Where's the best Online Auction out there today? 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.
Poor
If you're looking for an updated and modern auction website, Webstore isn't going to be the one for you. Even the name, Webstore, feels pretty generic. And once you land on the website, you get the feeling (or at least we did) that someone just slapped this on the internet and never looked at it again. With weirdly-sized text, random hyperlinks, and small blurry photos, Webstore gives the first impression of a site that's half-built and not terribly secure.
Not intuitive and sounds old-school
Getting started on Webstore isn't the most intuitive. It might take you a little extra time to uncover the various informational pages concealed behind oddly-placed links. In terms of fluidity, Webstore falls short. It doesn't offer the seamless navigation you might expect in the 21st century. The company offers you the option to look for online auctions or local "classifieds", further aging the company to something that feels more appropriate for someone born in the 1950s.
Auction-style or buy-now listings
There are two types of buying styles at Webstore. You can go for auction-style, which requires regular monitoring to win your bid, or "fixed price" which you can buy outright at any time. In comparison to some of its more sophisticated competitors, Webstore doesn't offer advanced tools for sellers to optimize their listings, such as marketing analytics. Serious sellers aiming to maximize their reach will definitely prefer our higher-rated online auction platforms. However, for the casual seller, Webstore can be an effective storefront.
Clunky search function
Webstore offers a one-stop shop approach to auction inventory. You can find vintage collectibles that haven't seen a sale in decades to cutting-edge electronics. Beyond auctions, you'll also find items available for immediate purchase. On top of that, Webstore's local classifieds section allows you to narrow down their searches by city, state, or zip code to discover items near you. The classifieds section offers both auction-style and "buy it now" style purchases for certain items.
Low inventory
To compare the inventory at Webstore with other options in this review, we used the same three search terms at all auction sites: watches, autographed items, and iPads. At Webstore, we found:
While there are some decent results in some of the sections, the inventory is already lower than many competitors who have thousands of results on hand. Further, many of the results at Webstore are only peripherally related to the search terms. For example, under the 122 "watch" results, about half of the results included books or magazines with the word "watch" on them, which made it more difficult to sift through the inventory.
Possible option for casual buyers
Webstore is particularly suitable for casual buyers and sellers. However, beyond that it doesn't have any particular specialization. The one-stop shop approach should allow it to address a wider user base. Yet, with Webstore's low inventory, the online auction site doesn't stand out as particularly competitive. Considering that the site doesn't offer great features for pro sellers, this really is only available for people looking to sell or shop casually, leaving the pros to look somewhere else.
No listed return policy
Unsurprisingly for such an old site, there isn't any listed policy for returns or refunds. So, if you don't like the items you get from Webstore, you may be stuck with them. Given the lack of customer-focused features at this store, it might be better to shop elsewhere.
Mixed reviews with concerning return practices
The reputation for this company is pretty middle of the road. The Better Business Bureau has awarded Webstore a "B-" rating overall. Reviewers on third-party review sites gave Webstore an average rating of 3.2 stars out of 5. Sellers report frustrations with being charged a fee after the first year to "maintain the site" despite being promised free listings. Customers who reported items that weren't the same as in the listing found lots of pushback from the company and while some were granted the ability to return, the shipping center was in China which cost more to ship back than it did to buy in the first place. There are a host of reviewers who did enjoy using Webstore, but with the overall red flags around the site, it's safer to choose an auction service that's more established and more customer-friendly.
Last-place pick
While we usually don't judge a book by its cover, in this case the first impressions of Webstore are pretty spot on. There aren't enough items in inventory to really make the company competitive, and with the host of navigation problems on this outdated website, the shopping and selling experiences are pretty bad. Customers left mixed reviews, and some of the negative ones raised some red flags with items not matching descriptions and high rates to ship items back to China. While it could be an option for casual buyers, Webstore doesn't stand out over any of the other sites in this review.
Continued from above...
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).
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Top 3 Tips For Buying In Online Auctions
Online auctions have really skyrocketed in popularity. Any item that you could ever wish to own is probably being sold in an online auction. In the clothing category alone, over 2 million items are being auctioned off at this moment. New merchandise, used merchandise, rare merchandise, even "celebrity" merchandise - it's all there. Did you know that there have been over 50 books written on how to get the best online auction experience? For those of you who have never had the pleasure of shopping in an online auction, we'll walk you through 3 basic tips for your success.
First, do your research! When going to an online auction site, you'll be able to type in the item you are looking for, or can narrow the search by selecting categories and choosing from there. Be as specific as possible. Take, for example, clothing. If you know the brand, size and even line you are looking for, this will make your search much easier. Then, research the seller. Is this someone was has mostly positive feedback or have they had problems shipping their items? This is easily viewed online. Reputable online auctions have built a solid reputation as safe places to buy and sell. That's why most all transactions from both seller and buyer are given feedback. Look for such seller qualities as a fast shipper, item as described and good communication. Be wary of a seller who has a lot of negative feedback. You may be getting the best price, but you might be sacrificing its good condition.
Second, visit the online auction site often. There are a couple of reasons for this. In the unlikely event that what you're looking for is not being sold, check back. Take, for example, one of our reader's experiences they had with wanting to purchase a particular item.. The first time they looked, there were none being sold. They checked back a few days later and there were 5 being auctioned off.
Another good reason for checking the online auction site often is that you'll usually get a better deal. Here is another example; one of our readers wanted to purchase a set of books called America at School from American Girls. One month, this book set was going for over $100 dollars. They kept watching and looking. Two months later, they purchased the book set for $26.00 at the very same auction site. Not a bad deal. Often times in online auctions, items are sold for more than what the buyer is willing to pay. Keep looking and you could get that bargain buy that you're looking for.
Third, wait to bid. This is the single most important fact to buying in online auctions. Many new buyers bid too early (the amount you have purchased or sold is usually available to the general public). This backfires for two reasons. One, it causes the price of the item to increase, because seasoned shoppers know to wait until the last few minutes to bid. Two, it also triggers a competitive aspect to buying. It's pretty common for two new buyers at an online auction to get into a bidding war a day or two before the auction closes. Then, at the last minute, another buyer will bid and win the merchandise. The exception to this rule of course is if you are unable to be at a computer when the auction closes. Then you just have set your highest bid and hope for the best.
Remember, you win some and you lose some, but that's the fun of online auctions. Good Luck and remember to have fun!
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