Know-How of Online Auction Bidding

You will be required to register before you can "window-shop" the merchandise, so use a valid, working e-mail address. Items are categorized (for example, antiques, computers, household, motoring) for easy searching.Most items come with a set reserve price, so place your bid accordingly. The current highest bidding price is also listed, so you can see what you're up against.

You may be required to place a deposit before you make any bids. This deposit should be refundable if your bid is unsuccessful.Once bidding closes and yours is the successful bid, both you and the seller will be contacted by the auction site via e-mail. If two of you bid the same price, whoever posted the bidding first wins the sale.

Each site has a different policy with regards to the buying and selling of items.Some mediate between buyer and seller, receiving the payment and distributing the goods at the buyer's expense.Others work on a good-faith basis:the seller must trust the buyer to pay up before receiving the goods. This option is cheaper but more risky for both parties.

Some sites give the buyer a window period (for example, 7days) within which to query a purchase if they're not fully satisfied, after which time the money is paid to the seller.In terms of online peace of mind and security, sites that insist on this policy are generally said to be more reliable.

Remember that you can't physically see what you're bidding for, which increases the risk of disappointment.Generally,bid on items with a picture and full description- what you see is what you get. But if you make a successful bid and then don't pay within a specified time frame, you may be blacklisted.

The item will be re-advertised for bidding and the bidders who lost out the first time will be e-mailed to let them know the item is up for auction again.

Online auction bidding sites have pulled out all the stops to make the experience as user-friendly as possible.Features include a list of "hot items" (ones that attract the most bids); items for which bidding closes soon; and so-called "snap items", which need to be sold urgently and have no reserve price - these are probably the best bargains.

Another useful feature is automatic bidding, whereby the system will try to automatically win the auction for you according to a set of specifications you determine.This feature allows you to set a maximum bidding price as well as the increment amount. Auction sites also feature lists of new and sold items. The latter is particularly useful if you are a first-time seller and want to see what the going rate for your item is.

1.Read the fine print carefully
2.Look for hidden catches
3.Check the payment, refund and collection policies carefully before buying
4.International sites have a much larger selection of goods
5.Items listed in foreign currency and shipping costs will be more expensive

1.Allegro - http://www.allegro.pl/
2.Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/
3.Apex auctions - http://www.apexauctions.com/auction/home.htm
4.Bidorbuy - http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/
5.Bidtopia - http://www.bidtopia.com/
6.DoveBid - http://www.go-dove.com/
7.e3buy - http://www.e3buy.com/cgi-bin/marketplace
8.eBay - http://www.ebay.com/
9.eBid - http://www.ebid.net/
10.EnergyBook - http://www.wxtrade.com/
11.GunBroker - http://gunbroker.com/
12.Heritage Auction Galleries - http://www.ha.com/c/index.zx
13.iCollector - http://www.icollector.com/
14.Lixtor - http://www.lixtor.co.nz/
15.MercadoLibre.com - http://mercadolibre.com/
16.Overstock - http://www.overstock.com/
17.Oztion - http://www.oztion.com.au/
18.SalvageSale, Inc. - http://www.salvagesale.com/
19.Swoopo - http://www.swoopo.co.uk/
20.TradeMe - http://www.trademe.co.nz/
21.QXL - http://www.qxl.no/
22.uBid - http://www.ubid.com/