Is Winning an Online Auction Really that Great?


by Maurice Clarke - Date: 2007-01-07 - Word Count: 462 Share This!

Successful bidders for online auctions are often referred to as "winners" as if the process was some form of race to be first past the post - but was the effort really necessary or worthwhile to take part?

People who bid on online auctions usually have at least some interest in buying the goods on offer, regardless of its value, location or type, and where an item is already below any reserve set by the seller you are pretty safe bidding, as chances are if you are just over the reserve you are getting a good deal.

The nearer the bidding is to closing the hotter the action and the greater disappointment for "buyers" who have watching the bidding for some time - as a sport watching and bidding is fine but as a serious source of buying goods it has some serious defects.

For starters getting carried along with last minute bidding you can pay over the odds for an item you could source better, cheaper elsewhere.

For another the quality of goods has to be suspect, after all they are normally used goods of uncertain age. Even with a high rating by a seller each item rests on its individual and unique merits - the quality of YOUR purchase matters more than 400 other buyers from the same seller.

Postage and packaging or the need to COLLECT items from a seller can add considerably to a deal so has to be a serious part of the decision process in making bids

Where items you seek are hard to source finding someone with what you NEED (say to finish or add to a collection) can make the entire process worth while. But for more general "run of the mill" goods you may be better off at charity or thrift shops in your area, or consider using one of the growing number of trade or swap sites which are proving viable (and cheaper) alternatives to online actions.

Trading or swapping goods - usually clothes and other wearables is simple, you swap something you have for something you want with another member of the site - more popular is the swap for points sites which allow you to carry a "points bank" and earn and spend points rather than money - that way you have more flexibility as to when you "sell" (part with) goods and when, if and what you "buy" (spend your points).

Point trading sites have grown fast as users can rack up free points by referring others to the site, and the overall deal seems attractive, you have to be quick though - see it - trade it - there is no 7 day periods to waste time on bidding, so your time is better spent on a trade site, at least they are worth a visit to assess if they suit your needs and budget.


Related Tags: auction, trading, clothes, selling online, buying, wearables, buying online

Maurice S Clarke is founder of the wearable goods trading web site www.whatweusedtowear.com and lives in Rugby, UK. This article may be freely republished provided it remains intact.

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