Topic

[not an issue] Auction API bug

The auction API is returning auctions that have been purchased - much as API devs have been hoping to get that kind of information, there's nothing in the listing to indicate that the auction lot's state is anything but "available."  

Consequently, I've noticed that commodity prices are dropping through the floor, and I suspect it's because snipers aren't able to cycle goods to the Tool Vendors, so there isn't an effective floor anymore.

For instance:

{"player"=>{"tsid"=>"PHVU5FRQAM52F0L", "name"=>"Devolish"},
 "created"=>"1320606629",
 "expires"=>"1320693029",
 "class_tsid"=>"crystallizer",
 "category"=>"tools",
 "count"=>"1",
 "cost"=>"800",
 "url"=>"/auctions/PHVU5FRQAM52F0L/4eb6dba5/",
 "tool_state"=>"used",
 "tool_uses"=>"750",
 "tool_capacity"=>"1000",
 "item_def"=>
  {"class_tsid"=>"crystallizer",
   "name_single"=>"Crystalmalizing Chamber",
   "name_plural"=>"Crystalmalizing Chambers",
   "category"=>"tools",
   "max_stack"=>"1",
   "desc"=>
    "With this tool, every armchair alchemist can be the master of their own future. Or at least make some Plain Crystals. Who knew Barnacle Talc and essence of Firefly would combine to make such fine new age bling?",
   "base_cost"=>"2500",
   "swf_url"=>"http://c2.glitch.bz/items/2011-01/1296505059-5923.swf",
   "iconic_url"=>
    "http://c2.glitch.bz/items/2011-01-31/1853_1296505060_iconic.png"}}

Who wouldn't want to snag a 2500 currant tool for 800?

Well: 

You snooze, you lose...
Someone purchased this auction 4 days ago for 800 currants.

API scripts could be rewritten to hammer the purchase site until they fulfill orders, but that's really a pain for everyone.  

If the idea was to provide historical data about auctions, please add a state field!  (sold, expired, active, delivered ...)

Posted 13 months ago by Yarrow Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • Thanks! We have this and this logged as the same issue.
    Posted 13 months ago by kevbob Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yarrow, what are the exact params you're passing to auctions.list to get these results? I'm not seeing anything similar, and there are only a very few select circumstances where it's even likely to happen.

    For the record, it's not an intended change at this time so there will be no "state" field in the near future.
    Posted 13 months ago by hitherto Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm quite embarassed: I switched some things around about the internal caching system I'm using, and as a result, certain queries were never expiring - this was one of them.  No surprise that an 8 day old cached auction result is expired.

    Mea culpa!  Thanks for the time, all the same.
    Posted 13 months ago by Yarrow Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Phew! I was puzzling over the code yesterday, wondering how on earth items that are in a whole other database table were getting injected into the response...

    ...thanks for updating. We'll call this one closed! ;)
    Posted 13 months ago by hitherto Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am sad though that there won't be a state field.
    Posted 13 months ago by Yarrow Subscriber! | Permalink