Discuss PickleBid.com - User Reviews & Experiences

**Chocolate** · 06-29-2010, 09:35 PM

just wanted to mention again that your site rocks. i appreciate that since you have opened you have had only a couple of very minor issues and no real down time that i can recall. and, of course, the customer service rocks, too.

wish you guys would consider increasing the monthly win limit; 12 is so low.

thanks, nonetheless.

also, while i appreciate the lack of competition (= yay for me), i hope your site continues to see increased action.

**rpgman1** · 06-29-2010, 09:39 PM

He'll increase the limits if there are enough people bidding on the auctions. Right now, it doesn't look like much traffic going into the site.

**picklebid** · 06-30-2010, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by rpgman1

He'll increase the limits if there are enough people bidding on the auctions. Right now, it doesn't look like much traffic going into the site.

I should just hire rpgman1 to be my Agent. ;)

**Chocolate** · 06-30-2010, 01:54 PM

hi picklebid guy, saw that you are trying out the bid packs and the auctions without buy-it-now. they seem to be going pretty well. grats.

as to the monthly* win limits, my personal interest aside, i wonder what the bidding pattern is gonna look like when your most regular bidders max out. it should be happening for many of them pretty soon.

*i wanted to reiterate that i think the daily and win limits are appropriate for the size of your site.

**picklebid** · 06-30-2010, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Chocolate

hi picklebid guy, saw that you are trying out the bid packs and the auctions without buy-it-now. they seem to be going pretty well. grats.

as to the monthly* win limits, my personal interest aside, i wonder what the bidding pattern is gonna look like when your most regular bidders max out. it should be happening for many of them pretty soon.

*i wanted to reiterate that i think the daily and win limits are appropriate for the size of your site.

Well I think it's tough to figure out the Win Limit numbers and get them right the 1st time. I think they have to grow and shrink with the site. It's not fair to constantly be changing them (in either direction) but the do have to change at some point, and hopefully for the better. It will be interesting to see what happens now that about 4 or 5 weeks have passed and that "12" Limit should be kicking in for a few. But I hope to attract new users and keep our current ones around for a while too! ;)

**bid4win** · 07-06-2010, 10:47 AM

good site
daily and weekly limits are good but monthly are very very bad

**bid4win** · 07-07-2010, 01:14 AM

please allot more auctions for newbies

**picklebid** · 07-14-2010, 02:39 PM

Just a quick update - we have had a few shipping delays on some auction wins - we have tried a new vendor/delivery method for our physical Gift Cards and the shipping has been a bit slow. We should have planned for this and for any delays so far we apologize. We hope to have everything caught up by end of the week (electronic AND physical). As always, you can email [email protected] with any other concerns. We appreciate your patience!

**rpgman1** · 07-14-2010, 04:50 PM

Yeah, thanks for addressing the issue with my gift card quickly. It has been a rough week for my family and I. Father had surgery and my skin peeling off from the eczema.

**Racingbroker** · 07-16-2010, 06:22 PM

Hi Nate..
Just want to drop a quick line and say thanks for your super fast shipping!!
I have received all of my items in a timely manner & You have super fast response time with CS issues!!

Thanks Again,
Racing...

**madbid700** · 07-16-2010, 11:17 PM

I have won several auctions all were e-gift cards and the shipping was quick. Today I won a 25.00 gift card with shipping cost of 5.99... That is quite steep for a 25.00 card in my opinion. When you take into account bid purchase, won auction charge and 5.99 shipping...

**Chocolate** · 07-16-2010, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by madbid700

I have won several auctions all were e-gift cards and the shipping was quick. Today I won a 25.00 gift card with shipping cost of 5.99... That is quite steep for a 25.00 card in my opinion. When you take into account bid purchase, won auction charge and 5.99 shipping...

i believe their visa gift card is the only one with that high a shipping fee. my guess is they are passing on some of the costs of the activation of the card. of course, it is clearly marked in the auction's description.

**netcracker** · 07-18-2010, 11:44 PM

last few days most of the gift cards are not buy it now enabled
and it would be great if u can put new products instead of gift cards

**picklebid** · 07-19-2010, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by netcracker

last few days most of the gift cards are not buy it now enabled
and it would be great if u can put new products instead of gift cards

The Gift Cards are based on our Volume. We don't have the volume of visitors to support electronics (one of our early mistakes). As we grow, we can add a bigger variety of items of course. But right now, the common denominator among all users is that they like/will Bid on Gift Cards. Not everyone out of X users we have will buy a GPS, a laptop, TV, or another gadget.

In regards to shipping. On Visa and AMEX cards the Shipping is $5.99. We pay between $3.95 and $4.95 for card activation (presently, this may change). So we do pass this on to you as it only makes sense. We have been very fair with shipping in my opinion.

I hope this helps, thanks everyone!

**aliand** · 07-19-2010, 05:21 PM

My gift card shipping was 1.99, more than reasonable.

ali

Originally Posted by picklebid

The Gift Cards are based on our Volume. We don't have the volume of visitors to support electronics (one of our early mistakes). As we grow, we can add a bigger variety of items of course. But right now, the common denominator among all users is that they like/will Bid on Gift Cards. Not everyone out of X users we have will buy a GPS, a laptop, TV, or another gadget.

In regards to shipping. On Visa and AMEX cards the Shipping is $5.99. We pay between $3.95 and $4.95 for card activation (presently, this may change). So we do pass this on to you as it only makes sense. We have been very fair with shipping in my opinion.

I hope this helps, thanks everyone!

**netcracker** · 07-20-2010, 06:09 PM

form last 10 days response to emails have been very slow
i have sent request for help 5 days back and till now no reply
and cant see much auctions also

**picklebid** · 07-20-2010, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by netcracker

form last 10 days response to emails have been very slow
i have sent request for help 5 days back and till now no reply
and cant see much auctions also

netcracker - your issue(s) should now be resolved. Sorry for the delay, but we have been in touch via email and the Help Desk. If you have any other issues let me know, thanks so much for your patience! -Nate

**netcracker** · 07-20-2010, 11:13 PM

thanks for solving my problem
nice to see new gift card options
thanks once again

**thepenmaster** · 07-22-2010, 06:00 PM

I've received all of my e-gift cards but not a single physical card. When do physical items ship because at this point we are well beyond 10 business days for at least one card, even if you could business days.

**boredncrazy** · 07-22-2010, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by thepenmaster

I've received all of my e-gift cards but not a single physical card. When do physical items ship because at this point we are well beyond 10 business days for at least one card, even if you could business days.

that happened to me once on pickle
I sent him an email and he got right on it

**khangski** · 07-22-2010, 09:38 PM

Thanks Pickle,

I've received my gift cards yesterday with bunch of surprises. Pickle toothpick, pickle mint and terrified pickles. It took more than 10 days before it reach meh but I don't mind as long as I got them.

**thepenmaster** · 07-23-2010, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by boredncrazy

that happened to me once on pickle
I sent him an email and he got right on it

Thanks BNC. I will e-mail, Nate.

**picklebid** · 07-28-2010, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by thepenmaster

Thanks BNC. I will e-mail, Nate.

Hi Guys, sorry for the lack of "Board/Forum" communication. I have been working on getting shipping updated, streamlining, and just getting back into the site with some new ideas. A quick promo and early announcement to PAW members, I am offering our "Regular Pickle Pack" which normally is 75 Bids, at the same price, $45, but now including 90 Bids. This will be going out in the newsletter, but I figured I'd let PAW know about the promo first - basically 15 Free Bids when you buy the Regular Pickle Pack. Enjoy!

**aliand** · 08-03-2010, 09:51 PM

Hi Nate, just want to say thanks, I got 2 ITunes cards and a Shutter Island BluRay disc in the mail last week, hope all is going well with you and the site does well. I'm really impressed

ali

**milan** · 08-16-2010, 10:04 PM

With the number of auction per day (only 4) the site should have much lesser win limit at max may be 6 per month...
U can see lot of gift cards going in cents but they will mostly go to same set of people. As soon as auction is launched they will have there stamp on it and now either u fight to them till "buy it now" price is reached or u let them take it for few cents...
most of the sites have 8 wins per month limit but with very few auctions picklebid should not be more than 5/6 per month. This will be good for site as many ppl will bid and will not just leave it after seeing "power bidder" stamp and will give chance for other ppl to win without fighting till buy-it-now price. win-win

**madbid700** · 08-26-2010, 03:58 AM

Nate, What is going on? Why has nothing been listed for a week now?

**aliand** · 08-27-2010, 08:27 PM

Madbid, did you hear anything? Ali

Originally Posted by madbid700

Nate, What is going on? Why has nothing been listed for a week now?

**kathysan** · 08-28-2010, 10:15 AM

Hello,
I am just wondering if anyone has any information on Pickle Bids .
I e-mailed them but got no response.
thanks

**madbid700** · 08-28-2010, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by aliand

Madbid, did you hear anything? Ali

No nothing Ali, don't know what to think not an e-mail reply either...

**bid2dead** · 08-28-2010, 11:43 AM

Some one stole my username on PickleBid.com so I have to register it as RealBid2Dead.

Please feel free to hammer away.
;)

**aliand** · 08-28-2010, 04:33 PM

Thanks Bid2dead!

There won't be any hammering if they're done posting auctions. It looked like things were just starting to pick up, too - hope it comes back - we will - it's a really good site! Ali

**thepenmaster** · 08-30-2010, 04:39 PM

The last time Nate responded to something about which I know was on the 18th of August, which ironically is the same day auctions stopped if my memory is correct. He said that a win had shipped and true to his word it had. Maybe something has happened to him since then.

**aliand** · 08-30-2010, 08:33 PM

I hope he's all right..as you well know (I was just reading another of your posts) this doesn't fit the pattern of a site going under. The service at Picklebid has always been very professional and it is certainly unusual (sad as that is) for a site owner to actually send out all the won items when closing. I suspect you're right, Penmaster, and something has come up, as there would be no reason to be out of contact since no one seems angry.

Sending good thoughts your way, Nate! I'm sure there are lots of us who will come back and spend our money at Picklebid, especially with all of our good experiences there. Let us know if we can help.

Ali

Originally Posted by thepenmaster

The last time Nate responded to something about which I know was on the 18th of August, which ironically is the same day auctions stopped if my memory is correct. He said that a win had shipped and true to his word it had. Maybe something has happened to him since then.

**thepenmaster** · 08-31-2010, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by thepenmaster

The last time Nate responded to something about which I know was on the 18th of August, which ironically is the same day auctions stopped if my memory is correct. He said that a win had shipped and true to his word it had. Maybe something has happened to him since then.

Originally Posted by aliand

I hope he's all right..as you well know (I was just reading another of your posts) this doesn't fit the pattern of a site going under. The service at Picklebid has always been very professional and it is certainly unusual (sad as that is) for a site owner to actually send out all the won items when closing. I suspect you're right, Penmaster, and something has come up, as there would be no reason to be out of contact since no one seems angry.

Sending good thoughts your way, Nate! I'm sure there are lots of us who will come back and spend our money at Picklebid, especially with all of our good experiences there. Let us know if we can help.

Ali

Well this is a little odd. Yesterday, I decided to use my rewards points to buy a gift card. I brought it and e-mailed PB about which one I wanted since I could not find anywhere within the checkout to write my choice.

Today, I got that gift card as an e-card which means that the e-mail I sent was obviously read. This raised the question: why has my other e-mail (possibly e-mails, I cannot remember) not been answered? Why hasn't other people's e-mails been answered? Someone is there.

**wcjoker** · 08-31-2010, 05:18 PM

I too sent off an email yesterday about the 2 items I've been waiting for, one being the last auction they had listed on the site(reserve auction). This morning I also got an E-card for that reserve auction so maybe things will get back to normal soon on the site. I'm only waiting for 1 item now which is alot better than some other sites I play on.

**thepenmaster** · 08-31-2010, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by wcjoker

I too sent off an email yesterday about the 2 items I've been waiting for, one being the last auction they had listed on the site(reserve auction). This morning I also got an E-card for that reserve auction so maybe things will get back to normal soon on the site. I'm only waiting for 1 item now which is alot better than some other sites I play on.

Joker, I bet I know one of the sites on which you are waiting for wins! (I really need my wins from that site, too.) Oh the pitfalls of the PA world.

**aliand** · 08-31-2010, 08:18 PM

Maybe they're not sure what they're going to do with the site, so they're just not saying anything. Still, it's weird that people are getting their cards. Hmmmm....

**netcracker** · 09-01-2010, 09:29 AM

i have got all my e-gift cards till now
but yet to receive 3 physical gift cards.
been mailing Nate from last 2 weeks but no reply from his side.
before i used to get a reply very quickly
dont know what is going on
atleast a message from Nate or a message on the forums would be good
hope to see the site back again soon

**thepenmaster** · 09-01-2010, 03:05 PM

Today Nate actually responded to an e-mail. Maybe he is getting back on track as far as communicating with customers again.

**picklebid** · 09-01-2010, 04:05 PM

So sorry for the delay and lack of communication, it really is unacceptable and for that I apologize. I have been in a "slump" of sorts and trying to figure out if I honestly have the time to run this site the way I started it. I believe honestly I took on more than I could handle with the site, time and money, but mostly the time portion. Not making excuses, but working a full time job, raising 2 kids (3yr old and a 1yr old), and having an old house that needs repairs, just really has added to the daily load. There were days where I just could not work ON the site like I wanted to, I was always working IN the site (tweaking/shipping/emails). The time was not there to get this site growing as it needed to. At this stage I did not expect profits actually, but I needed to see a trend. That wasn't happening as fast as I thought it should and while my investor was still ready for more, I felt I could not continue to operate the site on the limited time and see it fail due to that.

What I am trying to do is to fulfill all the Wins, resolve outstanding issues, and look for a new home/owner for the site. I also need to make sure that I credit back everyone their money on Bids purchased and ensure all Wins delivered before I hand over or turn off the site. I wanted to get as much of this done before simply saying "I'm Closing" and have a swarm of people at the window asking for refunds.

If everyone remains patient I WILL refund all money spent on the site in terms of Bids. Here is a rough plan of what I want to accomplish and the time frame for these steps:

1. Ensure all pending Wins delivered/settled by 9/15/2010. No need to email me, I know what is Pending/Due, I will take care of it - other users should be able to speak to that fact, just bear with me. But if you feel the need to email, please do so.

2. By 9/30/2010 all users with Bids on their account have the money refunded via Credit Card or via Exchange for e-Gift Card. If you have 100 Bids left but 75 were "Won" via a Bid Pack Auction, cash will not be refunded for those bids, only the original 25 that were purchased as a Bid Pack. I think everyone understands this point. But I am open to suggestions of course. I have no reason not to be completely honest and open.

If anyone is interested in purchasing the site, all the code, modifications, some hand holding from me for a few weeks, even hosting, please let me know. I can make a separate post if Amanda allows with more details.

The only thing that would affect #2 from not happening would be someone buying the site and deciding to transfer user credits to an existing PA site. Of course the option would be there for users that just want Cash Back.

You can ALWAYS email me @ [email protected] or [email protected]. I also remain available via phone @ 860-398-4605 (reasonable hours please).

If anyone feels I left something out or needs more info, please let me know. I am going to try and keep an eye on the board, but please send your replies via email instead, I would appreciate it. Thank you!