For many auctions are haunts of the rich, where stuff goes for inflated prices, and besides, there's nothing you'd want. However, the new posse of Internet auction sites are bringing auctions to the hoi polloi (check the dictionary).
Taking part in eBay auctions is very easy, you simply register a few personal details and then browse to your heart's content. This is free, and there is no need to buy (or sell) anything. The lots are organised in categories and can be searched by keywords. You can find almost anything, and you will often get it for a bargain price.
Once you find what you want bidding are very easy, you simply name the highest price you would be willing to pay and then wait until someone outbids you, or doesn't as the case may be. When you bid, you needn't just bid a small amount more so that you are in the lead, if you bid the most you are willing to pay then eBay will automatically bid on your behalf until you are winning again (so long as your highest bid is more than the other person's).
A great way to get auctions for a cheap price is to "snipe", this is the action of bidding at the very last moment so as to avoid other interested parties being able to bid again before the auction ends. You can avoid getting involved in bidding wars, a good way to do this is with eSnipe.com
Some great refinements to eBay is the email notification service for when you are outbid, and the "My eBay" screen where you can check which auctions you are bidding for. On the front page, you are shown the hottest items and any great bargains.
Unlike buying, when what you see is what you pay, selling carries a small cost to the seller. Selling is simple, all you do is choose the category and give eBay a few details about the product. The everything about the auction can be designed by you, the length, starting price, item name, images and description is all of your own making. However, the only thing to can't choose to do or not to do is pay for the listing. However, I have little qualms about the amount of money you pay, typical fees for an item of a fiver or so is 50p, so you can simply bump up the postage a bit when it sells and Bob's you uncle!
Once the auction finishes, the buyer and seller contact each other to see who's going to make the first move. Generally, the buyer sends the money to seller, and then the seller sends to good on to the buyer. However, various other methods exist where the buyer gives the money to a trusted third party and then as soon as he receives the good, the third party gives the money to the seller. This gives everyone piece of mind, but costs a fortune!
The hardest part about eBay is deciding whether the other person is trustworthy. I'll not pretend that bad stuff doesn't happen, but you've just got to take slight risks and when it goes tits up, write the money off to experience, and leave a stinking feedback profile so that it doesn't happen to anyone else. Feedback is a great way to avoid annoyance, it basically means that everyone who does transactions leaves information about their partner to avoid anything happening again to someone else.
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Comments about this review »
christopherj84 12.06.2001 19:29
Good opinion.
sharondyer 28.04.2001 16:40
Well written, I bid a couple of weeks ago for a Cooker and bought a 16 month old one for £21. The lady selling was supposidly having her house demolished and lived in Reading. I have not heard from her for nearly two weeks and have sent numerous emails for her to contact me. Doesn't work for everyone I suppose.
Defiler 28.04.2001 16:32
Good opinion, though I've visited this site on many occasions and been tempted to buy something I never have yet, I'm just afraid that if I start to do this I'll end up spending more money than I can actually afford :)
Advantages: Everything you ever wanted at cheap prices / market leader Disadvantages: Their Law supercedes that of the UK / will debit your credit card without your permission
lpu97kh 03.12.2000 (09.12.2000)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of ebay.co.uk
Advantages: Great customer support, cast iron safety net, good value, hard to find items, community feeling, easy site. Disadvantages: Obviously not all people are as fair or honest as others, but luckily these are few and far between.
7sefton 12.10.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of ebay.co.uk
Advantages: Like a giant car boot sale, without ever leaving the house Disadvantages: Has an air of riskiness about it, though you could choose sellers with very high feedback for safety's sake
eeeekkk 30.07.2001 (31.07.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of ebay.co.uk
Apr 28th, 2001
very helpful by (92%):
somewhat helpful by (8%):
