| At first glance, selling and buying items online would | | | | to interested buyers, make sure that you get your |
| appear to be as easy as sending an email or | | | | terms and conditions of sale with clarity to avoid |
| downloading a song after a few clicks of the mouse. | | | | misunderstanding. Make yourself available for queries |
| But with the rate at which several online auction and | | | | online via Skype, YM, AIM, or YM because people will |
| shopping websites pop up and disappear, and the | | | | always transact with people who have good |
| growing number of bidding frauds done online, one | | | | communication lines. After-sales does not mean the |
| can say that online auctions are getting to be risky | | | | end of a sale transaction because a sale is perfected |
| undertakings. | | | | by delivery of the item to the buyer or winning |
| The popularity of auction and shopping sites trivialized | | | | bidder. Follow a closed sale and shipping of items with |
| the issue of security against fraudulent transactions. | | | | an email or phone call, or make yourself available for |
| As online companies such as eBay continue to pile up | | | | follow-up inquiries. |
| on customer complaints of varying degrees, online | | | | Tips For The Buyer/Bidder |
| sellers, buyers or bidders should enter into online | | | | An online buyer/bidder has more reasons to exercise |
| transactions with a discerning eye, and armed with at | | | | more caution and proceed with any online sale with |
| least the basics of online auctions. | | | | greater prudence. The rising number of fraudulent |
| Essentially, there are two parties to an auction. One | | | | activities in many online businesses is enough reason |
| is the seller, and the other one is the bidder. They | | | | to be more vigilant and take extra care before we |
| come to an agreement as to the purchase of the | | | | part with our cash or pay with credit or debit card. |
| item involved by one party from another. For the | | | | Always be on the safe side by always checking on |
| seller, the main motivation is the amount of the | | | | the seller's reputation or feedback, which are usually |
| maximum winning bid. On the other hand, the bidder's | | | | provided by online auction sites. While one cannot be |
| motivation is the item subject of the auction. While it | | | | sure if your bid price is the right price, at least have |
| involves different transactions, both are exposed to | | | | an idea on how much is the going rate for the item |
| the risks attendant to online transactions. | | | | that you're bidding for. You can do this by checking |
| Tips For The Seller/Auctioneer | | | | out final winning bids for similar items in other auction |
| A good auction site must have good traffic, because | | | | sites. Do not hesitate to call or email the seller if you |
| the wider the user base, the greater chances for the | | | | have queries. Make sure that the seller is giving |
| item to be sold. One must also look out for the | | | | sufficient information about the item being auctioned. |
| clear-cut privacy and disputes policies and procedure | | | | One indication that the seller is hiding something is |
| in case of a botched transaction. Fees and | | | | when the information is given in deceptive or |
| commissions must be laid down in black and white, | | | | confusing language or in very small prints. Last but |
| and it must offer a reliable payment method such as | | | | not the least; do not just cast aside your second |
| escrow or Paypal. Be professional. From writing a | | | | thoughts. If you sense something dubious, don't |
| background about your item to doing the sales pitch | | | | waste another second on it. |