Why Are Small Auction Sites Better Than eBay For Small Sellers

Are you a seller who wants to sell products on online auction websites? Do you want to take on your big competitors using the e-business model? Internet is a great leveler of big and small businesses. Shopping online for products ranging from apparels to costly electronic items is a part and parcel of life. For bargain hunting buyers Internet is the best places to shop and online auction websites is a heaven as it offers them the best deals. Sellers also can cater to worldwide audience who are accustomed to shopping online.

For many years sites like eBay has epitomized online auction. Millions of buyers and sellers have struck deals on eBay but its humongous growth has meant that it is no longer friendly for the small sellers. The fees that eBay charges on product sale isn’t encouraging for the small sellers anymore. They are hardly left with any profit after paying all the necessary charges. To add to their woes multiple items multiply the changes for the sellers. Don’t believe us? Look at the fees eBay charges http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/fees.html. Some of the charges on eBay include galley upgrade fees, eBay store fees, picture pack fee, Paypal fees and final value fees!

Can you make profit as a small seller here in this online auction ocean? Does it mean the end of the road for small sellers who want to use these online auction finders to sell their products? Certainly not as there many eBay alternatives which do not charge as much as eBay and give you very targeted customers. They not only bring eyeballs to your products but also convert those eyeballs to actual sales. Here are a few reasons why small online auction sites are better for the small sellers than eBay:

•    Smaller online auction websites charge you lesser fees as compared to eBay. These eBay alternatives translate into more profit for you. There are sites which don’t charge you in listing products but charge you only on sale.
•    These auction finders attract very niche and targeted viewership which helps in increasing your sales unlike eBay which attracts huge volume of viewer many of whom are not potential buyers.
•    As a small time seller your competition on eBay is whopping and it is very much likely that you might not figure high on the list of searched items which might not help you in selling your product.
•    There are many niche online auction sites which may cater to your area of interest. These websites are much better than listing your products in large websites.
•    The bidding cycle in these smaller online auction sites is much lesser compared to eBay and this is beneficial in case of sellers who want to sell their products immediately.
•    Many of these smaller websites are localized in nature which helps both bargain hunting buyers and sellers sell the product.

All these things prove that eBay is no longer an ideal online auction site for the small sellers and it is wise for you as a seller to choose some eBay alternative which will help you not only in saving a lot on your service fee but also increase the chances of your sale. So if you are a small seller its best for you to use these smaller online auction sites for your business.

Tips on How to Buy Toys from Online Auction Sites

There is nothing more precious to your child than a toy. As a caring parent you might always be looking to make your child happy gifting toys which is not only a thing for amusement but also serves as an instrument of learning for him or her. Online auction sites are an ideal way for you to purchase toys for your child. You can purchase these toys sitting at the comfort of your homes.

Shopping online for toys has changed with the entry of players like eBay. There are however a lot of eBay alternatives that cater to niche category of toys and some traditional toys. You can get a wide variety of toys to suit your budget and get the exact kind of toy for your child. Here are a few tips you need to keep in mind while shopping for toys on online auction sites:

Toys are a fun and important part of any child's development.

•    Search for the smaller auction sites as well as the large well established online auctions to find the best deal.  Larger auction sites tend to be better for selling.  Smaller auction sites tend to be better for bargain hunting because there is less buying competition.
•    If you are a bargain hunting customer shopping online is the best to compare the prices between different sources. This will ensure that you get the best deals when it comes to online shopping.
•    Gender of the child is also another consideration that you should keep in mind while buying toys for your child. There are some toys which are specific to the gender of the child.
•    The age group that the toy is meant for is generally mentioned on the product description. You need go through the product description and make sure that you buy the right toys for your child.
•    Safety of the child is of primary concern so make sure that the toys you are shopping online are free of hazardous materials like lead. Good online auction display such safety certificates on their portal.

So Hurry!!

•    Discount coupons are one of the biggest attractions for online auction sites. Make sure that you get the maximum discounts on your purchase.
•    Shipping Charges: Many a times the shipping charge can be more than that of your product and deny you the benefits of shopping online.
•    Validating the product you have zeroed in to purchase is good. Call up the number listed on the website and confirm its availability. This will also help you to judge the authenticity of the website.
•    Try purchasing toys during the off season as you get great discount offer then. Toys are usually priced steep during certain period in a year and it is wise to avoid those seasons.

There is no better feeling for a parent then to see a smile on the face of a child. Your child deserves the best when it comes to toys and online shopping sites will let you buy a wide range of toys for him or her. Follow the above mentioned tips and you will have a brilliant time shopping online for toys. You will also save a lot of time which you will be able to spend with your family.

Pros and Cons of Using Online Auction Sites While Shopping For Clothes

Gone are those days when shopping for clothes would mean going to your nearest mall or picking up some exotic clothing during your holidays. Online auction sites offer people the choice and convenience of shopping from the comfort of their homes. Big auction sites like eBay have revolutionized the concept of shopping in the last decade but there are a lot of eBay alternatives too which offer great deals to the bargain hunting buyer.

However like all good things shopping online for clothing have their criticism as well as advantages. Let us look at some of the pros and cons that online auction sites have while shopping for clothes:

Buy the latest men's, women's & kids clothes online!!

PROS :
•    You can shop for your clothes 24×7. If you want to buy an expensive gown at 3 am in the morning it is possible.
•    Online auction sites give you a wide variety to choose from. You can browse through multiple sites within a few clicks.
•    Comparison between clothes is simplified in online shopping portals. You can compare by material, size, price etc. within few seconds.
•    For bargain hunting buyers there is nothing better than online auction sites. Discount coupons are more readily available online.
•    You do not need to stand in a queue which shopping online for your favorite clothing item. You will be treated as the sole customer in an online auction site!
•    If you are one of those who love their privacy there can be nothing better than an online auction site. You shop on your own terms are and not influenced by others.

Online auction offers a great opportunity to shop just staying in your favorite arm-chair!

•    For all those who love to collect exotic clothing items from different countries, shopping online is the best option. You have access to clothing items from all over the world on your fingertips.
•    Online auction sites are the best option to buy clothes which you want to gift someone.
•    Since the money is never handled directly by the online merchant but always by a credit card company or PayPal the chances of barratry is very low.  Credit card companies want their customers to be satisfied and will often go through great lengths to ensure that the customers are satisfied with the merchants products and services. Not happy with the purchase? Notify your credit card company and they will issue you a refund and then they will deal with the merchant. Its practically worry free shopping!

CONS :
•    You cannot touch and feel the clothes that you are buying on online auction sites. This is the biggest disadvantage.
•    Your next door store will be able to give you perfectly fitting clothes. Shopping online takes away this advantage from you.
•    You do not have the liberty to make payments in cash and check. You need to have a credit card or other modes of electronic money transfer.

We see that shopping online for clothes through online auction sites have their pros and cons but the pros clearly outnumber the cons.

Finding Rare Books And Magazines Through Online Auction Sites

Books and magazine readers often face the problem of finding rare books and magazines in market. Many readers around the world do not hesitate in paying huge sum of money if they get access to rare copies of books and magazines. Online auction sites are an ideal platform for you to buy these rare books and magazines. Sites like eBay and Amazon has catered to these needs for a long time. There are also a lot of eBay alternatives available in the market which also serve this purpose.

Online auction sites give you access to rarest of rare books and magazine which is not possible in physical auction events. You will have access to books and magazines from around the world cutting across languages and cultures. It also relieves you from the ordeal of trawling through dusty antique shops. Above all, auction sites let you have the comfort of purchasing these books being in the comfort of your room. It also give the sellers an opportunity to make a good deal selling rare pieces of history.

Finding these rare books and magazines online, is as easy as browsing for any information online. There are many websites dedicated in this business while other books and magazine auction sites do also have a decent collection of rare books and magazines.

All that you will need to know, is the name of the book or magazine or the name of the author. In case of magazines, a fair idea on the issue date or the volume number can ease your job. You can search these in a search engine with words such as ‘auction’ and ‘online sale’ attached to it. You will retrieve the links of the auction sites by doing so. In case you know of good auction sites that feature rare books and magazines you can directly visit them.

Once you have located the magazine or book in the auction site that you wish to buy, all you need to do is to bid for it. Check for the condition of the book or magazine in the first place as rare books are often in poor state. Rare books and magazines usually come at a price so be prepared to spend a few extra bucks. You should always keep in mind that unlike most other products and services a rare book or a magazine may not be up for grabs everyday.

So if you are a lover or collector of rare books and magazines, online auction sites can serve as the best platform for you to add these precious gems to your collection.

Buying Softwares And Computers At Low Prices From Online Auction Sites

Are you a technology freak who regularly buys gadgets and softwares? If you belong to this tribe then the online auction sites may have great offers for you. The advent of information technology age has meant that there is a huge market for computers, softwares and accessories. Many a times people cannot access the latest gadgets and softwares due to the lack of dealership in their geographical proximity. Online auction sites are the best platform for such customers to purchase computers and softwares.

Marker leaders like eBay and eBid have catered to the need of the people in this regard over many years. Although eBay continues to lead the market, it is no longer good for the small time buyers. There are a lot of eBay alternatives available in the market which are serving to the needs of the niche audience by catering to a certain geography or listing only computer products and softwares. Such auction sites many a times prove to be better than the giants like eBay.

For the bargain hunting buyers, auction sites serve as the best place to shop for electronic devices. This is due to the immense competition that exists in the virtual market where sellers have to offer discounts to be in competition. Since these sites are not limited by geographies, the sellers have to compete not only with domestic competitors but with the intentional ones too. This serves great for you as a buyer as you can buy these products  at far cheaper rates than the retail market.

Sellers have to house staff while selling in the retail outlets which is not necessary with the auction sites and this helps them in offering huge discounts.  You as a buyer, also get scope to do a lot of research before purchasing the product. You also get the opportunity to choose between products of different make which meet your demand. No retailer will be able to offer you the kind of variety that an auction site has. Good auction sites also let you compare between different products which makes your purchase easy.

Online auction sites also serve as a great place to purchase old computer accessories and softwares which are no longer in production. You might be searching for a small accessory or spare part which has rendered your computer unworkable. A retail cannot cater to you in such needs and may force you to purchase a completely new system. In such cases online auction sites serve ideal, not just in saving your money but also having a continuity with your computer.