Complaint Review: itsybid.com

If you took a moment to read how the site works perhaps you would have understood before spending your money. I was able to have my engagement dinner at the London Grill downtown Portland, I won 1300 worth of gift certificates and spent about 75.00 total. That was when the site first started, now that more people know about it it will be harder to win. 

Sure, in any "auction" there is only one winner. But anyone who bids does not leave empty handed.

If someone does not "win", but still had to pay to "bid", and then got nothing in return but the "chance" to win an item at a great deal...uhh..it is gambling.

Granted the OP was not aware, and the site does explain this in the "how it works" but lets be realistic...most people if they really understood how these "penny auctions" worked, would most likely not have got involved.

I feel if these sites clearly disclosed that it is for gambling and entertainment purposes ONLY, there would be no justification for complaint. Problem is, these sites tend to use deception, in more ways then one..to imply these are similar to eBay..and a good alternative to paying retail. At least with ebay if you don't win, you don't pay..and with retail shopping whenever you pay, you have something to show for it every time...not by "chance".

If you think about the business model of these penny auctions..it is similar to gambling in the sense that it is in the best interest of the house, for as many members to lose as possible..otherwise the model fails. How can that be debated?

I am not an employee of Itsybid, but a frequent user of their site.  The entire point of the site is to bid against other people with the last bidder taking the item.  You are not assured of winning just because you "pay money to get points to bid."  There can only be one winner per auction, but it is an incredible deal when you do win! 

I am sorry that you feel the way you do about itsyBiD.  However, we do clearly state how our bidding process works on our "How it Works" page: www.itsybid.com/how_it_works.html
This auction method is very common, and our site is designed to educate people about how our auctions work before you purchase or use any bids.
I do not know what you are referring to when you say "tickets" as we do not, and never have, sold tickets.  We work with finer hotels and resorts, and offer travel certificates and packages to the winning bidder of our auctions. 
We also offer losing bidders the opportunity to use their spent bids as cash toward the purchase of the item they were bidding on with our "buy it now" feature.
Again, I am sorry that you were not pleased with the result of this process. 
Graham Keavney
CEO, itsyBiD

I am sorry that you feel the way you do about itsyBiD.  However, we do clearly state how our bidding process works on our "How it Works" page: www.itsybid.com/how_it_works.html
This auction method is very common, and our site is designed to educate people about how our auctions work before you purchase or use any bids.
I do not know what you are referring to when you say "tickets" as we do not, and never have, sold tickets.  We work with finer hotels and resorts, and offer travel certificates and packages to the winning bidder of our auctions. 
We also offer losing bidders the opportunity to use their spent bids as cash toward the purchase of the item they were bidding on with our "buy it now" feature.
Again, I am sorry that you were not pleased with the result of this process. 
Graham Keavney
CEO, itsyBiD