Guest Author - Kim O´Shea
Before we start selling it is very important to research our markets. There are many online auction sites out there; the trick is to find the ones that are right for you.
The first thing to look at is the overall appearance of the site – does it load reasonably quickly? Is it easy to navigate? Does it look professional? Is it easy to find the help and FAQ sections?
Next check the amount of categories. Is there a good mix? Are the types of items you intend to list catered for? Don’t forget to check the amount of items listed in each category, the amount of items that have bids on them, the type of items that people are bidding on and the average length of the auctions. The amount of current bids lets you know if people are actually using the site. This is crucial information if you have to pay listing fees or if you actually want to sell your items!
Next go a little deeper. Find out how much it costs to list your items, or if there is a membership fee. Some sites charge their fees at the end of the auction so make sure you know how much these will be. Check how payments are made by you and received by you. Read carefully through the help or FAQ sections to find out what to do if there is a problem. Does the site have a good system in place to help protect both the buyer and seller?
You may be interested in having your own storefront. Does the site offer this facility? How much does it cost? Can you upload multiple items for Dutch auctions? (Where you have more than one of the same items for sale it is less time consuming to upload the items once and then sell from that single listing, the buyer can specify how many he wants).
All of this information and lots more can be gathered by simply going to the site and looking around. Make sure the site feels right for you. If you are not fully confident about the site you may find it difficult to promote your items.
I have listed a few sites from different locations to get you started. I have included my impressions of these sites but please, check them out for yourself. There are many other sites out there so, get researching!
Ebay.com - This site is probably one of the best known auction sites around. It’s very user friendly and is extremely busy. It has a wide selection of categories and there is a lot of bidding going on. This is probably the best site to start with if you intend to sell. Payments go through paypal .
Feedback plays a very important role and it’s always a good idea to check the comments posted here.
There is a lot of advice on the best ways to promote your items and the listing fees are reasonable.
Onlineauctions.com - This site does not charge fees for listing your items, instead you pay $8 per month membership fee. The site is not very user friendly and it can take a bit of time and patience to find what you want. It is also slow to load. There is quite a lot of bidding going on so may well be worth a look.
Ebid.ie - This Irish site specialises in electronics. It lists various auctions that are currently running on other sites but you can only buy here as the products are from liquidations and surplus stock.
Auction.ie - Another Irish site. The site is slow to load and doesn’t have many items listed. Listings are free.
Ubid.com - This site only ships within the United States. The items are all surplus or liquidated stock. Good site for buying items to resell.
Webidz.com - If you are looking for items to resell there are some good bargains to be had here. There are various payment options. To sell on this site you have to be verified. Basic listing is free but the once off verification costs $5. There is a wide selection of items on offer.
Qxbid.com - There are no listing fees here and you can open a store for free as well. The site is user friendly but activity is slow.
Cquot.com - A big site with lots of items, based in the UK. A bit slow to load but well worth a look. You need to have a flash player installed.
Propertyroom.com – Selling seized/surplus goods. Possible source for resale bargains.
Oltiby.com – Reverse auction site, buyers post a wanted ad and sellers compete to get the sale.
Auctionfire.com – Basic listing free, not many items listed.
Liveauctioneers.com – Information on live auctions around the world.
For a great heads up on eBay auctions I recommend this book which is available to buy now from Amazon.
