eBay options

The auction business is so “hot” that there are auction sites all over the Net. If
you want to find them for yourself, there are three methods…
The most obvious way is go to a few of the major Search Engines and type
in “auction sites” and you will find listings that will keep you busy for hours,days and weeks.

The truth of the matter is that most of these auction sites are absolutely
worthless, if your only objective is to make money. However, they can be
wonderful for increasing your auction knowledge, doing comparison shopping
and/or providing entertainment.
Many people are lured by the huge profits of eBay and other big sites and they
believe, sadly, that all they have to do is set up an auction and wait for the
millions to roll in. If you want to maximize your returns, you have to choose
your sites carefully.
There are problems with the huge sites, including eBay. It has far and away
the largest amount of merchandise and the most action. But as a veteran, I can
state that undeniably it is tougher to sell on eBay than it used to be, simply
because of eBay’s growing size.
Buying and selling items on online auctions should be fun, easy and safe. Online auction sites should be easy to navigate, provide a wide selection of categories and subcategories, several custom selling options and a straightforward feedback forum.

Additionally, detail pages should disclose all information about the item and the auction including pictures, descriptions, bid history and information about the seller.


The following are the criteria TopTenReviews used to evaluate online auction sites:
-User Base – While more sellers does increase competition, it also means more potential bidders, better bargains, and more options. For online auctions, bigger is better. The User Base score is determined by how many members the service has and how many items are up for auction on average.
-Fees – Sellers want to make the most of their auction listings without paying extra fees. Some online auction services charge registration fees, listing fees, and/or final value fees. The ideal for sellers is to pay no listing fees, but sometimes a few extra dollars in fees goes a long way in selling potential.
-Selling – Sellers should have a large amount of control over their items. They should have the opportunity to block bidders, choose their own listing and category and disclose all information about the item in the details page. The auction site should also provide tools to assist in listing and selling products as well as managing personal product inventory. This may include features like editing images, adding item descriptions and canceling bids.
-Buying – Finding what you're looking for should be fun and easy. Online auction sites should provide resources and tools to help users find and bid with confidence. The auction site should also provide helpful information about the products and help the bidders feel safe. Some sites provide mobile features and other customizable options to further advance browsing, bidding, and buying.
-Reliability/Security – Helping buyers and sellers feel safe is important for online auction services. Sellers should have control over their auctions and bidders should have assurance that they're buying from a reputable source. Most online auction sites utilize a feedback system where sellers and buyers can rate each other based on transaction experiences. Checking out a user's feedback helps potential bidders and sellers evaluate other members' reputation and credibility.
-Help/Support – Auction services should provide receptive and comprehensive customer support through several methods including email, live chat, telephone and FAQs.