Top Ten Online Shopping Secrets

edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady 

With the holiday season well under way, many consumers will be turning to the online auction space to capture the perfect present at the lowest price possible.  Unfortunately for some, not bidding properly can lead to over-spending and catching a sour deal.

How to get what you want without getting a paperwork headache

1.  Learn the landscape:  Carefully read the auction site's rules and FAQ pages before making your first bid, making sure you understand exactly how the process works, additional costs in the form of buyers premiums and shipping, etc. When you're ready, consider starting with relatively inexpensive items. This reduces your risk while you learn how to manage the process.

2.  Carefully read the product description: Make sure you know the product you are bidding for well, and if the description on the site is vague, contact the seller to ensure you are getting what you want to pay for.

3.  Do your homework: Take the time to find out more about the particular item you intend to bid on.  BidHere.com and other online auction sites offer searchable databases of previous sales, allow you to get a rough idea as to the fair market value before you start bidding.  
Decide on your maximum price in advance:  It’s easy to get swept up in the action of the auction.  By setting a limit in advance and sticking to it, you avoid inadvertently breaking the bank.

4.  Bid strategically:  On most sites, you are able to study the recent bidding history and perhaps find a pattern in bid timing and competing bidders that will further ensure your success.

6.  Place your bids late in the countdown: Keep an eye on the sale timer and aim to place bids within the last few moments of a sale.  In addition to giving yourself a better shot at a successful bid, you lessen the chance of getting into a bidding war with another user.

7.  Utilize automated bidding programs:  Whether it’s BidHere.com’s BidMonkey or similar programs on other sites, automated bidders allow you to set a minimum and maximum bid amount and will bid on your behalf in the waning moments of the sale.

8.  Bid at off hours: Try to find times in the day where there are fewer bidders online, perhaps at dinner time. You are more likely to win a bargain when less people are competing against you.

9,  Pay with confidence:  As with any online purchase, make sure the site you are purchasing from processes transactions through a secure encrypted connection and consider using Paypal or similar verified money transfer system.

10. Record every step of the purchase or sale: Print out all details of every transaction, including the original product description and the bidding history. Also print all email correspondence in case there is a discrepancy later. 

Madelyn Miller is a curious cross between shopping and cybershopping. She wrote a book on shopping in 1991 and still loves to touch and feel things before she buys them. But as the owner of ten websites, she seems to spend all of her time online.

Read Madelyn's stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com