AW Daily - Tips & Tactics - Before the Auction: Evaluating Sites

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With more online auction sites springing up all the time, it's becoming increasingly important to know how to evaluate them. But what exactly should you be looking for when searching for a site to conduct your transactions? How does one site differ? Is it best to use a larger site such as eBay or Amazon.com Auctions, or go with a smaller specialty site? Obviously, there's a lot to think about. We've put together a list of the crucial criteria you should consider when choosing an online auction site. With some answers to a few basic questions under your belt, you'll be able to size up a site quickly and efficiently. Happy hunting!

Inventory
This one is kind of a no-brainer, but check how many auctions each site is currently running. Most of the time, you'll want a site that has a substantial inventory of the items you're interested in. Just the same, don't automatically assume that bigger always means better. Specialty, or "vertical," sites might have fewer items to choose from, but often times they have harder-to-find goods for sale.

Terms of Service
Always carefully read a site's terms of service agreement. This is where you can find out about the nuts and bolts of how a particular site is run. Information on fees, warranties, listing restrictions, and the site's privacy policy will not only help keep you informed but also allow you to compare how sites differ from one another in their practices and philosophies. If a site doesn't have a terms of service or user agreement, or if it's hard to find and/or vaguely worded move on.

Site Functionality
You shouldn't have to do a lot of digging to find the information you need. Ask yourself: How is the navigation? How intuitive are the category hierarchies? How powerful/accurate is the search function? Also consider the site's aesthetic. Remember, you're going to be spending a fair amount of time on your site of choice. And when you are racing to win an auction, the site better be intuitive.

Customer Service
Determine if the site's customer service information is accessible. Also, send an email query to test how fast--or slow--the site responds. Timely and thorough customer service can make or break a site. Help page's are particularly important for new users, who will no doubt have a lot of questions when they first start buying. Look for assistance that's time-sensitive, specific, and reliable.

Community
One of the great things about online auctions is the communities they create. Message boards allow users to trade information on collectibles and sales strategies, discuss new site features, such as on eBay's active "DNF" board, debate issues facing the auction community at large, and even commiserate about cases of fraud. Spend a bit of time reading through some of the posted user comments, and settle on a site that offers a community that fits your personality and style. Above all else, find a site where people are actually talking!

User Feedback
The ability to access a user's contact information and feedback rating as a buyer or seller is crucial. All sites have some sort of user feedback system that allows users to see how other people have graded their experience with a particular buyer or seller. Reviewing seller feedback should always be your first move before bidding. Also, you'll want to use sites where you'll feel comfortable leaving feedback yourself. Remember that feedback is vital to the community and well-being of any site.

Finding What You Want
Making Informed Bids
Performing Better Searches