Auction Information

How to Market with Niche Auction Sites


Online auctions are big business. But they can be big headaches.

During the past year, trading in online commerce was valued at $60 billion, according to *Business Standard." Online trade among small businesses makes up 1 per cent of USA*s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and is expected to reach 10 per cent or $400 billion of USA*s GDP by 2010.

"But setting up and maintaining operations on huge auction sites like Ebay is not always easy," said Rich Moc, owner of Performance Cars at Pcars.com, a niche automotive auction site. "People can spend a lot of time sifting through cluttered pages of auctions, bidding, setting up accounts and managing multiple, confusing and expensive fees that can take an accountant to figure out. And trying to figure out how to submit a simple email or place a quick call for help can be a pain in the neck."

The solution or pain relief for big auction headaches? Smaller, niche sites with personalized service. For example, Performance Cars offers easier management, one-on-one help and plenty of options to help with automotive solutions and aftermarket selling. Some of their auction tips are:

  • Customer Service - When you have an item listed and a potential buyer contacts you with a question, respond quickly. It is important and actually critical to your success to check your email account several times a day. Answering a question could be the difference between you getting the sale or the buyer going someplace else.

  • Description - When you list your item(s), write an accurate description. No need to write long paragraphs of rambling information. But do provide exact measurements, colors, condition, etc. Be precise.

  • Exceed Expectations - You want every customer to be happy. So do a little more research on shipping, or negotiate on price. But remember that the customer is the reason you will have success. Be prepared to go the extra mile and provide superior service every time.

  • Digital Images - While auctions without photographs can and do sell, auctions with photographs sell much better. People like visualizations and want to see what they will get with their money. Make sure your photograph is clear, focused and offers more than just a straight view.
With Pcars.com, sellers can instantly create their own account and setup their own homepage. Next they add their product information and links. Then upload images, up to eight photos included with the no-cost membership. That*s it.

"It is THE BEST site to host photos and one of the best to sell and buy things for your car!" shared Lefteris from Greece who sells Jewels for Porsches regularly on Ebay and now on Pcars.com, too. "And the site is very easy to use."

The site is developing to meet needs of the buyers and sellers. In the works are Photo Gallery for hosting pictures, AV Center for racing videos, and a Forum for comments and sharing automotive tips.

"As a seller I find the PCARS site very easy to list and I like that I can have large photos for my items," Lefteris explained. "I use Ebay also, but I find the PCARS site much, much better. I*m here to stay."

Progressing Discount Price Plan

Also under way is a new Progressing Discount Price (PDP) plan. Sellers will have the option to list their prices so that they decrease over time, while waiting for someone to buy. This option benefits the sellers by allowing them to discount their inventories as time progresses. Additionally, this ensures that inventories may get sold at the end of the listing period (usually 30-day). The benefit for the buyers is that they get to buy the items cheaper the next day if the items have not been sold. Here is an example with this option: http://www.pcars.com/autos/partview.php?view=65.

For more tips and to sign up for a new account, visit http://www.pcars.com or contact Rich at mailto:staff@pcars.com or Diana at mailto:db@ohiohelp.net ; call: (626) 688-1919.

About The Author

By Diana Barnum, CEO of http://OhioHelp.net, inviting automotive sellers and buyers to setup Dealer Accounts and Private Party Accounts at http://www.pcars.com and see how simple the site works. They can sell and buy new and used performance vehicles, parts, accessories and auto care products of all types, quickly & easily online.


MORE RESOURCES:
Google

AFP

Bumper auctions fetch half-billion dollars at Sotheby's
AFP - Jul 3, 2008
LONDON (AFP) ? A bumper set of auctions of impressionist, modern and contemporary art by Sotheby's fetched upwards of 250 million pounds (315 million euros, ...
Dead Artists Breathe Life Into Auctions Wall Street Journal
Oil profits help art market defy gravity CNNMoney.com
Inside Art London Swings as a Dynamo for Selling Art New York Times
Bloomberg - International Herald Tribune
all 270 news articles


DEL MAR: North County ag groups dominate livestock auctions
North County Times, CA - 10 hours ago
(Photo by John Raifsnider- For The North County Times) DEL MAR ---- All eight Grand Champion awards from the Junior Livestock Auction held Friday at the San ...


Calgary Herald

Electric Garage grows beyond web to live auctions
Calgary Herald,  Canada - Jul 4, 2008
The car is among the offerings at the Stampede Collector Car Auction July 11 and 12 at Ranchman's. "Initially we were an online auction company, ...


Bond buyers claim fraud
Anchorage Daily News (subscription), AK - 2 hours ago
For now, the investments are frozen -- they can only be sold at auction, and most of the auctions have failed. The value of many of them is eroding due to ...
Firms warned of auction-rate market failure Worcester Telegram
all 2 news articles


ABC News

Inspired by Celeb Do-Gooders, Bloch Auctions His Clothes on eBay ...
ABC News - 22 hours ago
July Fourth is a reminder of our forefathers, whose great minds and independent thinking helped build the nation we have today. ...


Spears auctions clothes for charity
Digital Spy, UK - 22 hours ago
Also included in the Rock & Roll Pop Art Auction are the costumes from her 'Drives Me Crazy' and 'Oops, I Did It Again' videos and a Santa dress she wore in ...


Outlook (subscription)

Bazaar Korte Hobe!
Outlook (subscription), India - 4 hours ago
Calcutta is the only city in India that holds such weekly auctions. Ironically, this business witnessed its boom when Calcutta was on the decline, ...


Antiques and the Arts Online

RUDD- VERMONT COUNTRY AUCTIONS Saturday, July 5, 2008 10 AM Ben ...
Antiques and the Arts Online, CT - 8 hours ago
Annual July 4th Weekend Outstanding Estate Antique Auction We have collected the best from the Dorothy White Estate~Hudson Falls, ...


Antiques and the Arts Online

Canton Barn Auctions
Antiques and the Arts Online, CT - 8 hours ago
View color photos at www.cantonbarn.com NEXT AUCTION: July 12, 7:30 PM Details in Antiques & The Arts Weekly. Home Baked Pies * Refreshments * Parking Front ...


Numismatic News

Gold coins will top Bowers and Merena Auctions Baltimore Rarities Sale
Numismatic News - 7 hours ago
?Bowers and Merena just returned from a very successful June auction in Baltimore where we realized over $6.2 million, and there was already a lot of talk ...

Auctions - Google News

home | site map
© 2006