Well I, too, was banned from BFT the middle of last week without warning or explanation. After reading this forum, it probably was because I did not use the A-B link. I've been posting to BFT for years and I, too, thought I was doing a favor to everyone who uses the board. Sheryl had stated several times at the end of my posts that she would appreciate if I would use the A-B link. Unfortunately, I never seemed to remember to do that. You would think she could have given some kind of warning.
Yeah, it’s pretty shocking to suddenly get banned without explanation after contributing so much but as you’ve discovered, it’s a common occurrence. Like others, I found the information on BFT helpful in my Priceline bids and I just wanted to give back by posting my results. It appears if you have the audacity to post winning bid information without having placed that bid through the BFT link then you get banned. Such practice assures eventual self destruction of BFT or, at best, a skewed set of data.
There are ways to get around the IP ban and just be a lurker. At the bottom of any BFT screen you will see a summary of active users. Typically it will be something like 100 total, 5 registered users, 95 guests. That means at best only 5% of the “community” is contributing. Makes no sense, does it?
Yeah, it’s pretty shocking to suddenly get banned without explanation after contributing so much but as you’ve discovered, it’s a common occurrence. Like others, I found the information on BFT helpful in my Priceline bids and I just wanted to give back by posting my results. It appears if you have the audacity to post winning bid information without having placed that bid through the BFT link then you get banned. Such practice assures eventual self destruction of BFT or, at best, a skewed set of data.
There are ways to get around the IP ban and just be a lurker. At the bottom of any BFT screen you will see a summary of active users. Typically it will be something like 100 total, 5 registered users, 95 guests. That means at best only 5% of the “community” is contributing. Makes no sense, does it?
As previously mentioned, most home routers allow you to change the MAC address rather easily. Your ISP knows the MAC address of your router and issues the same IP number whenever it sees that MAC address. Change your MAC address and you will get a new IP address from your ISP (assuming you obtain your address through DHCP like most). On most Linksys routers, there's a MAC address page under the main Setup tab. On D-Link, MAC address is changed or cloned on the main WAN setup page.
__________________
Hofstadter’s Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.
As previously mentioned, most home routers allow you to change the MAC address rather easily. Your ISP knows the MAC address of your router and issues the same IP number whenever it sees that MAC address. Change your MAC address and you will get a new IP address from your ISP (assuming you obtain your address through DHCP like most). On most Linksys routers, there's a MAC address page under the main Setup tab. On D-Link, MAC address is changed or cloned on the main WAN setup page.
Thanks for the information. I don't mean to sound ignorant and I have read a particular thread about somehow tunnelling around, which admittedly I really didn't follow, but WHAT do I change the MAC address to? I think I may be able to get to the router information to make a change.
I really don't want to screw anything else up just to be able to get to BFT!
Thanks for the information. I don't mean to sound ignorant and I have read a particular thread about somehow tunnelling around, which admittedly I really didn't follow, but WHAT do I change the MAC address to? I think I may be able to get to the router information to make a change.
I really don't want to screw anything else up just to be able to get to BFT!
Pretty much anything will work. MAC addresses are always entered as 6 Hexadecimal pairs, and your router will show you your current one. Hexadecimal numbers are 0 - 9, and A - F. Change one number, any number, that's all you need to do.
I'm scratching my head trying to think of what may be affected by this. A Dynamic DNS may know you by your MAC address, but you can update your DDNS account info. Also, a router-to-router VPN is often (usually?) setup with MAC addresses, so you'd need to change it on the router at the other end. Users of Windows XP VPN client, Cisco VPN client, or other computer-based VPN clients wouldn't care about your router MAC address. It's conceivable that certain online game sites may know you by your MAC address, but I doubt it.
__________________
Hofstadter’s Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.
MAC addess spoofing is discussed in many places, including this one. You can even acquire a program to do it. If you use a router, then it's simpler, of course.
I also got my IP banned. Someone had asked about what category room priceline reservations get placed in for Sheraton Waikiki. I had just won this hotel and hadn't posted my win on the site, but I decided answer the question since I had just called the Sheraton and asked what category I got. So I guess I got banned for either not posting the win originally or for not using the link. I was mad at first because I was just trying to help. But I prefer betterbidding.com anyway because of the hotwire information. I will just stick to that.
Add me to the list of the damned... I mean banned...
After posting the ocassional Priceline win on BFT for several years (never used their bidding link), I was also recently and without warning banned.
I always do my own homework when bidding, but will take a cursary look at the BFT and Betterbidding sites before creating a bidding strategy. Since I was doing most of the legwork, I usally bid through the Mypoints site. But I felt obligated at the very least, to report my win on the BFT site. Oh well...
Due to many IPs at my disposal, I will probably continue to lurk the BFT site, but will now happily report any future Priceline wins on Betterbidding.com
After posting the ocassional Priceline win on BFT for several years (never used their bidding link), I was also recently and without warning banned.
I always do my own homework when bidding, but will take a cursary look at the BFT and Betterbidding sites before creating a bidding strategy. Since I was doing most of the legwork, I usally bid through the Mypoints site. But I felt obligated at the very least, to report my win on the BFT site. Oh well...
Due to many IPs at my disposal, I will probably continue to lurk the BFT site, but will now happily report any future Priceline wins on Betterbidding.com
Question: It appears a number of people lurk at both BFT and BB, however only post their results at BFT. What is it about ultimately getting banned at BFT that only then prompts people to post at BB? If you lurk both sites, then why not post to both sites (pre-BFT banning, of course!).
I mean no offense to max bet by the question, I just don't understand why so many people only resort to posting at BB until after the BFT-ban, even though they were fully aware of BB's existance pre-BFT ban!
I've been given travel advice for several yrs now and have referred hundreds people to BFT for many yrs. I was banned cause I used their link but mispelled the hotel. Sheryl sent a msg to an e mail I haven't used for 10 yrs so I was banned! I can't access the site either. I had gone up the street to another computer but now I'm banned from that IP address as well. What a little nazi she is.
I would never use her links and god forbid post without her blessing, but would still be interested in knowing how to get a new IP address. You'd think there would be some way to protest her irrational actions.
Question: If you lurk both sites, then why not post to both sites (pre-BFT banning, of course!).
I've posted at both sites but never for the same bid because I don't want it to look like one is copying information from the other. There were such accusations for another site. I am not banned from either - yet. FWIW my real name, B1, was not available as a handle at those sites so I had to be inventive at both BB and BFT.
What a little nazi she is.
I would never use her links and god forbid post without her blessing, but would still be interested in knowing how to get a new IP address. You'd think there would be some way to protest her irrational actions.
You're doing it, bud. Spread the word. Boycott her until she starves. Nothing speaks louder than red numbers on your ledger.
8) Hotel websites, Sidestep, Travelocity Priceline
9) Lawndale
10) $90
11) Yes
12) Yes
13) Yes
Sheryl #1 [-]
Posts: 133973
(02/14/09 8:56 PM)
Administrator
Please clarify what is more important, price or location? You haven't posted any rates for your first choice zone so I can't give you a strategy but I know that $90 will not be enough for a 4* in that zone. You also haven't listed your free re-bid zones for 4* nor made any mention of 3.5* so basically your request is incomplete and not clear enough for a bidding strategy to be provided.
Please place all of your Priceline bids through the links at Amazing-Bargains.com.
Please check rates at Hotwire and make your bookings through our Hotwire link.
samd #2 [-]
Posts: 38
(02/14/09 9:59 PM)
Sorry for the troubles. I redid it I hope all the info that you need is here
I would like quality and Price over location
Thanks!
1) Los Angeles, CA
2) 1st choice - Beverly / West Hollywood, 2nd choice - Hollywood, 3rd choice -Downtown, LAX or Culver City
8) Hotel websites, Sidestep, Travelocity Priceline
9) Culver, Lawndale, Redono Beach, Santa Monica
9) Lawndale
10) $95
11) Yes
12) Yes
13) Yes
Sheryl #3 [-]
Posts: 133977
(02/14/09 10:21 PM)
Administrator
I cannot vouch for the quality of the hotel you will get; only that you will not get a hotel that Priceline rates lower than what you select. I'm going to bow out of this one. It would require that I read your mind. You made some changes but your request is still incomplete. Good luck and it would be appreciated if you place your bid through the Priceline link at the Amazing-Bargains.com site linked in my signature. Please post the results of your bid..
samd #4 [-]
Posts: 39
(02/14/09 10:24 PM)
I will but I am waiting on a bidding strategy
Sheryl #5 [-]
Posts: 133979
(02/14/09 10:27 PM)
Administrator
As I said, I'm bowing out of this one. I can't give you a strategy based on your incomplete request and the necessity to read your mind which I can't do. Good luck!
Wonder how long it will take samd to find his/her way over here to join the ever-growing banned club..... ????
Add me to the list of newly banned ... and I used to be a moderator for BFT many years ago! I would always post my results and my last post was back in December for a car rental and I am sure I used the A-B link to make that reservation. To be honest, I didn't always use the A-B link. I did try to remember to use the A-B link as a "thank you" for the many years of information but sometimes I would get caught up in the bidding process and I forget to use it or I would forget to use it on a later rebid.
I was poking around BFT the last week or so for my upcoming Hawaii trip. I tried to log in under my regular yuku name on Friday and found out I was banned with no warning and no explanation. My other yuku account was OK for reading but then I made the mistake of emailing Sheryl to ask to be reinstated because I thought that I had been banned by mistake. I had always thought that Sheryl and I were on good terms, but I guess I was wrong. I tried to log in today with my other yuku ID only to find that my ISP has been banned.
I have been a member of BFT before it even was "Bidding For Travel" ... I remember when Sheryl had the naming contest many years ago. I have recommended the website to many people who want to bid on Priceline and I have even donated money to the website in the past. I was a supporter of BFT and Sheryl ... warts and all. I have to admit that I am disappointed and a little hurt about the way I was treated. Looking back at how she has treated other long time BFT members I guess it was just a matter of time.
What confuses me the most is that banning my userID or ISP does nothing for Sheryl or BFT. I can still read BFT and access all the bidding information ... just not as conveniently. BFT now no longer has my half-dozen Chicago bids over the year as data points and now I have no reason to try to remember using the A-B link. She was getting credit for about half of my bids when I remembered to use the link. Now she will be getting no credit for my bids .... I guess now I can forget to use eBates or UPromise instead .
.
