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Monday, July 7th
If you're the kind of person who relishes the excitement of standing amidst a bustling auction hall, ready to bid like a classic in-person auction, then AuctionZip is tailor-made for you. This online platform captures the spirit of traditional auctions by allowing you to bid in real time on a unique array of items with over 25,000 auctioneers and 13 million auction buyers. What sets AuctionZip apart is the broad range of items and the wide number of high-value items like diamonds or entire homes. The allure of finding something truly unusual or collectible is one of the standout features of AuctionZip.
Sign up with Google
Navigating the website is a breeze. You can start browsing right away for items on your wishlist. However, if you want to buy (or sell), you'll need to make an account. It's totally free to join plus you can sign up with your Google account, making it easy to access your AuctionZip anytime you want.
Authentic bidding-style auctions
It's hard not to admire the site's audacious approach. As a platform for exploration and the occasional leap into the unknown, Auction Zip stands out in the crowd of larger auction websites. The bidding style is a little different here than at other competitors. The site is designed to offer real-time bidding. While this can be a commitment, as it requires your online presence during the auction, it is often lauded as being more "authentic” and customers tend to get deeply invested in auctions. There's something undeniably addictive about tracking the bidding wars as they unfold. However, if you're more interested in the "buy it now” approach, you may not be the ideal shopper for AuctionZip.
Impressive inventory with unique items
If you're looking for unique finds, AuctionZip is the place for you. For example, just on the front page, we saw a World War II German helmet, a set of Winchester guns, an old Corvette, and a 1976 Mustang. This only scratches the surface of the items you can find on AuctionZip. While the uniqueness of the items can be appealing, some of them might veer towards the peculiar side: many of the items on the front page of AuctionZip might not appeal to all shoppers. On top of rare items, you can also shop by state for auction items that are local to you, which is a helpful feature at AuctionZip.
How does it compare?
Now, to compare the range of inventory between different online auctions, we checked out the common shopping searches. Remember, these are results at the time of this review; inventory at AuctionZip may change by the time you start browsing. We checked out a standard accessory (watches), a "rare” search (autographed items), and a tech item (an iPad) to see how AuctionZip compares to other companies. Here's what we found:
While AuctionZip has an impressive inventory for most of our search terms, it's a little light on modern technology.
Specializes in antique and high-end items
It's not hard to see that AuctionZip's specialty is in old and novelty items. Whether you're looking to buy a home on auction or a car, you can find it on AuctionZip. Some of the finds on the featured page include a 12-acre home starting at $1,020,000. More standard auction items might be more difficult to find, but if you're looking for a unique score like classic cars or a new home, this is a great option for you.
Buy items "as is”
There isn't a specific return policy as AuctionZip works like a traditional in-person auction, where you buy the items in whatever condition they're currently in. Each individual auction house working through AuctionZip chooses a method of payment. Some ask for cash or checks while others accept credit cards or PayPal. So, if there's a problem with your order, you'll probably have to go through your payment method or contact the auction house directly. However, in most cases, you're agreeing to buy items "as is” and AuctionZip has no specific policy regarding returns.
High BBB score, but low reviews
AuctionZip has an impressive "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, from third-party review sites, AuctionZip doesn't have the best reputation. The average score across multiple review sites is just 1.5 stars out of 5. Customers complained that in many cases AuctionZip didn't honor their bid. One reviewer showed photos of their submitted bid of $800 and the same item selling for $650 to another bidder, which was understandably frustrating. Many customers are frustrated with the "real” auction process and complain about losing out on items to other bidders. Since this is the primary risk of this kind of site, many of the reviews simply show that if you're not prepared for the "authentic” bidding experience, AuctionZip might not be for you.
Perfect place for unique or historical items
The bottom line is AuctionZip is a traditional auction site, where you bid against other customers in real time. If this isn't your thing, you might want to move on, but if you're interested in those real bidding wars, AuctionZip can be a place where you can find unique items not offered anywhere else. The company offers an impressive inventory of standard items like watches or autographed items, as well as cars, homes, diamonds, and real historical artifacts. With easy sign-up and a solid score from the BBB, AuctionZip stands out despite the lower ratings from reviewers. If you're looking for the most unique items, this is the place for you. And if it brings up its reviewer ratings, AuctionZip has the potential to rank even higher.
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