|
|
|
|
HOW TO USE ONLINE AUCTIONSYou say you're looking for top quality products and services but don't want to pay top dollar for them? Then the online auctions are for you. Online auctions are HOT! Thousands upon thousands of online shoppers visit these sites everyday making these wild and woolly digital bazaars one of the fastest-growing segments of electronic commerce today. Over the last few years hundreds of Internet auction sites have sprung up on the Web where one can bid on, and buy, brand name products at bargain basement prices. Computers, consumer electronics, antiques, glassware, art, rare coins, Oriental rugs, jewelry - even airline seats, hotel rooms, cruise berths and vacation packages. All of these sites offer you a chance to read a description of a product and many have photos of the products offered. Basically, they all work the same way. Choose a category of products. Go to that product page. Read the description - and view a picture of it if available - then bid on it. Besides the number one shopping destination on the Web, the online auctions have also gained another reputation. Statistics from the Internet Fraud Watch unit of the National Consumers League show that online auctions have become the No.1 Internet scam. Last year, online auctions topped the list of Internet-related fraud - and it's growing. Complaints included items bid for but never delivered by the seller, value of items inflated, shills suspected of driving up bids and prices hiked after the highest bids are accepted. Should you steer clear of all Online Auctions? No. Like in any industry there are bad apples. The vast majority of online auction transactions are completed safely. Most consumer complaints about Web auctions stem from so-called person-to-person auction sites, where people who register their names and E- Mail addresses can list their items and make use of the site's bid-management software for a fee. But even with legitimate auction sites you should keep the following safety tips in mind. SECURE TRANSACTIONS: Buy from auction sites only if they offer a secure, encrypted transmission process of your personal information. PAYMENT: Most auction sites require you to give them your credit card to open an account. Make sure you keep track of which credit card you use at each auction site and close out your account after 90 days if you don't use it. PRODUCTS: Unless it's a very hard item to find and you MUST have it, try not to bid on used products. You may get a lemon and have problems with the next safety tip. WARRANTIES & RETURNS: First, don't bid on products without warranties. Most new products come with standard manufacturer's warranties. Second, most retailers have a no-questions-asked return policy. Not so with online auctions. But most auctions will let you return a product if it's defective or damaged in shipment. SHIPPING & HANDLING: Check out the shipping and handling charges before you buy. Are they fair and not overly excessive for the product you're buying? Finally, do your homework. Only bid on what you really want. Make sure you research the market value of the product before you bid on it. Keep in mind these safety tips and your online auction experience will be both profitable and safe. Who knows, you might find that perfect romantic trip you always wanted or that Pentium Notebook with all the whistles and bells - at a great price! |
|
Send mail to hughes@hugheshelpdesk.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|