The Place to be is AuctionWatch.com
Written: Feb 22 '00 (Updated Feb 23 '00)
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Imagine a huge search engine that limits itself to the databases of all the major online auction houses. Type in a keyword and you get a list of the full titles of available items, the current high bid, the number of current bids, the ending date/time, and the site it can be found on. Furthermore, there are clickable links that allow you to go directly to the item you are interested in. Alternatively, you can click on the auction site where the item is located. This alone would make AuctionWatch.com a very valuable tool. But there is more.
Register with AuctionWatch (for free) and you can use their server as a host for images you wish to put online if you are a seller. There are tools to help you manage of all your ongoing auctions with "My AuctionWatch". Within this section of AW you can use their counters to see how many hits your auctions are getting as well as help with shipping. They also offer appraisals (for a $20 fee).
As a buyer you can do extensive searches that include eBay, Yahoo and Amazon Auctions. It will also check RubyLane and Bidstream which boasts some 300+ sites. This seems a bit overboard to me, but at least you can track the biggies. You can choose which items you are interested in and tell AW to keep an eye on the status of each. (Great if you like last minute sniping!)
As both, you can get an email account and use it instead of your regular address to manage all of your auction correspondence. Or just use it to chat with some of the others on the site.
You don't have to be a registered user in order to take advantage of their Tips and Tactics, read their Editorials, catch up with the Latest News, or check out my favorite- The Message Center.
The Message Center is divided into sections related to the most popular auction sites: eBay, Yahoo, Amazon, BoxLot, Golds and several others. After choosing a 'section' you are interested in, you'll find topics ranging from "I need a hand with HTML" to "Help! A seller has stiffed me!". Each forum has a monitor to make sure everything flows as smoothly as possible. One can be kicked off of the site if their posts are found to be unsuitable, i.e., inflammatory, abusive, or offensive. It actually works well with a 'three tries you're out' system in place.
When first discovered, I spent most of my time lurking in the eBay and Yahoo forums because that is where I do all of my selling and buying. Much like Epinions, the users there are eager to help others by way of exchanging information. Have an object that you don't know what it is? Supply an image link to it and ask for everyone's help. Want to know the best way to handle a deal gone sour? Everyone there has been in your shoes and they enjoy supporting one another. You can even check a box and be notified via email when comments are made following your post. The 'community' is comprised of the experienced and unexperienced alike. I have laughed, cried and have been totally amazed at some of the things I've read there. I've also gleaned some invaluable insight on how to be a better seller.
One thing that may turn you off: at first glance the more 'talkative' posters seem a bit cliquish. At least that was the opinion I had when I first registered. But if you hang around awhile and do some posting yourself, you'll realize that most everyone is really nice.
If you really like the online auction world or just want to learn a bit about it, you should give AuctionWatch a try. You can find it at http://www.auctionwatch.com. Come on in and make some new friends!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
WendyT
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Member: Wendy Theard
Location: Slidell, LA
Reviews written: 80
Trusted by: 102 members
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