didn't reveal.

I ended up still winning the auction. It is at a place we have stayed many times and like, so it all ended ok for us, but it was frustrating.

We leave Saturday.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

How frustrating! Glad it all worked out in the end.

I've sworn off SkyAuction after using them for years. Bid on an auction that was ending soon and IMMEDIATELY confirmed my December dates. There were no other auctions ending in the meantime. Got an email several hours later that my dates were no longer available and I had to choose from dates in August or November. Fortunately, I escalated up the chain of customer service and they agreed to give me a refund. Never again.

 

[DawnM]

How frustrating! Glad it all worked out in the end.

I've sworn off SkyAuction after using them for years. Bid on an auction that was ending soon and IMMEDIATELY confirmed my December dates. There were no other auctions ending in the meantime. Got an email several hours later that my dates were no longer available and I had to choose from dates in August or November. Fortunately, I escalated up the chain of customer service and they agreed to give me a refund. Never again.

Yeah, I ONLY bid on auctions that have specific dates if I need them. This auction only had one date listed as available, the one I needed.

However, I do get resort certificates if I am somewhat flexible OR am going off season and know it won't be an issue.

Dawn

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Yeah, I ONLY bid on auctions that have specific dates if I need them. This auction only had one date listed as available, the one I needed.

However, I do get resort certificates if I am somewhat flexible OR am going off season and know it won't be an issue.

Dawn

This auction had the date I needed, allowed me to select the date I needed when I won the auction and then told me the date was no longer available (hours later) despite the fact that no auctions closed between the time I won and their notification to me. Unfortunately I didn't have a screen shot so I knew I'd have trouble disputing it with my CC company. It really felt like a bait and switch and I told them that. Fortunately, as I escalated up the chain of command, they agreed to give me a refund.

 

[DawnM]

This auction had the date I needed, allowed me to select the date I needed when I won the auction and then told me the date was no longer available (hours later) despite the fact that no auctions closed between the time I won and their notification to me. Unfortunately I didn't have a screen shot so I knew I'd have trouble disputing it with my CC company. It really felt like a bait and switch and I told them that. Fortunately, as I escalated up the chain of command, they agreed to give me a refund.

That is horrible! You know what is interesting is that this time I DID screenshot and it had the 3pm finish. I can't remember exactly why I took screen shots, but I did. Maybe it was because I was worried something might happen to the reservation???

Normally I buy Certificates and then redeem them at ResortCerts.com. That ensures dates.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

I've never used the Resort Certificate option before, only the "Buy It Now" or auction options. Do you think the Resort Certificate option is more secure & reliable?

 

[DawnM]

I've never used the Resort Certificate option before, only the "Buy It Now" or auction options. Do you think the Resort Certificate option is more secure & reliable?

Well, you are SURE of what you get and what dates. Some of the buy it now auctions have multiple dates and say "subject to availability" so I am always reluctant if we aren't flexible on our dates.

One year they had a blowout sale for $149 for the certificates (2007 or so). I bought 6 of them. Dh rolled his eyes. Then SA messed up and because of their error they gave me an additional year to use them. We had a lot of fun those years for very cheap!

But they run about $250 or so now. I haven't seen them under $229 for a few years.