Antique and Flea Market Information » Online

Benefits of Exceet Online Auctions Over Other Online Auctions

Keith — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:42:56 +0000

By Emlyn Scott

Online auctions are all the rage. People want to save money and online auctions often allow you to pay pennies on the dollar for the hottest items. So how do you know how one online auction site differs from another? Is there a difference? There definitely is and you are about to learn all you need to know about online auctions.

Auctions That Have Been Around For A While

Some people choose online auctions sites just because of the popular name. With popular sites such as ebay, this can be a mistake. These sites may be well known but have their share of problems. Over time they have raised fees for sellers and have had more than enough dissatisfied customers to make you think twice.

With these online auctions you run a risk. The sellers must be closely monitored to ensure that you get what you pay for and do so in a timely manner. Maintaining the highest standards for an online auction site takes a lot of work and sometimes the quality slips when a site is so popular that they know people will keep coming back whether they get the best service and the best deals or not.

Advantages Of Exceet Online Auctions

Exceet online auctions, like other online auctions, are thrilling and fast-paced but unlike other online auctions they:

* benefit from a real time clock. Instead of having to constantly refresh the web page, you can watch your online auction bids as time passes and monitor your progress.

* You only pay for your Bids. There is no purchase price or shipping cost. All the sale prices and shipping is free! And you can even earn the Points to bid by simply surfing the site or filling in a survey or two. So you can win a flat screen TV paying no cash at all…only a bit of your time.

* Have a renewing countdown clock. Each Bid increases the countdown clock by 30 or 60 seconds and if the clock counts back to zero before someone else bids you’re the winner.

* Meeting the Reserve reduces the clock to 60 seconds. An Exceet Reserve represents a certain number of Bids rather than an individual bid amount. If an auction has a reserve on it and your bid hits the required number of Bids in the Reserve, even if there are 2 days left on the clock, for example, the clock will immediately reduce to 60 seconds. That means you’re 60 seconds away from winning the product.

* Repay all your bids if a reserve is not met. So if you bid on a reserve auction, but the reserve is not met before the countdown reaches zero all your bids are repaid.

This site also allows you to get in on the ground floor and get amazing deals because not as many people know about Exceet online auctions. In time they will, but right now you have an amazing opportunity.

Online auctions are your chance to save money if you go to the right website. Do you want to choose a site because the name is famous or because you will save money on all types of items? Exceet online auctions keep the sellers and buyers happy while selling, bidding, and saving.

About the Author: Emlyn Scott is the founder of Exceet, a company focused on entertaining and rewarding people for their input and loyalty. Exceet consists of a paid social networking community, paid surveys and exciting auctions where we reward users for their loyalty.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=456417&ca=Internet

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Buying Collectibles at Online Vintage Auctions

Keith — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:26:40 +0000

By N. Anderson

Online vintage auctions are excellent sources for buying collectibles, and auctions such as eBay can offer you some marvelous pieces at very low prices. There are ways to use online vintage auctions to your advantage such as sniping software and looking for valuable pieces that are obviously going to sell for a lot less that their real value, but you have to know about them to use them.

Definition of Vintage

First, a definition of the word ‘vintage’. Many people confuse vintage with antique, but the two are not the same – nowhere near it in fact. If I tell you that the word is borrowed from the wine industry then that should give a clearer idea of its meaning. Just as a vintage wine is one made from grapes grown in certain years, or periods within a year, a vintage collectible has been made during a certain period, and that might not be old enough for it to be declared an antique.

For example, an art deco piece of 1950s vintage is only around 60 years old, while one of ‘the Beatles’ vintage would have been made in the 1960s. A true antique would be of Victorian vintage or even Edwardian, since it would then be at least 100 years old. Generally, an antique must be at least 100 years old, although some use the term more loosely than that. Nevertheless, try to sell some antique furniture that is younger than late Edwardian and you might find yourself in trouble.

If Unsure, Ask

Buying collectibles at a vintage auction involves checking the piece and making sure that it belongs to a specific era. If you are unsure of the era of a ‘vintage poster’ then ask the vendor. If you are using an online auction site there will be a link to the vendor’s email address where you can ask the question: ‘what vintage is your Sophia Loren poster?’

The vintage makes a difference with collectibles just as it does with wines, and a Marilyn Monroe poster of late 50s vintage will be more valuable than a Brook Shields poster of any vintage! Even an antique can be of a specific vintage, and that is something to be wary of when buying antiques online.

Vintage auctions offering antiques can word their furniture ‘of Thomas Sheraton vintage’. That is not to say that it is a Sheraton piece, only that Sheraton was alive when the seller’s great, great, great, grandfather who made it in his shed 1790 was alive. Yes, an antique, because it is over 100 years old, and yes, of Sheraton vintage, but worth anything? Likely only sentimental value which does not mean dollars!

So sometimes the term can give you valuable information, although it can also be confusing. Nevertheless, online auctions tend to demand accuracy in a description, and so you can be as sure as possible that the seller is not trying to mislead you on eBay, Cowan Alexander, Amazon, Copart, or any other online auction site.

Payment Protection

Each vintage auction site has its own way of doing things, but one factor is true of all of them: you will generally not be cheated with respect to definitions of ‘vintage’, but if you are then they should have protection for you. Look for it and if there is none ask the question by email, but never purchase using online vintage auctions if you have no protection other than your own credit card.

You are protected with eBay through PayPal, and Amazon has its own protection for you. Both are excellent at offering you refunds if the product is not as described. Generally, however, you will find that the description of the collectible or piece of furniture on offer is sufficient to enable you to make up your own mind on its provenance, and if you are not sure, as stated earlier, email the seller and retain their response in case you need it later.

Final Advice

Make sure that you never bid above your predetermined price, because while auctions can result in you getting real bargains, they can also result in the opposite if a number of people want the same item and inflate the price. Also, if you are buying collectibles at online vintage auctions, make sure you check the delivery or postage cost.

There is no limit to what the seller can charge you for ‘postage and packing’ and that can come to more than the price of the item itself. I recently saw a canteen of cutlery in a wooden box selling on an online auction site for $1.99. A fabulous deal, but, as always, I checked the postage price: $65.

$66.99 was still a bargain for the cutlery, but not the $1.99 that many would expect to be paying – so keep clever and keep your eyes open – that way you will make the best use of online vintage auctions and get real bargains at low prices.

About the Author: Further details on buying collectibles at Online Vintage Auctions and steps to take make sure that you do not overspend are available on All” title=”http://allvintageauctions.com/tips-on-using-online-vintage-auctions\”>All” target=”_blank”>allvintageauctions.com/tips-on-using-online-vintage-auctions”>All Vintage Auctions that provides you not only with some great items to purchase, but also tips on avoiding pitfalls.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=628309&ca=Home+Management

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

7 Tips For Selling Expensive Collectibles On Ebay

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:26:24 +0000

By Sydney Johnston

Recently, a friend asked me to help her brother sell his collection on Lladro glass figurines on eBay. These are expensive glass collectibles and I knew nothing about them – but I don’t have to. The principles for selling expensive collectibles on eBay are the same, regardless of what is being sold.

Obviously, like any eBay auction, the seller must have a powerful listing with great pictures. This is always true regardless of what the merchandise is. Expensive collectibles offer splendid opportunities, but also need special precautions.

1. Price: decide the lowest amount you will accept for each figurine and set that price as a reserve. Then make your opening bid absurdly low – yes, absurdly.

Example: if you will accept $1,000 – make your opening bid $25. There is no risk in this, because you don’t have to sell unless the bidding reaches $1000, but the low price attracts buyers, (assuming there is demand, of course).

Looking at completed eBay auctions allows us to track prices, Again and again we learn that starting the price where the seller hopes it will end is not a wise tactic.

For instance, a seller wants to get $750 for his figurine. An opening bid of $750 won’t attract nearly as many buyers as an opening bid of $25 and – surprisingly – the lower bid almost always gets higher prices. There is some psychology at work with the cheap price. It may not make logical sense, but it’s the reality of life on eBay.

2. Devote space in your auction listing explaining how you will pack your item to ensure safe transit. This is critically important because in the back of every buyer’s mind is the dread of receiving a package that rattles. A collectibles buyer will inevitably be thinking of the hassle she will have to go through – and the possible loss of purchase price – if her item is broken. She needs to know that the seller has carefully considered this issue and has a solution.

3. For the protection of both of you, insist that the buyer pay for appropriate insurance. Don’t allow this to be an option. You definitely do not want the liability of a broken collectible that costs hundreds of dollars. In fact, if a customer objects to paying for insurance, this might possibly be a red flag. A genuine collector is very eager to add to her collection and wants her figurine to be protected.

4. We can safely assume that every Internet buyer has heard stories of fraud on eBay and elsewhere on the Net. Therefore, anything you can do to prove the authenticity of your collectible is well worth your time. Is there a marking on the bottom? Do you have the original box or other container? Does it have a label? Is there a certificate of authenticity or an appraisal by a respected organization? If the answer to any of these is “yes”, then be certain to emphasize your authenticity in your auction. Taking pictures of your proof is especially effective.

5. I don’t suggest offering a guarantee except in the most general way – that is, you, the seller, are telling the truth about the product. Anyone bidding on a collectible is knowledgeable and therefore they know what they’re buying so there should be no reason for a return. If someone expresses dissatisfaction and mails your merchandise back, there is every likelihood of it being broken. You do not want the hassle of trying to collect on broken merchandise or putting yourself into a litigious situation with someone who refuses to believe that the collectible was broken via return shipping.

Also, you don’t want to take a loss on your eBay fees, which might be substantial if the price is high.

6. With a really expensive item, always offer the option of an escrow service – at the buyer’s expense, of course. They may not take want this service, but make certain they have the option. You, of course, know that your merchandise is legitimate, but the buyer isn’t so certain. eBay recommends an escrow service that is available to all members.

7. If you’re willing to ship worldwide, you need to take special steps to protect yourself. In the US we have AVS (Address Verification System) which offers some protection. A very large portion of the fraud suffered by buyers occurs outside the United States and you are justified in protecting yourself. Losing the purchase price on a $5 item isn’t such a big deal – but a $1,000 collectible absolutely does matter.

Your bank can advise you on the time it will take to verify foreign funds. Be certain to let any prospective buyer know in your auction that there will be a delay if they are outside of your country. Do not let your merchandise out of your hands until you are sure!

If you follow these ‘rules’, the chances of selling your expensive collectibles at the highest possible prices will be greatly increased.

About the Author: Learn how to sell on eBay with 16 hours of online instruction taught by a 10 year eBay veteran. Own an eBay business instead of an eBay hobby. http://auction-genius-course.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=16934&ca=Internet

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

eBay Auction

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:56:35 +0000

By Danny Wirken

eBay – the World’s Online Marketplace – is the place to go when you want to buy or sell anything on the Internet. eBay lets its members sell items on the Internet via Auctions, which entails bidding, and through the Fixed Price Format, which means that there is a set price for items on sale. eBay Auction is the more popular selling method between the two.

Selling on eBay

When selling on eBay, whether it is through eBay auction or the fixed price format, a person has to first register to be a member and then create a seller’s account. Credit card details or being ID Verified is needed to create a seller account. The next requirement is a picture of the item to be sold. This is required since most buyers want to see what the item actually looks like before buying anything.

The next thing to do is to get your item listed by clicking on the Sell Your Item button. After clicking on the button, be sure to give all the necessary information such as the item category, the title, item description, and the price, payment method, shipping costs, return policy, and payment methods. For your item to have a greater chance of being viewed by more prospective buyers you can list the item under more than one relevant category. Another effective strategy would be to have a very specific title that would most probably typed by prospective buyers as their search string.

To keep track of all your listings simply go to My eBay since it keeps track of all the items you’ve sold and are currently selling along with all the bids made on them as well as all the items you have bid on and are currently bidding on. My eBay also has a summary page, a favorites page, and your accounts page. As soon as the item is sold eBay will notify both the buyer and seller through email. Make sure that you communicate well with your buyer and notify the buyer that the item is being shipped as soon as you receive the payment.

In case you plan to sell your item through eBay Auction there are three prices you need to set before putting up the item n sale. First is the Starting Price. The Starting Price is simply the price you want the bidding to start. It is also usually the lowest price you feel that you can accept as payment for your item. Next is the Reserve Price. In case your starting price is lower than the amount you are willing to accept as payment you need to set the Reserve Price. Having a reserve price means that if the bidding ends with the highest bid still lower than the reserve price then your item will remain unsold. This price is concealed from buyers.

Last is the Buy It Now Price. The Buy It Now Price is the amount a buyer has to pay to get the item you are selling without having to bid. Both the Reserve Price and Buy It Now Price are optional. The reserve price can be advantageous since it will protect you from having to sell your item at too low a price but can also be disadvantageous since it may discourage buyers from bidding. The Buy It Now Price, on the other hand, is advantageous for buyers who really want to buy the item you are selling since there is no risk that they will be outbid if they automatically buy the item. It is also advantageous for you as the seller since it can hasten the transaction since you don’t have to wait for the bidding period to end. However, it can also be disadvantageous if there is much demand for the item you are selling since having a Buy It Now price will limit the amount bid even if some buyers might actually be willing to bid beyond that set price.

eBay charges the following fees to seller. The Insertion Fee, Additional Option Fees, and Final Value Fee. The Insertion Fee is a non-refundable fee charged for each item listed on eBay Auction. Insertion Fee ranges from $0.30 to $4.80. Additional Option fees are charged if you opt for additional features like the Buy It Now and if you want your item to be a Featured Item. The Final Value fee is charged depending on the closing price your item manages to garner after a successful close at eBay Auction.

Bidding on eBay Auction

To bid on an item in eBay Auction, click on the item you wish to buy to get to the item page. You can then place a bid by simply clicking on the Place Bid Button found on the right side of the picture. In case there is no such button it means that the item can only be bought at the set price and isn’t up for auction. When you place a bid the only price you will see is the starting price since the amount bid by other people will not be visible to you. Enter the maximum amount you will be willing to pay for the item you wish to purchase the click on the Place Bid Button. eBay Auction will automatically compare your bid with others and won’t bid the maximum amount you entered. Instead it will bid only what is needed to outbid the last bid. eBay Auction will do this automatically until it reaches the maximum amount you entered or you win the bid. In case another buyer outbids you eBay Auction will send you a notification so that you can enter a larger amount or at least know that you’ve been outbid.

In case you are bidding on a Reserve Price Auction check whether the current price bid has met the reserve price. If your maximum amount has been reached but the reserve price still hasn’t been met then you know for sure that you need to increase your bid since the item won’t be sold until the reserve price is met.

If you are nervous about bidding on an expensive item keep in mind that eBay has measures to protect both sellers and buyers from fraud. If you are simply nervous since it is your first time try bidding on cheaper items first before going on to more expensive stuff. You can actually find items for less than $1.00 on eBay auction.

About the Author: http://www.theinternetone.net/Categories_Selling_on_eBay_10.html

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=61647&ca=Internet

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

You Won That Ebay Auction! Now What Do You Do?

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:53:29 +0000

By Kirsten Hawkins

It’s a heady feeling when you win your first eBay auction: a mixture of happiness and perhaps just a little fear. After all, there seems to be so much to do before you can actually get your item. What do you do next?

The simple answer is: you send payment to the seller, as quickly as possible. The quicker you pay, the more your seller will like you, and the sooner your item will arrive. But how you go about it? That all depends on how you plan to pay.

PayPal.

PayPal is one of the most popular options for paying on eBay, to the point where eBay decided to buy the company. It allows instant electronic payment across the Internet. Money goes instantly from your credit or debit card to the seller’s PayPal account, where they can either use it for Internet purchases or transfer it out to their bank.

eBay offer incentives for using PayPal, and almost all sellers now accept it. Its instant nature makes sellers very happy, and means that they can have your item packed and sent and leave you some positive feedback within a few hours of the auction ending. When paying by PayPal, you will be covered by PayPal’s own insurances and guarantees, as well as any that your card might have.

Cheques and Money Orders.

This is payment the old-fashioned way, and will lead to a long wait to your item. You need to post the cheque or money order, then the seller has to take it to the bank and get it cleared, and only then do they send the item. The only reason to use this method is if either you or the seller distrusts electronic payment methods. If you’re willing to go to the trouble with these sellers, though, you might get an item very cheaply, as most buyers just can’t be bothered.

When you pay by cheque or money order, make sure to print the eBay order confirmation page (it will be emailed to you) and put it in the envelope with your payment. Underline or circle key information like your mailing address and the item number. Finally, remember to be patient: keep in contact with the seller, as it really can take a month or two before everything falls into place and your item turns up.

Money Transfers and Bank Deposits.

Some sellers may ask you to pay them using a wire service like Western Union, or simply give you a bank account number and ask you to pay money into it. Unless you really trust the seller, this is generally a bad idea – these methods are hard to trace and you’re unlikely to get any money back if anything goes wrong. Paying in cash, it hardly needs to be said, is an even worse idea.

It’s all a lot to take in, isn’t it? I’m sure by now you’ve got a few questions, which is why the next email will be a little eBay buyer’s FAQ. Let’s hope we can solve any problems you might have.

About the Author: Kirsten Hawkins is an Ebay and internet auction enthusiast from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.auctionseller411.com/ for more great tips on how to make the most from Ebay and other online auctions.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=12326&ca=Internet

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Car Auction Online – Acunet:The Online Website For Putting Cars on Auction

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:43:52 +0000

By David S. Stratton

The Acunet represents an online website catering with the auction of different cars. The site is open to both car dealers and potential buyers but it is more oriented towards the car dealers. People who are members of the website can also have access to the database of cars. Because the car auctions are closed to other people than the ones mentioned above, people wanting to sell cars owners for a certain amount of money cannot enter their cars into the database of the Acunet because the website is not open to individual commercial exchanges and transactions. The membership can only be acquired by car dealers through an online application or simply by visiting the office of the Acunet, where the website is run from. Before receiving membership, you might need to be screened in order to meet your identity and only then will you be accepted in the database of the Acunet and become a full member of it.

The auctions that the Acunet organizes are somehow different than the traditional auctions in that

car dealers might be contacted by professional teams that will come to check the cars that will be displayed for sale and make sure they verify a series of standard requirements. Once the check up is done, then you will be allowed to enter your cars into the auction. The tests performed will also look for examples of body imperfections onto the car, test the engine to see if it is performing well and also look for other parts of the vehicles. The inspection is pretty comprehensive, as a result.

Another thing to mention about the acunet website is that it is different from the other car auction you have probably frequented. The seller is required to have the cars on the spot during a traditional car auction but with online auctions, there is no need for the seller to come with the cars. The buyers will have to make bids on the spot, from his office or from home and thus, the buyer will not lose that much time on the spot verifying the cars and looking at them. The auction will proceed from the bids that were put on by potential byers. The process can even go on for a number of four days which could begin on a Friday and end on a Monday. During other week days , the Acunet will be responsible for conduction other auctions, regarding bikes or other vehicles.

Provided that you are considering to sell the car on the acunet and you are not that successful during the first try, then the car will have to go under another series of inspection. This is to ensure the buyer gets the exact car that he or she is expecting and that he or she will pay good money for something that will last a number of years and prove to be cost worthy. Therefore, acunet is really into making the customers happy and not tricking people into bidding online their money for something that is not of a good quality. Therefore, the acunet can actually help you put your hands on good deals so that you won’t have to check the car yourself for potential faults of errors. The Acunet is a guarantee that the car you will purchase has been inspected for good quality and provided that you see a shortfall, you can always contact the Acunet people to help you out.

People living overseas also have the possibility to become part into Acunet auctions. This is possible because there are Acunet auctions inside New Zealand and also a lot of cars coming from Japan that are exported from Japan into New Zealand.

About the Author: Learn the different types of car auctions which are available in your area as well as tips and tricks in getting your dream car through international car auction when you visit http://www.howdoescarauctionwork.com, the professional guides.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=392198&ca=Automotive

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Internet Is Responsible For The Resurgence Of Sports Cards And Collectibles

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:37:40 +0000

By Adam McFarland

In recent years there have been discussions among collectors suggesting that the internet may actually be hurting the sports cards and collectibles hobby. They point to decreased card show attendance and the struggles of brick and mortar stores as evidence of the demise of the hobby. I am here to tell you that they are wrong. Not only was collecting not ruined by the internet, it was saved by it. That’s right, the internet saved sports collectibles. There is more money in the hobby now, consumers have more buying options, and it is easier to start a business than ever before. Those things are good for everyone involved.

The ‘Golden Age’ of Collecting

Within the last 15 years we have seen the sports cards and collectibles market fall from grace only to rise again to it’s current form. Most collectors and business owners over the age of 20 will point to the late 1980’s and early 1990’s as the best time to be a collector and the best time to be a dealer. Up until that point the sports card hobby had grown steadily from the 1970’s, when shops started popping up around the country, in to a $1.4 billion a year national pastime in 1992.

Card shows were packed with dealers selling top notch memorabilia, signature prices were still reasonable, no authentication was necessary because counterfeiting was minimal, and card shops were able to thrive with loyal customers who were begging to spend their excess cash in their stores week after week. And I don’t disagree with any of this – those truly were great times to be a collector. But factors out of collectors and dealers control would cause the ‘golden age’ of collecting to come to an end.

All Good Things Come to an End

As the US entered recession in the early 1990’s the hobby crashed. Couple economical problems with a hobby oversaturated with companies trying to capitalize on collectors by overproducing (and thus devaluing) their product, and we were left with a hobby on life support. Americans gravitated towards spending their money on other things and card sales plummeted to $400 million in 1999. Failure was inevitable and neither the collector nor the business owner could do anything about it.

The Rebirth of Collecting Online

Lucky for collectors, this little thing called the internet had grown from an information exchange for research, education, and government use into an economic juggernaut that pulled the country out of recession and into the age of eCommerce. Largely due to the advent of eBay, the hobby went virtual and hasn’t looked back since. In 2003, eBay alone sold $3 billion in cards – more than twice the sales of the entire industry at the peak of the ‘golden age’. In addition to eBay, other auction sites, trading forums, as well as fixed price web sites have sprouted up all over the internet. The amount of money in the hobby now is far greater than it ever has been.

Collecting is BETTER Because of the Internet

Not only did the internet save a dying hobby, it made it better. Consumers now have more choices. According to Beckett.com, 34% of collectors still buy in shops, 33.1 % from online auctions, 24.5% buy from online fixed price dealers, and the remaining through other methods. You can still go to a card shop or show (although their presence has been reduced), but the internet has enabled consumers to find what they are looking for easier and cheaper. The consumer is now able to become more educated in less time. In minutes they can compare prices from stores all across the world. They can join message board discussions and chat rooms with other collectors to exchange both information and memorabilia. The hobby can now reach everyone, not just those with a card shop or show nearby and some free time on a Saturday.

Counterfeiting a by Product of Success, Not the Internet

One potential downside to internet that a naysayer is quick to point out is the increase in counterfeit memorabilia. It has been estimated by the FBI that over half of all autographed memorabilia is forged. While this is bad for the hobby, it is not solely because of the internet, and it is not a problem faced solely by sports collectibles. Most other industries (music, movies, software, etc) that thrive on the internet are also subjected to counterfeiting. It is the nature of the beast. There will always be people looking to make money by cheating the system. As technology increases, it becomes easier and easier to create counterfeit memorabilia, as well as to counterfeit CD’s, DVD’s, and software. The best thing that we can do is educate our consumers and continue to develop measures against counterfeiting. Unfortunately, counterfeiting is a by product of the success the industry has had on the internet. The hobby was not brought to the internet by counterfeiters looking for an easier way to scam collectors, nor did the internet “cause” counterfeiting.

Where Would We be Without the Internet?

Back to those who would rather the internet never happened: where do you think the hobby would be today without the internet? It is illogical to think that it would have been able to boom without it. It likely would have continued to struggle. Instead it has flourished. To think that less information exchange, higher prices, and more difficulty finding items is good for the hobby is ludicrous. It seems that the only ones who are complaining are those who have failed to embrace the change. Those who have taken advantage of the many resources the web has to offer are certainly not complaining. The reality is that it the hobby is far bigger and better today than it ever was in the past.

Business is Good for Businesses Large and Small

From a business owner’s perspective, the market is better today than ever. There is significantly more money in the hobby today than there was in 1992 and it is much easier to start a business. All you really need to do is start posting auctions on eBay and you can grow from there – no store, no employees, not even a table at a show. Anyone can do it. The catch here is that it is drastically different than it was ten or fifteen years ago. And where there is change, there are always those who resist. Many who invested a great deal of time and money starting brick and mortar businesses during the ‘golden years’ only to see them collapse were not quick to embrace the internet. While I certainly feel bad for those who lost their business, I don’t correlate that to the internet being bad for the hobby. I can also point to all of those (myself included) who wouldn’t have even had a chance at entering the industry fifteen years ago, who now have had the possibility to live their passion because of what the internet has brought to the table.

Embrace the ‘New Golden Age’

Factors outside of our control caused the ‘golden age’ to end, but by adopting technology and using it to grow and expand the hobby we have introduced a new golden age – one that is better for both buyer and seller. Change in everything is inevitable. We should be embracing this new golden age of collecting as opposed to wishing it never happened.

About the Author: Adam McFarland owns SportsLizard.com – an online marketplace for buying and selling sports collectibles http://www.sportslizard.com.
Try our new search feature that enables you to search eBay, Amazon, and SportsLizard.com all at once to make sure that you get the best deal on what you are looking for!

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=18244&ca=Sports

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

There’s Nothing You Can’t Buy Online, Even Antique Grandfather Clocks

admin — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:12:21 +0000

By Andrei Myers

The Internet is a minefield of information and one that just
seems to keep growing every second. In this day and age, there’s
nothing you can’t find or do over the Internet. Through this
powerful medium, you can talk to people on the other side of the
world as if they’re right beside you. You can write letters that
will be received within seconds. You can pay bills, make new
friends and connect with old ones, listen to music, and watch
movies online. You can even do your shopping online.

Shop Until You Drop From Your Couch

Indeed, online shopping is one of the most popular functions of
the Internet. You can buy anything online, from groceries to
furniture, electronics to memorabilia, books to DVDs, clothes to
antique grandfather clocks. You name it, and there’s probably an
Internet website somewhere that has it.

It’s convenience at its very best. You no longer have to spend
hours, or even days, looking for those hard-to-find antique
grandfather clocks. You don’t have to travel hundreds and
thousands of miles to get rare, antique grandfather clocks from
obscure locations. A quick search on the Internet can take you
exactly where you want to go without having to leave the comfort
of your own home, and if all goes well, one of those antique
grandfather clocks you’ve been raving about will be delivered to
your doorstep.

Risk Worth Taking?

Of course, there are security concerns associated with shopping
online. After all, you don’t have the benefit of dealing with
people face to face and it could be very easy to fall for
smooth-talking, unscrupulous, and faceless individuals,
especially if you really want that hard-to-find painting or one
of those antique grandfather clocks. Indeed, think twice before
you hand over those bank details and credit card information.

Opt to purchase from reputable websites instead of dealing
directly with individuals. Most websites have secure payment
features, so you’ll know that your information is safeguarded
and your purchase is legitimate. When you’re looking for
hard-to-find items, such as antique grandfather clocks and
memorabilia, you might not have much of a choice but to deal
with individuals directly. In this case, it’s best to demand for
some sort of guarantee, so you’ll know that you’ll definitely
get what you’re paying for. If they really want your business,
they’ll be more than happy to oblige. Then and only then can you
be sure that you’re definitely getting those antique grandfather
clocks that you’ve been dying to purchase.

Indeed, the Internet and online shopping are conveniences that
are fast becoming part of everyone’s lives. Before you know it,
you’ll find that you can’t live without it. But then, who can
blame you? No longer will you have to deal with irate and
annoying salespeople, suffer blisters on your feet while you
painstakingly search for the item you need, and stand on long
queues. With a quick tap of your keyboard and a few mouse
clicks, you’re getting the best service. You’re getting exactly
what you want.

About the Author: Want to purchase antique grandfather clocks
(www.grandfatherclockmarket.com/Traditional-Grandfather-Clocks.html)
online? Visit grandfatherclockmarket.com for a wide
selection of grandfather clocks
(www.grandfatherclockmarket.com) and floor
clocks(www.grandfatherclockmarket.com/Q

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: www.isnare.com/?aid=185869&ca=Internet

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Online Auctions – How To Turn Online Auctions Into Successful Home Based Business

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:14:23 +0000

By Pradeep Aggarwal

Nowadays most people are aware of what Online Auctions are all
about. Most of us have, at some time or the other bought or sold
something on Online Auctions. But very few people know that
Online Auctions can be a very profitable home-based business. A
lot of people worldwide have made a lot of money with their
online auction sites.

To start a home-based Online Auction business is very easy.
Unlike other home-based businesses, it requires no investment.
All it requires is a few moments of your time to get started.
The advantages of starting a Home-Based Auction Online are –

üNo investment is required; hence there are no financial risks
like other businesses.
üThere are no fixed working hours. You can choose to work when
it is convenient to you.
üNo technical skills required.
üYou can get your Online Auction Business started in less than
10 minutes.

Wow! That sounds real easy doesn’t it? Well it is. No wonder
that people all over the world are making thousands of dollars
with their home based online Auctions.

Now lets get down to the details of how to get started with
your home-based Online Auction, first and most important, you
have to get an idea how Online Auction works. To get an idea you
can visit various online auction sites like –

www.ebay.com
www.auctions.yahoo.com
www.ubid.com
www.onsale.com
www.qxl.com

It’s easier to understand how auctions work if you have first
hand experience of buying an item on an online auction. You
become familiar with how to register with an auction site, how
to place your bids and how to make payments and receive delivery
of your goods.

What You Buy is Up To You

Even if you want some item very badly, do not buy it because it
is the last item of its kind available on the auction site. It
might be over priced. You can try to best to get what you want
at other online auction sites.

Late is Best

It is always best to leave your bid till the last few minutes
before the closing of an auction. This prevents the price from
being driven too high.

No Time? Then Automated bids are the Best

If you are hurried for time then automated bids are the best
way for you to place a bid online. You can use automated bidding
sites like eSnipe www.esnipe.com

You can open a free account on eSnipe. When you want to make a
bid all you have to do is type your bid amount. eSnipe
automatically places the bid for you before the closing of the
auction. You pay eSnipe a small amount if you win your bid,
otherwise you pay nothing.

Lookout for Wrongly Spelt Items

Many items on a home-based Online Auctions are wrongly spelt.
You can use this to your advantage, as there will be less people
searching for wrongly spelt items.

Buying and paying for an item online teaches you how things
work from a buyer’s point of view. This gives you a good idea
about what kinds of customer services you can offer buyers on
your own online auction site.

List Unwanted Items

Now lets get into how to start setting up your own home based
online auction. Look around your home. You’ll see many things
that you have no use for. You can also ask your friends for
unwanted items. Make a list of all these items on your site as
well as their photographs. There is nothing like a photograph to
instantly grab the attention of the buyers.

Description of Items On Sale

This is very important as it give your buyers a good idea of
want they will get. Make sure that you give all the technical
and detailed descriptions of items on sale.

Offer A Guaranteed Refund

To convince your buyers about your honest approach to business
and your integrity, offer to refund money if the goods sold by
you are less than satisfactory.

Feed Back Forms

Positive Feed Back forms are an absolute necessity to show your
prospective buyers that you have satisfied customers. And to
have satisfied customers your quality of service has to be very
good. Positive feedback reassures your prospective customers of
your integrity.

Set a Reserve Price

Always sell items on your home-based Online Auction site for
what it’s worth. Never ever sell it for less than its value. To
do this you need to set a reserve price, below which you will
not sell. Make sure that your reserve price is not too high, as
it will scare customers away.

Different Payment Modes

Make your site more customer friendly by offering a number of
payment options, like credit cards, Pay Pal (www.paypal.com)
etc. Make sure that all payments are secure.

Now that you have all the necessary details on how to start
your home-based online auction business think of catering to a
niche market. This will reduce the competition from other online
auction sites.

Remember that it is within you to earn thousands of dollars
with hardly any investment.

Good Luck

About the Author: Pradeep Aggarwal is the creator of the
Auction Spectrum. This site is dedicated to helping people start
and run a successful online auction business. Visit his site to
get a free report and articles on “Tips & Tricks on Online
Auction” www.auctionspectrum.com

Source: www.isnare.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Auctions And The Traffic Jam

admin — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:09:36 +0000

By Scott Lindsay

Online auctions have become an online flea market and they are
huge. Cars are available at auction online as well as jewelry,
antiques and virtually every other commodity you can think of
(including famous letters and artifacts). You can even bid on
farm machinery in an online auction environment.

I’ve likened online auctions to a global garage sale and I
still think that’s a pretty good picture of what it’s like. You
simply use cyber cash instead of spare change and you wait for
the delivery guy to show up with your treasures.

In a brick and mortar retail store you may have secondary shops
where you can send overstock items or discontinued merchandise.
In online retail you actually have a unique advantage over your
brick and mortar counterpart. Why? Online retailers have a
function called ‘online auctions’. The vested interest for
online auction sources like ebay is that they have built in fees
that help make their business profitable.

You may ask why this is a benefit for online retail. To answer
that question let’s take a look at the brick and mortar
business. The owner sells overstock product at a sizeable
discount to a secondary supplier. There is NO marketing
potential in selling extra product at a discount to someone who
will not provide you with the ability to increase traffic to
your own store. However, this is what most brick and mortar
stores do to manage their overstock or discontinued merchandise.
Interestingly even brick and mortar stores are discovering the
value of online auctions as a marketing tool for their business.

Now to the online business opportunities – If you have
overstock merchandise you can use online auctions to sell it.
You simply set your minimum threshold for an acceptable bid and
wait for bargain conscious consumers to arrive. The reason this
method is different is that as a seller you can set your profile
to include information about your online store and can even
provide some sense of link to your online business.

So, to boil this down as simply as possible – brick and mortar
stores give up marketing potential when they sell to overstock
companies while their online counterparts look to online
auctions to not only sell their excess merchandise, but also
drive traffic back to their online store with the potential for
additional purchases.

Online auctions provide a perfect opportunity to appeal to
price conscious consumers and let them know that you care about
keeping prices down for everyone.

The truth is you can sell some of your merchandise through an
online auction even if it’s not an overstock item and the
reasons have everything to do with marketing your business. You
don’t even have to spend lots of time and money on auctioning a
few items. Some businesses consider it a part of the cost of
doing business because those few items can assist in getting
non-traditional buyers to your online portal.

Auctions are a potential goldmine for savvy online business
owners. Have you given it a try yet?

About the Author: Scott Lindsay is a web developer and
entrepreneur. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes with
HighPowerSites at: www.highpowersites.com or
BuildAGreatSite at: www.buildagreatsite.com. Start your
own ebook business with BooksWealth at:
www.bookswealth.com

Source: www.isnare.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.