From Rare Prints to Classic Cars - What You Can Find at Online Live Auctions

Live auctions are exciting events because of the amount of items that are available. On top of that, Internet live auctions can be even more entertaining because a single site can have multiple auctions going at the same time.
If you spend just two minutes browsing a live auction, you will find something you like. You never know what will be up for auction so it's a good idea to peruse catalogs on a regular basis.
Fine Art
Online live auctions are one of the best ways that everyday people can find affordable yet exceptional art. Signed and numbered prints by famous artists are frequently up for bid on Internet live auctions. Works from lesser known artists are also available.
Framing the art can end up being more expensive than the art itself, but it is not uncommon that prints and originals will already be framed when they come to auction.
With low starting bids, buyers have nothing to lose by testing the waters and making a bid online. If you win, you may end up with a signed lithograph from your favorite artist.
Antiques, Rare Books, and Old Documents
Antiques are popular items because live auctions are often cheaper than antique stores. In fact, many dealers find their best items by bidding in antique auctions online. Their knowledge of the antique market helps them recognize deals anywhere.
Old documents and rare books are another fun thing to view at auction. Old paper items like postcards, photographs, and maps are a direct representation of history. Many museums go through auction catalogs searching for specific items to add to their collections or exhibits.
Just like antique dealers, rare book sellers can make a considerable profit by reselling items they have found at auction. Books are easily passed over because they are such a familiar part of our lives. But the next time you see a book up for auction, see who wrote it and when it was published.
Collectibles & Memorabilia
Online live auctions are a collector's dream. If you collect small items like coins, stamps, or trading cards, online auctions are ideal because these items are easy to pack and ship.
Music fans can look for vintage albums, concert flyers, and even musical instruments. Or if music isn't your thing there are always dolls, promotional items, knick-knacks, and house wares.
Jewelry
Jewelry available through online auctions varies widely. You can bid on fine, costume, antique, religious, or any combination. Finding an engagement ring or just something different can be a challenge, but not so much when you can bid online for unique pieces
Giving someone vintage earrings instead of a pair you picked up at a department store can carry a lot more meaning.
Vehicles
It is even possible to bid online for vehicles. Whether you are looking for a 1969 Mustang or an RV, Internet live auctions can expand your buying power. Rather than being limited to what is available in your area, see what's available for bid online.
To view and bid live in upcoming live auctions, visit http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

Dealing With Problems After a Live Bid Online Auction

Choosing a live bid online auction house to work with is a bit tricky. While most of them are quite legitimate and they are able to offer you some amazing deals on things like antiques and general household and office goods (when they are doing a whole house liquidation or office liquidation), it is possible to end up paying good money for things that you never receive.
However, that is no reason to avoid these kinds of auctions altogether. Instead, you simply need to be smart about how you do things. So, while we hope you'll never have to do deal with the problem, here's how to handle things if a deal ever goes bad when you were making a purchase from a live online auction:
Make Contact
Of course, the first thing you should do is to simply make contact. 95% of the time, the problem is simply that there was a miscommunication and if you simply send a calm e-mail to the person whom you worked with and explain to them that you think there is a problem, they will work to make it right. As we said, most online auctioneers are legitimate and quite honest. It doesn't pay for them to get a bad reputation because ultimately, it will affect their business. However, sometimes you end up with a situation where the company simply refuses to be in touch. In that case, move on to step 2.
Contact Various Authorities
There are various organizations that you can contact after you complete the live bid online auction and find that you are having problems. First of all, you can contact the Better Business Bureau. We hope you will have checked with them in advance to make sure that the company you want to do business with is legitimate; however, whether you have done so or not, contact them now.
The BBB can often help to resolve a problem much more quickly than you can, because they have offices locally and they can contact the company directly. They are also used to dealing with this kind of thing. Assuming you were bidding a live bid online auction, you should also contact the state office that handles auctioneer's licenses. This varies from state to state, however, if the auctioneer swindled you and you can provide proof of the fact and of the fact that they are not willing to make good on what they did, you may be able to get their license revoked.
Call Your Bank
It goes without saying that you should contact your bank. This is getting a little trickier to do these days since the banks are not so interested in automatically taking the side of their credit card customers; however, often times, if you can make your case succinctly, the bank will help you to resolve the problem and you will likely get your money back, though you may ultimately be out the cost of shipping, either to ship the item back to the live bid online auction house or to the bank themselves.
To view and bid live in upcoming live auctions, visit http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

Foreclosure Auction Bidding Strategy

Foreclosure auction bidding strategy is not something you can read about once and never have to review or polish up on again. This article will serve as a preliminary guide to bidding strategies and techniques at a government seized or surplus auction. Owning a property is probably in the top three biggest decisions you will ever have to make in your life, so, you want to be sure of what you are doing before you jump into the deep end of the foreclosure pool.
The first thing you will need to know what exactly you are looking for and what a foreclosure auction really is. When a person defaults on their mortgage payments the lender gives the borrower notice of foreclosure. The current homeowners are allotted a certain amount of time to make up the balance owed, and if they don't, this asset will be auctioned off in a live or online government auction. Now, anyone from the public has the opportunity to bid on this item-no matter where the value ends, that is what the property will be sold for. Different types of properties get auctioned off on a daily bases. You can bid on anything from a single-family home, to a FEMA trailer, to even an apartment complex. If you search hard enough, you will surely find an adequate home for you and your family-or a nice invest purchase.
Now that you know what a foreclosure auction is, you can figure out your best strategy to getting you that home you always dreamed of. Finding an outlet-be it online or live-auction info will be your ticket to a new home. Though newspapers and other periodicals are a great source for government auctions, online databases are more likely to have that specific property you're looking for. These types of websites have search engines and keyword searches that make it unbelievably easy to find a property in your area.
Next, you are going to want to do some background research on the area of the property. Check the school district, parks, city infrastructure, and other various factors that will help you make a price assessment of the item. After you have done this, you will have a set limit/value of how much you are willing to spend. That number will be a constant figure that you never go over-you don't want to catch "auction fever" and lose control of your finances. That is one mistake that can get you into a lot of trouble. If the price of a home starts going past your limit, you should simply move on and find a different property.
If you have never been to an auction, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with the auction's rules and regulations, as well as looking at videos and pictures of live auctions. One of the best things you can do before you actually jump into bidding is checking out a live auction yourself-pretty much doing a test run. That way, you can see the type of people that attend these auctions and get the bidding pattern down so you don't mess up when you attempt to bid on something. In that sense, you will also learn how to place a bid. Some auctions require a verbal bid, while others allow a hand or paddle rising.
Another thing to keep in the back of your head is having confidence. Don't get pushed around and don't be intimidated by other bidders. Everyone there is for the same reason-and anyone can win these auctions. These auctions are not geared towards dealers or real estate companies. The only thing you will need proper identification and enough money in the bank or on hand to pay for any assets you win.
With the knowledge you have learned in this article, I think you will be ready to take the next step. Whether this property is for a home for your new family or for investment purposes, you can and will get a great deal. The rest is up to you. Take these strategies and head down to an auction-that fantastic looking home in your desired area is not unmanageable to attain. These auctions are going on all day and all throughout the country. Take the time and do your research and your dream home shouldn't be too far away.
Foreclosure strategy is crucial if you are looking to save big and score big. Head over to a site like ForeclosureMagic.com for free guides and search results for the closest auctions to your area.

Bid Online Auctions - Silent Vs Live

When participating in bid online auctions, there are different types of auctions to choose from. The two most popular types are online silent auctions and online live auctions. So, what is the difference between the two?
Online auctions have been around for many years and throughout those years they have evolved quite a bit. In a silent auction, like those similar to eBay, bidders primarily bid against other bidders for the items they want. There is usually a set time frame from open to close from which people can place their bids. You register for the auctions through the individual website and payment and shipping can either be arranged through the website or through the seller of the items. This can depend on which auction website you are visiting.
Live auctions online work a bit differently. Like silent auctions, they have bidders that register, but the dynamics of registration, along with how the auction is conducted is not the same. When you are registering for this type of auction, most of the time you will find yourself signing up twice the first time around. The first registration is usually for the website hosting the auction. Once you have been approved through the website you are able to sign up for individual auctions on the site that are hosted by different auctioneers.
When bidding, you will find that the set up is not the same as well. There will be a preview of the items you are looking at, usually the time frame is a couple of weeks. In this time, you can preview and sometimes put absentee bids or maximum bids on these items. You will notice a set time that the auction will start online, which will be the same time that the auction starts live at the site it is being held. Once it has started, you will not only be bidding against other people on the internet, you will also be bidding against people that are live at the auction.
Bid online auctions are fast paced and can be very fun to participate in. The opportunity to find great deals are always available through this type of online auction.
Bid live online in upcoming live auctions at http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

Prepare For Internet Live Auctions With 4 Easy Steps

Over the past decade, auction houses have begun offering people the opportunity to participate in online live auctions. Placing a bid online offers more flexibility than the traditional in-person bidding, but still has the same flexibility potential to cause confusion.

With thoughtful preparation, prospective bidders can forgo the confusion and begin benefitting from live auctions online.

Step 1: Register Well Before the Auction

Although it is easy to register for access to online live auction sites, many auction houses will require you to go through additional steps before you are approved to bid online. So instead of waiting until an hour or two before the auction, register no later than several days in advance.

By registering early, you are giving yourself a buffer zone in which you can address any problems that may arise with your account. This is particularly important for people who are looking to purchase big-ticket items such as real estate or farm equipment.

Another benefit to registering early is it makes it easier for you to watch video of live auctions. Many sellers limit their videos to people who are registered.

Step 2: Ask Questions in Advance

If you are bidding on an expensive item or an item for which you are passionate, it is likely that you will have questions for the seller. However, it is important to remember that sellers at online live auctions are dealing with both in-person questions and Internet questions.

To make sure that your question is answered in time, email the seller a week or two before the auction begins. This way you will have plenty of time to discuss your concerns such as payment arrangements, the condition of the item, and its authenticity.

Step 3: Decide How You Want to Bid

Most sites give you the option to place either an absentee bid or a live bid. You place an absentee bid prior to the start of the auction and an automated bidding system will bid for you up to your maximum bid. In contrast, you submit live bids throughout the auction.

Once live bidding begins, you will not be able to submit an absentee bid. Absentee bidding online can be useful when you don't have the ability to stay in front of your computer. On the other hand, live bidding tends to be more exciting because it gives you more options.

Step 4: Test Your System Requirements

Internet live auction sites should provide a list of what you need on your computer in order to bid online. There is nothing more frustrating than logging in to an auction site to make a bid only to discover that your version of Java is out of date.

The best way to make sure you have everything you need is to register and watch a real time auction. If you encounter any problems, reputable sites that have toll-free phone and email support.

Live auctions are one of the best ways to find unique items without spending a lot of money. From movie memorabilia to antique furniture, the live auction experience offers a wide array of items for every interest and budget.

To view and bid live in upcoming live auctions, visit http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

Vintage Cars for Sale - Tips on Bidding Online

1. Ask the owner whether you can observe the car. People who do not already have the car within their ownership will most likely refuse. Even though you do not have any intention to pay a visit, simply requesting to do so could give you a hint.

2. Beware of a car that is offered at a selling price that looks too cheap to get such make and model. Normally, vehicles for sale via online auctions will cost around ten percent lower than by a dealer. However, if the car is offered at half-price of its market value, perhaps it is too good to be true.

3. Inspect the transaction history of the seller to discover whether they include some impressive feedbacks for actually making a sale of real vintage cars, and in particular the listed make and model. Whenever the seller is posting a 1953 Chevrolet Corvette but only has a track record of selling camera & photo gadgets, you may need to look somewhere else.

4. Beware of any owner who will agree with only money wired for payment. This could be some people who will offer a car for sale but do not actually possess it. They normally just submit a photograph that they have found from somewhere. Sometimes they may point out that the cars are situated in another country and insist upon only a wire transfer for payment. Once the purchaser transfers the money, the seller disappears and never to be seen again ever.

5. Be aware the auctions that come with what appears to be commodity images or pictures from a catalog. A person who has a real vehicle to offer should be able to take its photograph.

Palrich is one of car enthusiasts and he has been interested in vintage cars for sale. He is thinking of bidding for one on online car auction sites and he knows that, just like buying other items online, he should be aware.

Save Time by Pre-Browsing Auction Catalogs Online

Waiting until the day of the auction to bid on items is a thing of the past. Some auction houses offer a preview the day before the auction where you can walk around and look at what they have to offer for auction, but even this can be a waste of time. There is nothing worse than taking half a day to go and stand in line to wait to see what an auction house is previewing. Not to mention that the time frame that they could offer for you to view will probably be inconvenient. In person viewings are fast becoming a thing of the past too! What is replacing in person viewings?

Online Auction Catalogs are becoming more and more popular as people are always looking for more convenient and time saving ways to participate in auctions. What happens is that an auction house will offer you the exact same catalog you would see in person, but in an online format. They will upload detailed descriptions of each lot as well as multiple pictures for each item. You will then be able to go into the catalog and view the item as if you were there in person.

Think of all the time you will save by being able to view catalogs online. No more standing in line waiting to view, or time wasted sitting in traffic getting there. You will be able to sit comfortably in your own home or office browsing what is being offered at your convenience, whether it is in the middle of the day or middle of the night. Browsing online catalogs is done on your schedule!

Most auction houses that use online previews are placing their online catalogs for viewing a weeks before the auction. This offers you ample opportunity to browse through the different lot numbers thoroughly and really decide on what you want to bid on. There are even online catalogs that offer search functions. So, if you are looking for something specific, you can eliminate browsing through hundreds of items to find exactly what you want. This can save so much time.

Lastly, what's great about online auction catalogs is that you are able to expand your search area. You can look at catalogs from across the country or even across the world. Geography is a thing of the past. You are no longer limited to viewing auctions within your local area, nor do you have to waste time traveling to distant places. Most auction houses that place their catalogs online offer great email support too. So if you have a question about a particular lot item, you can easily send a quick email and get a response shortly after you have sent your inquiry. You don't need to wait on the phone or wait in line to ask questions. How easy is that?

If you come across an item online that you would like to see in person, you can always visit the auction showroom in person, but at least you would have saved yourself a lot of time by pre-browsing the auction catalog before making the trip out to the auction location. In addition to being able to preview the auction catalog online, a lot of auctioneers are now doing live bid online auctions where you can actually bid in real time against bidders who attended the auction in person.

Pre-browse live auction catalogs online at http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

Yahoo Online Auctions Turn up the Heat on eBay

Yahoo is eliminating the listing fee charge for their auctions. Read more about it here.

View the original article here

Sell your items online – even if you don't have a website

Use Google Base and Google Checkout to sell items on the internet. Sounds interesting. No PayPal or eBay needed!

Read more at www.google.com/basepage...

View the original article here

Staying Within Your Auction Budget By Using Maximum Bidding

Looking for a great way to stay on budget and minimize the amount of time you spend in front of your computer when bidding on antiques online?
A great way to do this is through a feature some online auctioneers offer through their online catalogs. It is called maximum bidding. This is another way you can participate in an online auction without having to be at the auction when it is happening.
Maximum bidding is a technology offered through online auctions that allows you to place a maximum bid of what you are willing to pay on a certain item and the online system will bid against other bidders until your maximum bid has been reached.
For example, if there is an antique lamp that you are bidding on and you have put a maximum bid of $250 on this lamp, the auction house has the ability to bid on that lamp on your behalf up to your max bid. The advantage of this is that you might pay less than your highest bid if there are no other bidders or the other bidders stop bidding at a lower increment. Your bid will be the highest bid up until the $250 bid you entered.
As you can see, this allows you stay on budget and not get caught up in the excitement of the auction and end up over-bidding as a lot of people tend to do. You are able to do your research ahead of time on the item and decide what you want to spend on that item when the moment is calm.
So, are there any disadvantages of maximum bidding? One that I was able to come up with was that if you are not present at the auction and you have placed your highest bid, the item could go for just over the bid you placed and you might have missed the item by a minimal amount of money.
If the antique or collectible is something you really wanted and it ended up selling for a couple of dollars over what you would have paid, this could be aggravating or quite disappointing.
This is why when deciding on your max bid, you should be very confident in the price you are willing to pay. Not only will you save time and money, you will save yourself from any frustration!
When attending your next bid online auction, check to see if the auction allows for maximum bidding. It could be a great way to help you stay within your budget.



Bid live online in upcoming live auctions at http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

The One Secret That Will Save Your Money When Bidding Online at Auctions

What is the secret of saving money when bidding on online live auctions? There are a few secrets, but the biggest one by far is knowing your product.
It is important as an online bidder to know what you are looking at and being aware of how much each item you are looking at is worth. By researching the value and costs of the antique or collectible you are bidding on, you are able to bid online successfully without breaking the bank.
This could mean that you spend an extra couple of hours looking into market value of the antique you are looking at purchasing. That extra couple of hours could turn into hundreds of dollars of savings kept in your pocket!
There are many different options when looking into starting your research. Ask lots of questions, to auction houses or antique appraisers. You can find online forums which allow millions of people to post a lot of valuable information for you to look at when first learning. You have the option of going to local auction houses in your area and watching a few auctions that have similar antiques to what you are looking to acquire.
Don't be afraid to look at many different online websites or auction catalogs to compare values of goods as well. Consider comparing the prices of collectibles that sell in an auction to those that are selling for a fixed cost on other internet websites. This is a great way to see the different ranges in which other items that are similar sell for.
Also keep in mind that market value is always fluctuating. When doing research over time, it is always beneficial to re-compare values of what you are buying or even on what you already have purchased. Remember that market value isn't just dependant on the collectible itself, but also the supply and demand of other people out there looking for the same or similar items.
So, the next time you want to save some money when attending a bid online auction, don't forget to do your research first!



Bid live online in upcoming live auctions at http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

Three Reasons to Bid Online - Auctions Are Waiting

If you are an avid auction participant, the idea of taking your interest to the Internet may seem strange. After all, why bid online? Auctions are supposed to be attended, right? Well, yes and no. There is more here than meets the eye.

Convenience versus Attendance
No matter what you collect, from antique silver to sports memorabilia, sooner or later there will be an auction which you desperately want to attend, but can't. It might be distance that prevents you from getting to the auction, timing, or even a previous engagement, but with online auctions, it just doesn't matter.
Once you have registered and received permission to bid on a particular auction, you don't have to be there. You can sit down at your computer, stream the auction live, participate, bid, and triumph without setting foot outside your home. This is particularly wonderful if the auction is taking place several states away. You don't have to spend a ton of money for travel only to end the day empty handed.

Absentee Bidding Online
Of course, if the real problem is that the auction is taking place when you have another engagement, live bidding won't work. For this there is absentee bidding. The concept isn't new - people have used agents at auctions forever - but you never really know if your agent will represent you accurately.
With new software, you can look through an online catalogue, evaluate what you wish to bid upon, and place a maximum bid well in advance of the actual auction. You can do all of this when you have the time and can make a good, rational decision.
Later, when the auction takes place, you have the assurance that your bid will be raised to your maximum limit, automatically. You can check in when you are free to see if you won your item; if successful, shipping arrangements are made and your prize will arrive in due time.

A Broader Selection
If you are like most collectors, you are very much limited by geography at this point. You can plan to attend auctions that are out of state or far away, but it involves a lot of effort. Finding out about smaller auctions may not even be possible. With online auctions you can find out about any advertised auction, browse the catalogue, and make your decisions in leisure.
By accessing more auctions, as you do online, you have a better chance of seeing something special. Your auction house isn't limited to just the merchandise it has in stock; it can connect and coordinate with many other vendors, providing you with a better selection.

Secure and Safe Transactions
We all hear about security issues that crop up with online purchases - you don't have to worry when you participate in online auctions. Your information is processed with 128 bit encryption to protect your data from any prying eyes.
Once you take a look at just how many auction houses are turning to online bidding, the advantages will become even clearer. With the convenience, selection, and flexibility offered, it won't be long before you want to try bidding yourself. Online auction bidding is the best way to expand your collection.



Bid live online in upcoming live auctions at http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

What to Expect When Bidding in Internet Live Auctions

So, you're finally ready to bid online in some live auctions. You've done all the research, you're registered, you've asked the right questions, and you know how much you want to bid. But you may be wondering how you actually go about placing your live bid.



Mark Your Calendar and Login
It might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people forget about an auction or get confused about the day. Unless you are submitting an absentee bid, you must be online during the live auction.
Auction sites will typically have countdowns showing the amount of time left before the auction begins. Once the auction begins, click the button to enter the auction.

Navigating the Live Auction Screen
A new window should appear featuring the live auction. Depending on the seller, there may be live video or audio of the event. More important, there will be several columns that will tell you what's going on.
One column will show an image and/or description of the item. If you click on the item, a new window will open and take you to that item's entry in the online auction catalog.
Another column will show you the status of the current bid. If someone places an in-person bid, the notice will say "floor" to represent auction floor. If a person places bid online, that bid will be marked with that person's username.
On the screen you will also see status messages and messages sent by the auctioneer that are separate from the current or asking bid. For example, a message will appear when a lot opens for bidding and another will appear when it is closed. Sometimes auctioneers will ask if there are any more bids.
There should also be a column showing the queue of all of the items in the live auction.

The Waiting Game
There can be hundreds of items up for bid during an Internet live auction so you will probably have a bit of a wait before your lot. However, don't stray too far away from your computer. Lots can go quickly, especially if a lot closes without bids or if there are unchallenged absentee bids.
Watching how people go about bidding online may prompt you to re-think your own bid. You may also discover other items that you can't afford to pass up. Logging in early has the extra benefit of making sure that everything works on your computer and allows time to fix any glitches.

The Main Event - Live Bidding Online
Remember, you must be registered, approved, and logged in before you can bid. The approval process varies by auction house, so make sure you don't wait until the last minute.
From the live auction screen you will see a bid button featuring the current asking price. If that amount is acceptable, click the button and wait to see if anyone outbids you. The process will continue until no one else bids.
Finally, if you win your item, the auction house will contact you to go over payment and shipping/pick up arrangements.



Bid live online in upcoming live auctions at http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

Why Bidding Online Is a Huge Time Saver

Most people today have hectic busy schedules and have a hard time trying to get things done let alone take time out of their schedule to spend hours on end at an auction acquiring their next collectible.
When attending an auction, there are many hours spent waiting for your item to come up for bid or standing in line either signing up for the auction or paying for your newly won item. There is also travel time to consider. Do you have to travel out of town to go bid on what you want or sit in traffic for an hour or two?
How can you get around this time wasting and minimize the amount of time you spend trying to purchase your collectible?
One of the best ways to do this is through bid online auctions. In a bid online auction you are able to preview, bid and pay for your item from the comfort of your computer, whether that be at home or the office or even in the car.
More and more auction houses today are aware of how important it is to have an online presence and appreciate that their bidders have busy schedules. They do this by offering their catalogs online so that bidders can participate in their auctions just as if they were at the auction in person. This eliminates so much wasted time waiting around.
By adding pictures and complete descriptions to each item they have up for auction, you are able to preview each item without having to stand in line. You are able to bid on the items you are interested as if you were there live in person, bidding against other people interested in the same item. No more standing in line waiting to pay for your item either. Quite often auction houses will provide you safe and secure ways for you to pay for your item online or over the phone, which eliminates the worry with identity theft.
So, the next time you are out searching for the next great antique or memorabilia item, consider bidding for it in a bid online auction. It could save you hours and hours of time.



Bid live online in upcoming live auctions at http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

Why a Live Bid Online Auction Can Be a Better Experience Than a Traditional Auction

A live bid online auction can often be a better choice for you than using a traditional auction house to make your purchases. Before we get into the why and how of it though, a bit about what we mean when we say live bid online auction is in order.
We're discussing here a traditional auction with a real, licensed auctioneer who calls the bids as they come in, but the whole thing is conducted online rather than in person. It's completely unlike the more common models of online auctions and it's important to keep that in mind when trying to understand why we're so excited about them.
Here's why we believe that an online auction run by a live auctioneer is a better choice than a traditional auction run by the same auctioneer:
  
Better Selection

When you go to a local auction, you are inevitably stuck bidding on whatever someone happened to have in their local home. Unless you happen to live in New York or London and plan to attend a Sotheby's or Christie's auction, you will, out of necessity, be limited in your choices.
An online auction, by comparison, offers you the opportunity to bid for items that may be located anywhere in the country or anywhere in the world. In some cases, the online auction house you work with may actually arrange for containers to ship items in, though more often than not, the online auction house will have whatever is local to them, which likely will not be what is local to you.
Better Prices

Let's face it, when you're sitting at an auction house in person, things can get a little heated. Someone spots something and on a whim decides they simply must have it. Then they see you bidding on the same thing and feel almost compelled to outbid you just so you can't have it.
While some of those emotions will obviously spill over into an online auction, you will see less of them. Plus, because the concept of using a live bid online auction simply is not very well known yet, you may be able to score some great bargains, just like you used to back in the days before PBS started teaching everyone to look differently at the junk in their home and realize that they may have valuable antiques (via the Antiques Roadshow).

Convenience

For some of us, driving an hour to the auction house is a weekend activity and gives us something to do. However, for those of us who enjoy collecting rather than standing around all day in a stuffy auction house, a live bid online auction can be an absolute Godsend.
There is no more driving there and getting stuck in traffic only to learn that the item you had your heart set on just closed ten minutes before you got there. There is no racing to get there early so you can find a seat rather than be stuck standing in the back of the room. And you don't even have to worry about carrying precious antiques home in the car as they'll be shipped to you, professionally packed and insured.



Bid live online in upcoming live auctions at http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

What You Can Expect to Find at a Live Bid Online Auction

People tend to think that when they hear the term live bid online auction that it must be something similar to eBay where individual items are being offered by one person. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. Typically, a live bid online auction will be conducted by a licensed auctioneer who will be selling off the contents of an estate, the property from a defunct business, or any other kind of products you may find at your typical, traditional live auction house.

Antiques and Antiquities

One of the reasons many people love going to live auctions is that they have the ability to bid on antiques and even antiquities that are being liquidated from an estate, museum, or failed business. That's exactly what a live online auction house will sell as well. One of the most popular categories at such live online auctions is, in fact, antiques and antiquities just as you may find at a traditional auction house.
The merchandise being sold will typically be the entire contents of an estate or a business and thus you can find the same kind of great bargains that you would find at a traditional auction without having to actually go to the auction house. Think of it as making a telephone bid, but in the 21st century.

Office Supplies and Equipment

You may find live online auction houses selling off office equipment just like you see on eBay. However if that's the case, they'll probably have a whole pile of used computers, printers, fax machines, and monitors because they came from a business that has gone belly up. The sales will typically be for whole lots of various types of materials just as you may find at a traditional auction house as opposed to the traditional eBay style auction where just one or two of any particular item is being offered for sale.



Brick a Brack and Other Household Items

Since live online auctions will typically sell off the entire contents of someone's home, they will typically have all the same kind of materials you would find on a traditional auctioneer's block, including the common household items that come with a whole estate liquidation sale.
However, unlike at a traditional auction house, there may not be a cash and carry policy in place and if there is, it will definitely be optional since most live bid online auction houses will offer to arrange to ship the items you won in the auction directly to your home, especially if you happen to live out of state.

Everything Else

We once saw an auction house offering up items ranging from an in-home vegetable gardening system to a set of high-end dishes. Similarly to that, live bid online auctions will offer up pretty much anything and everything you can think of that may have some kind of value for potential buyers.
However, you should not expect to see lots of handmade items from the seller unless the person whose estate is being liquidated happened to have been of the artistic bent or happened to have collected those items.



To view and bid live in upcoming live auctions, visit http://www.icollector.com/about.aspx. William J. Walberg is a freelance writer who writes articles in the auction and technology industries.

Bidding Online Auctions

Auction

According to Wikipedia an auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder. In economic theory, an auction may refer to any mechanism or set of trading rules for exchange.
There are several variations on the basic auction form, including time limits, minimum or maximum limits on bid prices, and special rules for determining the winning bidder(s) and sale price(s). Participants in an auction may or may not know the identities or actions of other participants. Depending on the auction, bidders may participate in person or remotely through a variety of means, including telephone and the internet. The seller usually pays a commission to the auctioneer or auction company based on a percentage of the final sale price.

Types Of Auctions

There are many auction types. Here are just a few of them :

•    English auction is an open ascending price auction. This type of auction is the most common form of auction in use today. Participants bid openly against one another, with each subsequent bid higher than the previous bid. At least two bidders are required.
•    Dutch auction is an open descending price auction. At Dutch auction the auctioneer begins with a high asking price which is lowered until some participant is willing to accept the auctioneer's price. The winning participant pays the last announced price. In practice the Dutch auction is not widely used.
•    Sealed first-price auction. In this type of auction all bidders simultaneously submit sealed bids so that no bidder knows the bid of any other participant. The highest bidder pays the price they submitted. Such auctions are commonly used in tendering, particularly for government contracts and auctions for mining leases.
•    Vickrey auction. This is identical to the sealed first-price auction except that the winning bidder pays the second highest bid rather than his or her own. Vickrey auctions are rarely used.
•    Multi-unit auctions sell more than one identical item at the same time. This type can be further classified as a uniform price auction or a discriminatory price auction.
•    All-pay auction is an auction in which all bidders must pay their bids regardless of whether they win. The highest bidder wins the item.
•    Bidding fee auction, requires that each participant must purchase bids prior to placing them. When an auction's time expires, the last bidder wins the item and must pay a final bid price
•    Buyout auction is an auction with a set price (the 'buyout' price) that any bidder can accept at any time during the auction, thereby immediately ending the auction and winning the item.
There are many more other auctions types exist.

Online Auction

The online auction model is online based in which participants bid for products over the Internet. The functionality of buying and selling is made possible through auction software which regulates the auction. Several types of actions, mentioned above, are possible online. In an English Auction the initial price starts low and is bid up by successive bidders. In a Dutch Auction, multiple identical items are offered in one auction, with all winning bidders paying the same price -- the highest price at which all items will be sold. Almost all online auctions are English Auction based. The strategic advantages of online model is:
•    No time constraints. Bids can be placed at any time (24/7). Items are listed for a number of days (usually between 1 to 10 days), giving purchasers time to search, decide, and bid. This convenience increases the number of bidders.
•    No geographical constraints. Sellers and bidders can participate from anywhere that has internet access. The items do not need to be shipped to a central location, reducing costs, and reducing the seller's minimum acceptable price.
•    Intensity of interactions. The bidder anticipation is the hope that he will "win."
•    Large number of bidders. The broad scope of products and services available, the ease of access, and the social benefits of the auction process, there are a large number of bidders.
•    Large number of sellers. The large number of bidders and ease of access attract a large number of sellers.
•    Network economies. The bigger circle of operation, the larger the system becomes, and more valuable online business model becomes for all participants.