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Auction Center

Auction sites are great places to get great deals on anything you want to buy.  You'll have to do your research to make sure you know what you're looking at and what you'll be getting.  Double check the model number listed on the auction with the item you've researched to make sure they match up.  Don't be afraid to ask the seller questions just as you would ask a salesman at a store, it's your money, you should know what you're getting.

Most auction sites will also let you research the prices of items just recently sold so you can figure out how much you should bid.  Also use the sites listed in the pricing section to find out the retail price that online stores are asking.  There's no reason to buy from an auction if you're paying the same or more than if you were to go to a store and buy retail.

Finally, make use of the site's rating system to find buyers and sellers you trust doing business with.  Auction sites do there best to weed out and eliminate fraud, but none have been 100% successful in doing so.  When dealing with a seller you haven't done business with before, make sure you know what recourse you can take with your credit card company and what on-line fraud protection programs they have.  For example, Citibank offers a service that issues a one time credit card number that you give out to the seller.  After that transaction the number is no longer valid and you never have to give out your actual credit card number.  As always, remember the old saying CAVEAT EMPTOR, let the buyer beware.

SiteSquare recommends:

eBay
eBay has by far the most extensive community of sellers (about 75% of the online auction market).   Search and bid on just about anything you can think of from great deals on tech products to your next vacation.  Be sure to make use of user feedback to find someone you feel comfortable dealing with.

uBid
uBid auctions items in many categories, but doesn't have quite as large a selection as eBay.  uBid is the 2nd most popular auction site, but it is a distant 2nd in volume.  In Dec. '02 it had 3.2 million visitors while eBay had 78 million.  uBid is a Chicagoland based auction site and Illinois residents will have to pay taxes on all transactions.

Yahoo Auctions
Those with Yahoo accounts can shop Yahoo stores as well as auctions and never have to fill out a form.  Simply sign into your Yahoo account and all purchases will be charged to the credit card you entered into your profile.  Very convenient.

Auction Sniper
Automates the process of placing your bid in the closing seconds of any eBay auction, dramatically increasing your chance of winning.

Bidnapper
Bidnapper automatically places your bids in the final seconds of eBay auctions - better control of bidding and improves your chances of winning.

PoliceAuctions
Government auctions (Police, IRS, Customs, DEA).

Live Auction Online
Antique and collectible categories include advertising, Breweriana, coins, figurines, glass, military, and stamps.

Online Auctions Network
Online auctions directory and meta search engine.
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