Auction sales are useful for all types of goods, but there is a need for caution, because you will not have sight of the item itself. This need not become a difficulty if you are purchasing something like bedding or dog’s food, but it can be vital if you are buying collectibles where condition is of prime importance.

For instance, the condition of stamps and coins governs the object’s value within the limits of the year’s or issue’s minimum and maximum catalogue values. However, you only see a picture and it could be of another coin or stamp – what you receive in the post might be a different kettle of fish.

In this piece we will look at the most serious pros and cons of auction sales. First, the advantages:

Auction sales can be traced from the opening auction bid to the end and you can choose how much you are willing to pay over a fairly long period of time – days or weeks rather than minutes at an off line auction. You still have details at hand like minimum sale price. This gives you plenty of time to weigh up other sales options.

There is a chance that you can buy objects at well under market value. For instance, many objects do not have a reserve price, so if the device is not in demand among many people, you may buy it really cheaply. Also, if the minimum cost is not met, it is worth getting in touch with the seller and offering a little more for a private sale.

If you go through a trustworthy on line auction site, you will be covered against fraud. If the device you receive is below par for the description of it on the web site, you have a very good chance of receiving your money back either from the vendor, the auction site or your credit card company – three layers of protection.

However, there are disadvantages as well. These are the ones that most people think are the most serious:

You are purchasing sight-unseen, so there is a greater chance of fraud, but as we said above, the auction site and your credit card firm do have a level of liability, so please check what that is before you go bidding (or even shopping) on line.

Check the postage and packing charges. This is a favourite way of bumping up the minimum charge for something. For instance, a set of batteries might not have a reserve and you may be happy to purchase them for a dollar, but if the postage is ten dollars, you have been caught.

Another favourite scam is selling imitations. You might think that you are bidding for genuine Gucci sunglasses, but for sure the chances are that they will be cheap Chinese copies worth a tenth of what you paid. Would you really know the difference? Honestly?

You can find a bargain on an auction website, but keep in mind that there are a great deal of hungry individuals out there who are prepared to lie to earn a few dollars and that does not even include the professional cheats and thieves.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with sales force automation software. If you would to know more, please visit our web site at Sales Force Tools

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