Since we were reviewing online auctions we thought we would see if there was an actual onlineauction.com, and there was. Star Reviews had to check out Online Auction, which we haven’t heard about, but decided to look at anyway. Their website interface didn’t leave us awe-struck, as it was littered with tiny text links that hurt our eyes, but keep reading for our whole experience.
What’s New?
- O-Mail – an e-mail system that can be used by buyers and sellers to exchange messages
- Member to member help via chat room
Star Reviews Favorite Feature:
Five different auction formats-Dutch, Absolute, and Penny Over. By giving sellers more choices, Online Auction makes it easier for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell products.
Online Auction Features:
- A feedback system for rating buyers and sellers
- Auction manager-keep track of all things auction-related
- Auction News
- eStores
Navigating the Online Auction website:
We were a little put off when we first landed on the Online Auction website. Vibrant colors aside, it looked a bit elementary and we didn’t love the huge number of links. From the main web page, you can do a search using the box in the upper right hand corner of the screen, searching by keyword or auction. You can also browse through dozens of categories as well.
Your search results will be listed initially by the soonest ending auction, but you can change the order of your results based on price, auction format, and more. When you see a product you’re interested in, click on it and you’ll find information about the auction, including seller feedback, product description, and current number of bids. One thing our team did appreciate was the clearly displayed ‘Contact,’ ‘Sell,’ and ‘Register’ tabs among other resourceful links.
Buying on Online Auction:
If you want to place a bid, click on the blinking “Bid” icon. Make sure you’re registered first so you don’t waste any time trying to snag that deal. Depending on which auction type you partake in, there will be different requirements and rules. If you have any questions, there is a useful ‘Auction Formats Explained’ guide. When the bidding ends, you’ll be notified through your O-Mail if you are the winner or if you’ve been outbid.
Selling on Online Auction:
Once registered and signed into Online Auction, you are welcome to sell some things you’ve been meaning to get rid of! Remember that every auction format is different, so it’s important to read the rules and regulations depending on which format you’re selling through. You will be asked to complete a self-explanatory ‘List Your Auction’ form and include criteria such as item description, starting bid price, product image and other common listing requirements. Then, your product will be up in no time!
Selection:
On the home page, Online Auction boasts that more than 7 million items are available for bidding on their site. However, comparing their search results and eBay’s suggests their selection is considerably smaller than their boasted figure. In a search for diamond rings, only 38 auctions appeared as opposed to the 40,000 some results on eBay. Likewise, a search for the Wii video game console turned up more than 14,000 results on eBay, but only seven on Online Auction. Additionally, many of the online auctions we opened didn’t have any bids placed, so we thought we’d note that for those of you interested in selling. However, there are a good amount of categories, so you should find what you need if you really dig around.
Buyer Protection:
Online Auction does not provide any type of buyer protection. The site does offer tips on how to avoid fraud and where to report illegal activity, but that is about it in terms of buyer protection.
Pricing:
Buyers can bid on projects of up to $1,000 without having to pay any fees to Online Auction. Buyers who want unlimited bidding options must pay $4 per month.
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Basic plan - $8 per month (the equivalent of $96 per year)
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Charter member - $96 per year – you receive free upgrades and an instructional CD.
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Founding member - $196 first year and $96 each additional year – you receive more how-to software and can start recruiting affiliates.
Sellers don’t have to pay any insertion or final closing fees with any of these packages.
Customer Support:
Online Auction provides support through a “Help” section on their site, through email, and through a toll-free phone number. We liked how up front this information was. The “Help” section includes dozens of FAQ’s, which would be useful to new users, but they do not address common questions buyers and sellers may have. However, both the phone and email support were quite good. When we called, our call was answered by a very friendly and eager representative who answered our question knowledgeably. Likewise, our email was answered within 24 hours in a friendly and detailed manner. We really appreciated Online Auction’s customer support options, as many of their competitors could learn a thing or two from them.
Upside:
Customer service by phone and email were efficient. Site is easy to use.
Downside:
Monthly fees even for bidding on auctions. Limited selection. No buyer protection. Seller fees are high for what you receive.
Summary:
Don’t expect the world at Online Auction. They offer a good amount of listings in various categories, but at times their auctions were a bit sparse. For those who enjoy frequent selling, you may want to consider if you’ll actually sell what you list. We really liked some of Online Auction’s features, like their O-mail system, which makes your auction correspondences fairly easy to keep track of. We also loved the different auction formats you can buy and sell in, as this is unique in this industry. We would have liked to see some form of Buyer Protection, but do understand that the feedback system was coined by eBay and is still a reputable means of avoiding fraud. Customer support is commendable here, which really made us appreciate Online Auction all the more. We recommend this site if you’re interested in online auctions.