Online Sporting Good Auctions

eBay

eBay began in 1995 and today is the most popular and well-known name in online auctions. Their sporting good selection is vast, encompassing just about any sport that might interest you. In the beginning, eBay's focus was on the customer as they sought to provide an atmosphere of trust among strangers. Since that time, eBay has not lost that focus as they have grown to become an online community. Along with buying and selling items, eBay provides features to encourage this sense of virtual community and even offers a community portal, leading the user to:

• Announcements – Find general announcements as well as status updates related to site maintenance
• Answer Center – A member-to-member forum where members interact, this is great place to ask questions of experienced users.
• Discussion Forums – Because of the established sense of community, the forums are a place to learn first-hand tips for navigating the world of online auctions. These boards are categorized to help users find appropriate topics.
• eBay Blogs
• Groups
• Chat Rooms – Chat rooms can either be general in discussion or category specific.

eBay's excellent customer service and community atmosphere have built it to a level of unprecedented success. For example, in 1999 when eBay went down for almost 24 hours, eBay employees called each seller affected by the crash with apologies. This kind of personal touch has made eBay a trusted name in online auctions.

Auction-Warehouse

Offering online auctions since 1998, Auction-Warehouse.com provides free auctions for sellers in the U.S. The use of credit card authentication to verify sellers makes this source of online sporting good auctions a favorite among security-minded sports buffs. The site is easy to navigate, and breaks their sports items into categories to help users find what they are looking for. The categories include:

• Autographs
• Fan Shop
• Memorabilia
• Sporting Goods
• Trading Cards

eBid

eBid offers online sporting good auctions on items from archery to windsurfing. This site, like eBay, offers a variety of categories, and works to promote good customer relationships with forums. One special feature on this site is known as Happy Hour Auctions from 6:00-10:00 each day.

Joining eBid is free and they offer 3 levels of user participation:

• Bronze - for buyers
• Silver - for casual sellers. Registration will require debit or credit card details. When you sell an item, the site charges you 3 percent of the final value fee.
• Platinum – Upgrading to Platinum status removes the final value fee at a cost of $99.99 for a lifetime membership.

How to Pay at Online Sporting Good Auctions

Learning how to pay for your auction winnings is another factor to consider when delving into the virtual world. Most online auctions do not recommend cash or wire transfers when paying for items won. In fact PayPal is often the preferred method of payment. PayPal is a secure, free, and electronic way to quickly transfer funds in 16 different currencies. It allows you to send payments quickly and securely online using a credit card or bank account. If you plan to use PayPal, you'll have to double check that the seller accepts PayPal as a payment for their listing. One advantage to using PayPal as your payment method is that it is traceable. Plus they offer Buyer Protection on eligible transactions up to $200.

Other methods of payment commonly used include:

• Credit Card
• Personal Check
• Cashier's Check
• Money Order

How to Place A Bid

Learning to navigate an online auction site might seem a little daunting at first, but today's technology makes it easy to learn. Look for the "Help" link or visit forums and chats to ask questions of other users. Search for a new user's overview, FAQ page, or tips and you'll be ready to list your items for sale or place your first bid. These online venues make the world a smaller place to shop.