A Trainwreck called the 'WYES Wine Auction'

Anyone watch that disaster unfold on WYES and/or online last night?
(Never again will I waste my time on something like that.)

 

sorry, will write a brief diatribe soon... been busy with friends from Norway all week.

 

While I do realize that a large portion of this televised event is volunteer-staffed, that is no excuse for the complete lack of etiquette and other ridiculous behavior on the telephone with bidders (like myself). The cacophony on-screen (and at the studio) was so deafening, that the people answering the phone could not / would not pay attention to the bidding while it was taking place, causing a complete breakdown in communication on too many occasions.

I telephoned at one point (just before the real Lot I was interested in, came on-screen), only to be told I couldn't 'stay' on the line and wait for the upcoming Lot. All the while, knowing full well that the first thing these volunteers do is acquire all your personal info on the phone (name, address, tel# etc) before you even place a bid - regardless of how many times you've already called in and bid previously, thus taking a lot of time. Sure enough, I had to call back and by the time she took my data (after implored her to pay attention and let me bid, the Lot in question had already come to a screeching halt.)

In brief:
1) three different volunteers on three different calls screwed my bids up; one failing to put my bid in at all (while she was yelling across the room at another volunteer - I saw her do this on the TV while I was on the phone)... then she put in two erroneous bids saying she couldn't hear and asked me to call back (!)

2) On several occasions, during heated bid action, the auctioneer didn't go to the gallery (on set nor at home) or the phone operators (as I instructed mine to tell the auctioneer by RAISING HER HAND that I indeed was STILL bidding)... to ask for final bid, or 'going once, going twice'... instead, he was interrupted by some drunken idiot at the podium and simply smashed the gavel down as 'sold' while my bid operator was yelling out my bid amount. FOUR times that happened. That is a pain in the ass ... as I had waited a full two hours for a specific lot to come up. Too many times, the home viewer had to listen to some 'bonehead on-camera personality' provide commentary about their lovely trip at 'xyz' vineyard (simultaneously pronouncing the name of the wine incorrectly - these are oenophiles?) while we at home, endured senseless dribble pouring out of the mouths of these morons. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

3) After winning a few Lots, I was told (via phone, 90 minutes later) they made a mistake and that I didn't win, or the wine didn't exist, or I must have made a mistake. Nevermind that they had already run my credit card 90 minutes before. So they asked if I would take a substitute on another lot that the high bidder had now refused. WTF?

I give up, call it a night, go to bed.

4) Another hour goes by, and at 11pm, I am awakened by my cell and home phone ringing together...both calls originating from WYES, saying that 'yes' I had indeed won Lot #s 'x' and 'z'.. at that they needed my credit card, again! Before submitting it, I queried her asking, "are you 100% SURE THIS TIME you have the story straight?" Another credit card run and advice to come and pick up the Lot the next AM when they opened at 9am (actually, that was wrong, too as no one gets there to offer winning lots until 11am)... I ask her for 'confirmation' she says they don't do that; bring an ID. Then she says, "oh you've won two Lots..."

* * * *

Next AM... my Lots were 'gone.'
Sold to someone else. They said, "oh, no you made a mistake...that last call to you, late last night wasn't meant for you; a bidder here at the studio won both of those lots you are talking about." Yet it was 'I' that made the mistake by answering my phone at 11pm and providing a CC? No apology. I drive back 30 miles with nothing except now have to take time to call American Express to reverse all charges from the previous evening.

Eighteen to twenty years ago, this same auction was smooth, professional and a lot of fun. I was in my 20s, so I mainly watched and didn't buy much. Now that I have the opportunity to buy with near reckless abandon, I am met with idiocy on so many levels. Sadly, a grand waste of time. (For the record: It's not that I 'needed' to win anything. It wasn't that at all. I just don't like anyone jerking my chain for 4+ hours because they cannot figure out how to use that small brain rolling around in their cavernous skull.)

WYES : When Your Evening, Sucks.

 

I'm sure many people enjoyed themselves and that is great, but for me... well, I've put a comment next to each of your ponderings... (*)