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Monday, July 14th
Atomic Mall has been a player in the online auction arena since 2008. The company is an interesting case of a platform that leaves much to be desired when it comes to its visual appeal and user interface.
Unimpressive first impression
The first impression is worrisome: the website's design isn't just outdated, it's ancient. The main pages feature an assortment of random items which are mostly just old magazines or music records. If you're looking for a site that makes you feel like it has modern security and features, Atomic Mall is one of the most disappointing auction options on our list. Especially given that this is a "newer” site that started in 2008, the complete lack of effort in the design department is shocking.
Broken links make browsing unreliable
Registering with Atomic Mall is a relatively quick and straightforward process. You can shop as a guest, but if you want to buy anything you will need to make an account. The site asks for your name, address, email, login ID, and phone number, and requires you to select an avatar image to represent yourself. Despite easy sign-up, the site is not without its quirks. As you navigate, you may stumble upon broken links when you're hoping to buy a specific item. Although such instances are not the norm, they underscore the lack of updates and general lack of reliability on the website.
Random fonts and highlights make it difficult to read
Now, for the process of buying (and selling), you can expect it to be fairly straightforward. Once you identify an item that piques your interest, Atomic Mall allows you to make an offer or purchase the item outright at the listed price. However, due to the fact that users make the listings themselves, there is little to no standardization with the listings. This means item descriptions feature varying font sizes, random highlighted words, and an abundance of information, sometimes leaving you feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of details presented in walls of text.
Keep track of your favorites
On the flip side, Atomic Mall does offer some benefits. First, you can add items to a watchlist as a shopper in case you want to keep browsing while keeping track of your favorites. Second, if you're a seller, Atomic Mall promises to release your earnings immediately, with no waiting period, which is a benefit compared to other auction sites.
Easy to find what you're looking for
Atomic Mall opens the door to a wide range of product categories, encompassing virtually anything and everything you might seek. Their primary categories include:
If you have a specific item in mind, the search bar is your trusty ally, allowing you to quickly locate your desired product. To simplify your shopping experience, you can sort the results by price, shipping options, and items under $20, or peruse the latest listings.
Compare with other site
In order to get a solid comparison between different stores we checked out three search items that are commonly found on auction websites. Remember, these are results at the time of this review and the inventory at auction sites changes out all the time. We checked out a standard accessory (watches), a "rare” item (anything with an autograph on it), and a tech item (an iPad) to see how each company stacks up across their offerings. At Atomic Mall, here were the total results available for each category:
While Atomic Mall does well with generic items and accessories, it's not particularly competitive with tech or rare items with autographs.
Doesn't have a "specialty”
It's kind of hard to tell if Atomic Mall has a specialty. It appears to be a catch-all site without any particular focus. This can be good if you want a one-stop shop, but it is also a drawback due to some of the limited inventory at Automic Mall. While you can find "everything”, you may not be able to find specific items or specialty items in this company's listings.
No concrete return policy
Atomic Mall doesn't offer a useful return policy, which may be frustrating for customers. According to the site's FAQ, you have to try and solve the problem with the seller directly. If you're unable to resolve the issue together, your next step is to reach out to Atomic Mall through the Contact page. Here, you can submit an official Member complaint form, which will then be shared with the seller along with guidance and choices for resolution. However, Atomic Mall doesn't offer any promise of resolution or getting your money back in these cases.
Some customers like it...
Surprisingly, Atomic Mall enjoys a rather favorable reputation. The company proudly holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, and users at Sitejabber have offered the company a solid 4.1-star rating. However, at other review sites, the reputation is mixed at best. For example, Trustpilot reviewers only gave Atomic Mall a 2-star average. The customers who left high-rated reviews said that they felt like this was a good platform for sellers specifically. Many customers stated that they sold more items here than at competitors.
...but we found many who didn't
On the other hand, customers who didn't like Atomic Mall were primarily buyers who didn't receive their items or were charged extra for items they purchased. There are a significant number of reviews calling the site "dishonest”, which is a little concerning. Considering that there were only just over 30 reviews across different platforms, one thing is clear: the site isn't nearly as popular as other auction sites, so that might tell you something about its reliability.
Might be smart to skip this particular mall
While Atomic Mall seems to have won over some customers, it's undeniable that this platform may not be the preferred shopping destination for the majority of auction-lovers, especially when it competes with top-rated online auction sites. If you have a specific product in mind and are determined to find it, it may be worth a quick visit to Atomic Mall's one-stop shop auction listings. However, it's not a place you'd want to linger for casual browsing, or for specialty items like tech or autographed finds. In the grand landscape of online auction sites, your best course of action may be to start your journey with a platform that offers more items, more customer protection for returns, and better ratings across the board.
If you're on the hunt for used items or rare finds, online auctions can be the best place to look. Just a quick search will reveal tons of online auction websites designed to help you sell or buy a wide array of goods. These digital marketplaces serve as the perfect arena for individuals to trade everything from household products and furniture to antiques, electronics, collectibles, cars, and clothing.
Online auctions offer a distinct advantage by granting you access to unique products that might otherwise be hard to find at traditional stores. Whether you're looking for rare collectibles or a very specific item that's not on the market anymore, online auctions are the best place to go. With the potential to score incredible deals or sell items at a price that feels fair to you, there are tons of benefits to shopping at an online auction.
If you're looking to sell, you wield the power to showcase your items in an online auction. You can rest assured that thousands (maybe even millions) will see your items, helping you get the best deal out there. However, what truly defines the charm of these platforms is the democratic nature of the bidding system. Anyone can partake by placing their bids, each incrementally elevating the price of the item. Once the curtain falls on the auction, the highest bidder emerges victorious, earning the privilege to claim their prize. This means you might even make more money on your sale than you expected if a bidding war ensues.
If you're on the other side of the auction - looking to buy, or simply an enthusiastic shopper in search of that elusive, one-of-a-kind item - you can tailor your choice of online auction sites to your needs. Whether you're looking for a vintage locket or the newest Apple Watch, you can find anything and everything on these platforms. Plus with low starting prices, online auctions transform seemingly unattainable items into tangible acquisitions that you could win at the click of a button. You'll have access to great deals and rare finds that you might not stumble upon in your local stores.
As you venture into the realm of online auctions, you'll find that not all platforms are created equal. The key to a fulfilling online auction experience is finding a platform that offers a top-notch user experience.
If you're not sure how to start narrowing down your options, here are some criteria to bear in mind as you browse:
To help you find the best online auction site out there today, Top Consumer Reviews reviewed and ranked different platforms so that you don't need to worry about it. We hope that our reviews will serve as a compass, guiding you to the platforms that best align with your selling-and-shopping pleasure, so that you can focus on what's most important: uncovering those new and exciting items at outstanding prices (or connecting with buyers who will pay top dollar for what you have).
Select any 2 Online Auction Sites to compare them head to head