madbid. good or con?

eyelinerprincess

I think their ads have been "revised" a few times due to the ASA telling them off.

Internet ad - http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2014/3/Marc%C3%A2ndi-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_245844.aspx#.VSJNOvnF-T8 and http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2014/12/Marc%C3%A2ndi-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_273088.aspx#.VSJN1_nF-T8

Press and TV ads - http://asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2011/8/Marcndi-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_143503.aspx#.VSJNoPnF-T8

Stoke

They're right dodgy and I'd keep well away from them. They're the kind of place I'd lose no sleep over if a cruise missile knocked at their front door.

They put on the quirky front and coked up smiley gimmicks, but they've been investigated for all sorts of greasy shenanigans. In fact, there was once a website dedicated to them, humorously titled MadbidIsAScam.com or something similar, if I remember rightly. It contained in-depth explanations on how they run their operation, e.g. many auctions using automated bots via algorithms to artificially inflate the prices, how the winners featured in a number of videos for large items such as cars were in fact Madbid employees and how these 'How Madbid works' videos were again, paid actors/employees.

I particularly like the video of the Ford Focus winner, especially as you can see at the end that he doesn't in fact drive off. The camera merely moves slightly to the side to give that impression. He gives about 4 or 5 different stories. "My first auction", "i've won a few things before". Taking the !!!! aren't you, lanky beanpole.

Their advertising is right dodgy. I'm still amazed they get away with these ads at that say !!!! like "Ridiculous trick sees customers saving 70% on high street products". It's not a trick, it's not ridiculous and customers implies that people actually save money... which it seems in most cases they don't.

I was equally amazed when they got away with that TV advert, specifically the part where it says "I'm bidding on Madbid.com, they're an online auction site".... they're not though are they? eBay is an online auction site. MadBid is a gambling site, and a flakey one at that.

Don't forget, they also have dozens of websites set up explaining how Madbid works like "megabargains" etc. They're all the same, dirty scummy scammers.