Is This Ethical?

I have been recently been bidding for position in a bid directory. Only to find out that one of the sites that kept out bidding me was another site that was owned by the same owner of this bid directory.

Should they state that somewhere?
Should the public know?
Should they at least let the bidder know what they are up against?

Thanks.

UPDATE:The directory owner did contact me back in a timely fashion and the other directory was not his.


If you wish to comment on this after post #8 please treat it as hypothetical.

 

This practice is not ethical and contravenes the 'Rulz of Conduct' initiated by rtchar and widely accepted by members of this forum.

1. NO adding your own sites to raise the bid...

Add your sites at the minimum bid for your directory. That way "providing an example" is valid, and your own sites can be listed without penalty

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=300867&highlight=rulz+of+conduct

 

I guess it all depends on how you found out. IE. is it rumor or is it true?

Either way I would contact the directory owner about your concerns, at least give them a chance to respond, it may be a misunderstanding etc.

If the directory owner is unresponsive, and you are certain that the bidding was fraudulently raised so that you would raise your bid, I would attempt to get my money back.

And then of course like Madtay said, name names so that we others are aware so they don't get ripped off.

 

If you don't mind post the link to the site, would help out others as well.

 

I think it is very unethical. It is a good way to lose business and destroy the rep of the directory. It would be like having an eBay auction and eBay allowing you to bid on your own stuff. If it is someone who is advertising on here I would say reveal the thread so others know what their practice is. Just make sure you know it is true and not just a rumor.

 

I agree, prevent others from wasting their money

 

Thanks for the comments.

I am really glad to see the level of integrity that exists here.

The directory owner did contact me back in a timely fashion and the other directory liisting was not his.

I will edit the main, to reflect this. Thanks again.

 

hehe i think i know where this happened! hahahaha :evil grin:

 

Glad to hear it!

 

Dont tell me u were trying to get 1st here http://www.webdirectorybid.com/

 

it is definitely dishonest! simple gauge wld be to ask yourself, wld u be proud to announce to everyone what you are doing? obviously, the answer is no and whatever arguments one can conjure, deep-down everyone knows there is something fundamentally wrong in doing such a thing......

 

Good to hear, and nice to see that there was no problems as it may have appeared.

 

Good as i dont like to see reports that hint that another directory owner did the unthinkable
that being ripping a customer off as thiers no need for things like this to happen...

and id best not catch wind of it if you are....

thx
malcolm

 

no, but he was outbid by chris and myself elsewhere. i'll probably go make a bid now...