With the holidays fast approaching, you don’t have to deal with the massive crowds in the malls. This is all thanks to shopping auctions that you can even do in your pajamas! Shopping auctions allow you to shop for gifts in a breeze, so how does this work?

With auctions you are in a position of searching specific products or categories and getting great gift ideas. This is made possible by the search toolbar that are in most if not all auctions. You will then need to type the category or the product name and check the massive selection of the available items.  In the event that you get a lot of results, you can narrow down your results by sorting according to the product’s name or its price.

Are you worried about fraudulent activities? Not to worry as there ways you can identify a reputable from a fraud auction. This is because, reputable auctions have a history of every individual who has made sells on their site. You can therefore review their feedback to check how active they are. This is one of the safest options you can opt for in the internet.

Best time for shopping auctions

Shopping auctions is one of the best experiences that you can have. However, if you’re planning to have shopping auctions this holiday, don’t wait till the last minute. This is because; bidding prices tends to be high as people start to panic and you’re risking getting your products by the holiday deadline.

In case prices are not the issues, you’ll be in luck when a company comes out with a hard to find toy or a new video game system. You might not be able to find them in retail shops; however, in auctions you’ll get them in surplus but you will have to pay its premium price. This is due to the natural law of supply and demand at play.

There are individuals willing to purchase it, so that their kinds have it first, yet this does not guarantee that you will get it before the due date. Therefore, you can avoid all this problems by shopping auctions early. Holiday seasons are a premium period for auctions sites, as there are a lot of individuals shopping through the internet. Keep in mind that it’s still an auction site, therefore ensure that you make your bids wisely.

Ensure that you check all the auction details before you place a bid, not to forget the cost and method of shipping that is listed. Shopping auctions helps you avoid the mad rush at the mall, thus ensure that you enjoy the experience.

Online auctions can be particularly fun, you’re in a position of getting excellent deals on items that you’d get for a lot of cash somewhere else. Therefore, when it comes to online shopping auctions they are great for getting products that you require. However, there are aspects that you need to consider before putting your money on bids, which includes the following.

1. Shipping and handling fees

In the event, that you’re bidding on a product that doesn’t contain the shipping and handling fees clearly shown. It’s essential that you ask the seller to give them to you before placing a bid. This is because of sellers who have a low price for products, but ridiculous fees for shipping and handling. In other words, ensure that you are not getting ripped off on shipping and handling, then you can start your bidding.

2. Checking the seller’s other auctions

If you have an item that you really covet to have, check the seller’s other auctions of the same item. This is because; sellers could be offering the same item in a row, enabling you to get a better price for the product in another auctioning round.

3. Reading seller’s feedback

When you find the product that you’d like to purchase, go through the seller’s feedback of their previous auctions. Know how they conduct their business with other individuals; hence, you can tell if you’ll get a positive buying experience from the seller.

4. Being able to bid-snipe

Bid-snipe is the act of looking for bids that are ending in the near future. For instance, in case you have 5 minutes left on a particular bid, you ought to bid a bit higher that the highest bid in order to secure the bid. Bid-snipe is one of the great ways of successfully scoring great deals in shopping auctions.

5. Proper condition of the product

It’s vital that you ensure the product you’re purchasing is in proper condition before making a purchase. If a seller is offering unclear description of a utilized item, ensure that the product meets your expectations before you place a bid. In case you aren’t cautious, you’ll end up  purchasing items that are in poor condition or are not working.

Shopping auctions are a great way for getting the best  items in the market. With the above tips you can be sure of getting quality products in shopping auctions.

For entertainment shopping auction, it’s an auction that charges the users on every single bid they make.  Given that individuals are paying for every single bid, the products in most cases are sold off at a lower percentage when you compare to its actual value. Most bidders spend a lot of money in an effort to winning a particular bid with no luck. Therefore below are strategies that as a bidder you can utilize to increase your odds of winning at shopping auctions.

1. Tracking past auctions of the same item.

In a spreadsheet, you can track particular item, its end price and the period the auction takes. This will  allow you to calculate the average auction price for items, in the event that the bidding is more than the average, you  can have a bidding war on the item. You can opt to enter a bidding war, if the item is at least over  10% of its average selling price. The key here is patience, don’t be in a hurry to enter shopping auctions.

2. Having a set number of bids to be utilized on particular auction

Having a set number of bids to utilize in every single shopping auction, helps you to avoid spending too much in an effort of winning a bid. If you exceed your set number of bids, you ought to move to the next auction. With a set number of bids you can be able to stop yourself from getting caught up in the moment.

3. Obtain as much free bids as you possibly can.

You can get free bids by referring friends, this is possible as most entertainment shopping auctions have  profitable referral programs. This is essential as its mush easier to place a bid with a clear mind, as you know you did not need to pay for the bids. You therefore don’t have to stress over the money that you’re throwing away with every single bid you are making.

4. Wait until you have the bidding between two individuals.

In the event that you have three or more individuals steadily bidding on an auction, you should wait until you only have two bidders bidding on an item. You therefore won’t have  a lot of competition, it also stresses the other two bidders to a point of them letting you win the shopping auction.

When it comes to entertainment shopping auctions, you are not guaranteed for a win. However, following the above mentioned tips increases your odds in winning.

Constant internet connectivity has improved shopping auctions. It provides its users with a wealth of information regarding the current trends in the market. However; multiple threats lurk online along with the perks. From false returns to identity theft, virtual thieves use their witty internet ways to steal from shopping auctions participants.

To protect yourself from becoming the next victim, observe the following protective measures:

• Use good sense– be smart when dealing with strangers. You will find many beautiful things on the internet, but the cons manage most of them. Also, be accustomed to how online shopping auctions are done.
• Check multiple shopping auction sites– almost all sites have the same method of operation. They, however, have different policies regarding insurance returns and frauds. Work with the sites which ensure their clients against frauds.
• Review the seller feedback -most shopping auctions allow their customers to write feedback after the service. This feedback can help you know what type of sellers you are dealing with. If you get persistent negative feedbacks, move on to the next.
• Insist on the secure payment methods-it’s always safe to use credit cards because they have a tracking system. PayPal is also safe. Avoid the wire transfer as much as possible.
• Keep records– this might seem obvious, but most people don’t do it. Apart from the receipts, keep a record of your email conversations and packing slips. You can use them as evidence in case anything happens.
• Report fraud– don’t keep quiet if you become a victim of fraud. Most thieves rely on embarrassment and apathy to keep their shopping auctions victims quiet. There are many places where you can report the theft, starting with the site itself.

Conclusion

Participating in shopping auctions and other online activities is fun and exciting. Don’t ruin this fun by ignoring these consumer safety protection measures.