qxl.com > Reviews (155)

Introduction ~~
Internet auctions websites have become quite popular over the past few years and there seems to be more and more auction websites springing up all over the net. QXL is one of the best known British auction websites and in my opinion one of the best. Whether you're after a cheap mobile phone deal, a last-minute holiday, garden furniture or a computer at a rock-bottom price QXL has it.

The QXL website ~~
The QXL website is well-designed and the search facility is accurate. On the QXL homepage auctions that have just started and auctions just ending are listed. There is also a link to QXL Live auctions. I'll explain QXL live auctions later. When you first visit the QXL website you do feel a bit lost, so much information is crammed onto the homepage but the website is clear, fast and easy to navigate.
The QXL website is fairly fast and has a good design, it is bright and colourful and the few adverts that are on the website are in the corners, not popping up whenever you click on anything.

How QXL works ~~
QXL is a quite unique auction website as auctions things itself as well as allowing users and merchant partners to trade on the website. I really like this aspect of QXL as buying directly off QXL or off a merchant partner (a shop selling on QXL) is a safe way to get a bargain.
QXL is also a very safe auction website compared to many of its competitors. QXL have fairly recently introduced "QXL Buyer Insurance." QXL Buyer insurance is free to all users of QXL and it covers products up to the value of £150. So if you buy a Nokia 3310 for £90 off QXL and it doesn't come or they send you a Nokia 5110 QXL will reimburse you with £90. Not bad eh?
If you want to flog something on QXL you have to pay a flat fee of 30p which is QXL call a "listing fee." And if someone wins the auction QXL make the following Winning Bid Success Fee charges:

£0-£30 4%
£31-£300 3%
£301+ 1.5%
QXL have also put a maximum winning bid success fee of £50 so you'll never lose more than £50 to them.

So you want to splash out on something?
Well once you've seen you're ideal bargain on QXL you must first of all obviously become a member. Once you're registered and you go to the item you're after, enter the maximum bid you're willing to go up to (If you're outbid) And then enter you're username and password. You can also request SMS alerts when you've been outbid.

Selection of Products ~~
There's a lot of products that you can buy on QXL. The best bargains on QXL tend to be the more expensive things, like computers. You can brilliant deals on brand new laptops and PC's. Mobile phones tend to be rather mixed in price and often you won't find yourself saving much. For example a Nokia 3310 normally fetches around £90 on QXL and in the shops it'll cost you something between £90 and £100.

Safety Tips ~~
Just because QXL has insurance to protect you it doesn't mean you are completely safe. For example that insurance does not include dealings with all users on QXL, QXL's insurance does not cover dealings with users who have a 3* rating or lower.

On the subject of ratings; sellers can be given star ratings by people who have bought off them. The maximum star rating you can give is 5* and the minimum obviously 1*. Below are some tips to keeping safe on QXL if you are buying:

· Only buy off sellers with a 4* rating or above.
· Never buy off a seller with a negative comment. (Sellers have comments from previous buyers)
· Make sure you know what you're getting. There is a facility to ask the seller questions. Ask them questions if in doubt.
· Ensure that you know whether you're product is new or second hand.
· Organize delivery with the seller, if the seller has agreed shipping demand that they send it by recorded delivery.
· Remember that QXL's insurance does not cover sales over £150. So avoid buying things over £150 off individual sellers. You're okay with QXL direct as that's QXL themselves. And with merchant partners check out their website and make sure there's a phone number or if they don't have a website get a phone number off them by asking them a question.
· Avoid products like signed autographs, etc. there is no way of knowing whether it is fake or genuine. Some provide certificates but they can be easily forged.

Below is some advice for selling on QXL.

· Send goods promptly to you're buyer so you get a good comment and rating. Lots of high ratings will make people trust you and people will buy off you more.
· Provide a photograph of what you're selling.
· Give a detailed and thorough description of whatever you're selling.

Overall ~~
Well I think I've covered just about everything on QXL, if you think I've missed something out please comment. Anyway thanks for reading and have fun shopping!