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This clock was famous, but the internet ruined it.

This clock was famous, but the internet ruined it. on HackerTube: recommended by 1 Hacker News commenter across 1 month, 2022–2023.

Tom Scott

explainer · evergreen

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Tom Scott explains the famous Dutch flower auction clock at Royal FloraHolland in Aalsmeer, a literal Dutch auction, and how the internet changed it. It is a short look at how the system worked then and now.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN cites it as a fascinating explanation of a real Dutch auction, in threads about auctions and ticket sales.

people recommended it
1
separate months
1
strong recommendations
0
discussed on HN
2022–2023
“Fascinating to see how it worked then and how it works now.”
— poopsmithe, Nov 2022, in “How to sell tickets fairly”

What HN commenters said

3 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.

poopsmitheNov 2022Recommends

YES! I love this concept. The big clock featured in the post was described in a Tom Scott video[1] earlier this year. It's the Royal FloraHolland's flower auction in Aalsmeer. Fascinating to see how it worked then and how it works now. Same concept, just computerized and accessible remotely by bidders. [1] ▶ this video

in “How to sell tickets fairly” · View on HN

somatSep 2023Cites it

Have you seen how the dutch flower auctions do it? Those guys have something like 30 seconds max to hit their mark. Now those are professional buyers. I think for your amateur crowd you would have to provide a bit more time. perhaps a week. just make it clear what is happening. And that big clock, have you seen the big clock? if I ever made a dutch auction ticket site A big clock would feature predominantly in the ui. Unfortunately I don't think the flower auctions use the big clock anymore. which is a shame. ▶ this video (tom scott)

in “Why Scalpers Can Get Olivia Rodrigo Tickets and You Can't” · View on HN

NicanDec 2022Cites it

Price decreases as time passes? It is called an Dutch auction. [1] The most famous example I can think of is the flower auction/Amsterdam clock.[2] [1] [link] [2] ▶ this video

in “$850 USD to renew your own .dev domain which is owned by Google, insane” · View on HN

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