Auctions

Estate Liquidation - Pros and Cons of Tag Sales and Auctions

2010-10-02T03:00:00.001+07:00

Executors faced with liquidating an estate's personal property will quickly find that it is their most time-consuming administrative task. Executors who don't perform their duties could be removed from office by the Probate Judge, so it is important that they single-mindedly pursue disposing of the estate's property so that the bills can be paid and the estate settled.

What you'll get from this article

Executors have three main liquidation options, and I will discuss the pros and cons of each in this article. Any company chosen to liquidate an estate should be vetted; I will tell you how to do this conscientiously, and I will also propose the best liquidation method. I assume that the twin liquidation goals of the Executor are to achieve the greatest cash benefit to the estate and to leave the house broom-clean so that it can be sold. Of course, there are ways to maximize the cash return for each type of sale, and I'll tell you what they are.

Investing ten minutes into reading this article could save an Executor many hours of work.

Option 1: Have An Auction On-Site

Benefits of an On-Site Auction:

Auctioneers are very competitive lot. It should be an easy job for an executor to find an auction company willing to take the estate liquidation job, and commissions will be competitive. A strong argument for an on-site estate auction is that when the auction is over, there will be very little clean-up. If you like, the real estate can be auctioned as well, since auctioneers are licensed to auction the real estate and other titled property. In one day, the house, car, boat, RV, and all the household goods could be sold.

Negatives for an On-Site Auction:

Auctions are driven by competitive bidding. Consequently, it is necessary to have a lot of people at your auction. Big crowds require nice weather, plenty of parking, bathrooms, food, and refreshments to keep the people from leaving. Online bidding can be included to boost attendance, but it is the local crowd that builds excitement and drives the prices up. To attract a crowd, the estate must have collectibles and other quality goods. Run-of-the-mill goods that can be purchased at the local thrift store are insufficient to attract a good auction crowd.

Suggestions for an On-Site Auction:

If your estate has many large collectibles, like antique furniture or a piano, an on-site auction may be your best choice. Summer weekends, when the weather is warm and dry, are the best times to hold an on-site estate auction. The auction company you hire should be equipped with sound equipment, canopy tents, display tables, and plenty of help for fast checkout.

Option 2: Auction Gallery Consignment

Pros for Auction Gallery Consignment

If weather is a concern, you may want to consider consigning your items to an Auction Gallery. Consignments at an Auction Gallery are grouped according to the type of item in order to maximize turnout and get the best prices from their collectors. For example, there may be an auction dedicated to art and home decor, or musical instruments, or ceramics.

Cons for Auction Gallery Consignment

There are quite a few reasons for not consigning to an Auction Gallery. For starters, many Auction Galleries will take only the best items from the estate. Ninety percent of an estate is made up of items that are of little interest to the auctioneer, which leaves the Executor to deal with the remaining ninety percent of the estate property. Lastly, when an Auction Gallery spreads the merchandise out over several auctions, it can take months for all the items to sell, delaying the closing of the estate.

Tips for Auction Gallery Consignment

Before you consign to an Auction Gallery, ask the auctioneer how your merchandise will be distributed between auctions; get a guranteed settlement date. You will also need a plan for disposing of all the remaining estate merchandise.

Option 3: Tag Sale On-Site

Pros for Tag Sale On-Site

Tag sales have several advantages over an on-site auction. For those that are not familiar with tag sales, the sale is held on the premises and in the house. Companies that specialize in tag sales are less common than auction companies. At a tag sale, everything in the house is priced, much like at a yard sale. Shoppers will browse through the house, and choose the items they wish to buy. When buyers arrive at the house, they take a number, and are admitted into the house when their number is called. Tag sales usually start on Friday evening and end Sunday evening, so there is no need to provide food or bathroom facilities. Tag sales can be held rain or shine and in any season

Cons for Tag Sale On-Site

The biggest disadvantage in hiring a tag sale company is that tag sale companies are not held to the same legal standards to which auction companies are held. Auctioneers and Realtors are bound by law to the estate by a fiduciary bond. A fiduciary relationship binds the agent by law to act at all times in the best interest of the estate. Fiduciaries are licensed by the state, must pass tests, be bonded, must hold all funds in an escrow account until distributed, and has to settle the account with the estate within a specific time frame.

Fiduciaries must also keep accurate records and follow certain protocols. Failure of a fiduciary to follow procedures can result in fines or loss of license. Tag sale companies are not held to the same legal standards, although they certainly have a moral obligation to the estate. Tag sale companies can handle the details of the sale and the distribution of the money any way they see fit.

Another problem with tag sales is that typically there is merchandise left over after the sale. Often, there is a LOT of merchandise left over. When a lot of items are left over, the executor then has a clean-out problem, because the house must be left "broom-clean" before a realtor will list the house for sale. Unlike an auction, where prices go up with each bid, tag sale shoppers want to negotiate a lower price for everything, which is not only time consuming but costs the estate money.

Tips for Tag Sale On-Site

When working with a tag sale company, read the contract thoroughly, make sure settlement dealines are included. the operator should have a solid pricing plan, adequate staff, and a solid track record.

What about Internet Sales and Retail consignment?

Internet sales work well for items that can be shipped easily, like small collectibles, books, and artwork. Before you decide to sell these items online, remember that having a nice assortment of collectibles at your auction or tag sale is what will attract the buyers to your event. If you sell all the good collectibles online, you won't get very good attendance at your sale. Dont even consider a retail consignment; they will take too long to sell your items.

How do I know if I am dealing with a reputable company?

Unfortunately, asking for references doesn't always work; no one gives a bad reference. The Better Business Bureau lists ratings for some, but not all, companies. With an auction company, most states have an occupational licensing board which can give you the status of an auctioneers license and tell you if they have any complaints on file. Checking up on a tag sale company is a lot harder, because there is no agency keeping track of complaints. One website that is helpful is http://www.ripoffreport.com. When at the site search the name of the company you wish to investigate; also type in the owners name to see what that brings up.

Hire a company with a solid internet presence

These days, it is imperative for a company to have an online network. A company that is well-connected in the online world is likely to be a company that is well-networked in the local area. It's unlikely that a company with a poor or no website will be able to use the internet to generate sales for your event. Doing a Google search of the company's name or web address is the best way to to see how well connected they are. Go to Googles search bar (not the address bar at the top of the page, but the search bar in the center of the page) and type in the companys web address starting with www. How many search results are returned that pertain directly to the company you are investigating?. If the company is a national franchise, disregard the results for the general franchise and only count the results where the local company is mentioned. Ranking well with the search engines doesn't necessarily mean the company will be the best one for your needs, but it is a good indicator of the professionalism of the company. Typically, companies that have lots of returned results do so because other organizations want to associate with experts in their field, so they link to the experts website. A large number of linking companies is like a "vote" for the company being linked to. A company that displays lots of Google results is usually one that is recognized as being expert in their field.

So, what's the best way to liquidate an estate?

The best type of sale for estate liquidation is to hire a licensed fiduciary to sell the estate property in one day, to the bare walls, any time of year. To achieve this would require an event that is part tag sale and part auction, run by an auctioneer. Since Tag Sale operators are generally not licensed auctioneers and auctioneers usually hate to do tag sales, that's a tough solution to implement. There are auctioneers that combine these services, however. Finding such a company will give an executor the flexibility of having a sale any time of year, the ability to sell down to the bare walls with nothing left over, and the assurance of dealing with a state licensed and bonded fiduciary.

Wayne Jordan is a Virginia licensed Auctioneer, Certified Personal Property Appraiser, and Accredited Business Broker. He specializes in the Valuation and Liquidation of Estate and Business assets. Learn more at his website http://www.waynejordanauctions.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Jordan

Auction Brokers Represent You, Not the Auctioneer

2010-10-02T02:57:00.001+07:00

Auctioneers are not all the same. Just as Doctors and Lawyers have different levels of experience and different areas of specialty, so do Auctioneers. Some Auctioneers have considerable experience, while others are fresh out of Auction School. Most Auctioneers are generalists; others are experts or specialists in a particular area. Some Auctioneers have an excellent reputation and a strong following of loyal customers, others are struggling to stay in business. Most Auctioneers are honest, some are not.

And if you select the wrong Auctioneer to handle your consignment, your decision could cost you dearly.

That's where an "Auction Broker" comes in. The difference between an "Insurance Agent" and an "Insurance Broker" is that the Insurance "Agent" represents one and only one company, whereas the Insurance "Broker" represents several companies, and is able to shop your business around with several companies in order to locate the best company, and to obtain the best rate, for your particular needs.

The same is true of an "Auction Broker". Whereas an "Auctioneer" represents one and only one Auction Company (their own), an "Auction Broker" represents several different Auction Companies and can steer your consignment to the Auction Company best suited to handle what you have to sell. This is extremely important because the key to getting the most amount of money for what you are selling at Auction is to locate the best Auctioneer for what you have. And the Auction Broker is often the best person to help you accomplish that.

Most Auction transactions involve signing a contract with the Auctioneer. That contract will specify important points such as the commission and fees involved, when you will get paid, standard terms and conditions of sale, etc.

All Auctioneers are going to charge you a "Commission". That commission will normally be a percentage of what they sell for you. For example, if your consignment sells for $10,000, and your flat rate commission is 20%, you will receive $8,000, while the Auctioneer keeps $2,000 to cover his/her staffing, advertising, administrative, and other expenses...and hopefully their profit.

If you are unable to deliver your merchandise to the Auctioneer, most will charge you to pack it and transport it to Auction. And occasionally other fees such as photography fees, listing fees, Internet fees, and other charges may apply.

In exchange for these fees you are, in effect, "renting" the following from the Auctioneer:
• The Auctioneer's Name and Reputation.
• The Auctioneer's Place of Business.
• The Auctioneer's Years of Experience.
• The Auctioneer's Expertise in the commodities you are selling.
• The Auctioneer's Marketing and Promotional Ability.
• The Auctioneer's Mailing List and Contacts.
• The Auctioneer's Knowledge of Potential Buyers for what you are selling.

So the key to getting the most amount of money when selling at Auction is to locate the best Auctioneer for what you have to sell. As an extreme example, you wouldn't want to sell your Tools through a Doll Auctioneer, because there would be few, if any, Tool buyers attending a Doll Auction. And you wouldn't want to sell your Doll Collection at a Tool Auction for the same reason.

But what if you have little knowledge of the Auction business in general? Or the specialties and reputations of local, regional, or national Auctioneers? What should you do with your consignment? That's where the "Auction Broker" comes in.

Just as the Insurance Broker can place your business with the best Insurance Company for you, so too can the Auction Broker help you to locate the best Auctioneer for what you are selling. A qualified "Auction Broker" will perform several vital services that will help you to obtain the most amount of money for what you are selling:
• They will explain the Auction process to you.
• They will explain the difference between National, Regional, and Local Auctioneers, and which Auction level is best suited for what you have.
• They will walk you though the legalese on an Auction Contract.
• They know which Auctioneers specialize in specific commodities, and which Auctioneers have upcoming Auctions in your particular category.
• They will locate the best Auctioneer for what you have to sell.
• They will help you to understand the best time of the year to sell.
• They will help you understand when to send it all to one Auctioneer, and when it's best to split your consignment between two or more Auctioneers.
• They will negotiate the fairest commission possible for what you have to sell. (Are you aware that in some instances Auctioneers will work for "Zero Commission?").
• Depending upon the merchandise, sometimes (but not always) they can negotiate a reasonable "Reserve" for you. (A "Reserve" is a minimum price below which the item will not sell, and usually has to be negotiated with the Auction Company).
• They will help to ensure that you are not cheated in the process

Here are just a few examples of how Auction Brokers have helped clients receive the most money for what they have to sell.
• Client had several pieces of better art, some better Tiffany and Cartier sterling silver pieces, along with some more average, middle market merchandise. Arrangements were made to have the better items saved for a much better "Catalog" Auction with a prestigious Auction House several months later. These items were pictured in a 4-color, printed catalog and sold on the Internet as well as before a live Auction audience, in order to attract a national and international bidding audience. Those items not worth storing were sold more quickly and turned into needed cash faster.
• Client had mostly middle market items, along with a few better pieces of jewelry. Arrangements were made to sell the jewelry through a company that specialized in jewelry sales, while selling the lower end items through a less experienced Auctioneer who was eager to sell such items, and who sold most of the items individually rather than as "Box Lots" (i.e., selling them by the box), thereby netting the client more money.
• Client wanted to dispose of a Stamp and Coin Collection. Arrangements were made for the Stamps to be sold in a Stamp Specialty Auction, while the Coins were sold in a separate Coin Specialty Auction, resulting in significantly higher prices than if they were sold through a non-specialty Auctioneer.

How are Auction Brokers paid? They are generally compensated in one of three ways.
• Flat Consultation Fee: Here the Auction Broker will charge the client a flat consultation fee to review the items, sort them into specific categories, and make recommendations where they will sell best. If the Auction Broker is expected to pack and transport the sellable items, those fees will be additional. This usually works better with smaller consignments.
• Percentage of Final Selling Price: Some Auction Brokers will work on a percentage basis. In this compensation format, they receive a percentage of the final gross selling price of all items. This concept encourages the Auction Broker to sell for as much as possible because the higher the final selling fee, the more money both the client and Auction Broker will receive. This format works better with higher value consignments, and not as well with low-value consignments. The more work that is expected of the Auction Broker (i.e., packing, transport to the Auction House, etc.), the higher the commission rate.
• Referral Fee from Auction Company: Sometimes the Auction Broker will receive a "Referral Fee" from an Auction Company, just as the Insurance Broker is paid for writing business with a particular Insurance Company. Often this represents a percentage of the final commission the Auctioneer makes on the consignment.

The "Broker" concept is well-established in the Insurance industry, but is fairly new in the Auction business. If you regularly attend Auctions and understand the Auction process, you probably don't need the services of an Auction Broker. But if you are relatively inexperienced in the Auction field, and if you are considering selling things of value at Auction, then an Auction Broker can probably help you from making a very major and expensive mistake.

Michael Ivankovich is a licensed & bonded Bucks County PA Auctioneer and Appraiser, and has been calling Acutions for 20+ years in 10 different states. He is active within the Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association and the Lehigh Valley Society of Auctioneers, and in 2004 was named Pennsylvania's Auctioneer of the Year. For details, you can reach him at (215)-345-6094, email: info@michaelivankovich.com or visit his web site: http://www.michaelivankovich.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Ivankovich

SaleHoo - The Best For Auction Sites?

2010-08-16T02:27:00.001+07:00

Auction sites like eBay is where online businesses market their products. In fact, there are now millions of people who become members of eBay because they want to put up their own online business. Doing business online is the most convenient way to earn money through business. This is now the trend since many people are feeling the effects of the economic crisis happening for a few years now. And to earn by simply posting your products over the internet is easy and very profitable.

If you are going to have your items posted over the internet, you must be sure that your suppliers are reliable and legitimate. This is to make sure that you and your business will be protected and continue to run for a long period of time. One way to get rid of these fraud and scammers in the internet is to deal with SaleHoo.

SaleHoo can provide you all the items you need for your online business. It carries thousands of suppliers and distributors where you can get the items from. You are also given a wide array of products which you can sell and make part of your product list. This simply means that your online business will run a long time since you lots of product sources with SaleHoo.

It is also best to get products from this site because they offer products at a wholesale price which can give you more profits. So if you are looking to join eBay or other auction sites, join the one that can be helpful to you and your business like SaleHoo. Enjoy all the benefits that being a member can give and at the same time be protected from frauds and scammers online. SaleHoo is truly the best tool for online business owners like those who join auction sites like eBay.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marly_V._Brightman

Online Auctions, an Easy Way to Make Money Quick

2010-08-16T02:26:00.001+07:00

One of the easiest ways today to make money quick is to sell merchandise on online auction sites. These sites have become a global phenomenon, particularly eBay, and people can sell all kinds of new and used goods in many different countries. This ability to touch the global marketplace of consumers for nearly no initial investment enables the average person to make their money much faster than if they tried to sell products in more traditional ways.

Learning how to use an online auction site to your advantage and sell whatever you desire is easy, and takes no real training. Some sellers will make sure they are offering the highest quality, others making sure they have all details described to be sure buyers have an accurate picture of what they are buying, and others merely put a volume of auctions up at the same time to make money quick. Whatever your special technique will be, there are sellers interested in what you have to offer.

Fees for these online auction sites are quite reasonable, and are easily paid online as well. At times they will offer their sellers specials or no fee times to post your items as well, which is a bonus savings that ultimately adds to your profit. To make money quick on these sites you just have to have items that will sell and then get ready to start shipping them to your customers.

Some people use these auction sites to support their small businesses, and others are just individuals who like to buy and sell items. Some small businesses do their entire share of their selling on online auctions to make money quick and put those profits in their hands right away. These businesses range from clothing and apparel vendors to sports collectible or hobby vendors as well. You can virtually find any kind of business selling on these sites, including auto dealers as well. There is no limit as to what you might be able to buy or sell on these sites.

Ultimately, if you are looking to make money quick, you can surely find something around your house worth enough to sell in an online auction. If you have an ability to find a product wholesale, and believe you can turn a profit with selling individual items, you could strike it rich using this method of selling.

Christopher Mendetta is an experienced internet marketer who have built businesses and are now teaching others how to achieve the same success. For more information on how to make money at home visit: http://www.home-based-profit.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Mendetta

3 Alternative Auction Formats on eBay

2010-04-22T14:09:00.002+07:00

There are two standard auction formats that everyone is familiar with on eBay. Regular auctions which involves bids and waiting for the end of the auction. Or Buy It Now auctions which have an instant purchase.

There are three other alternative auction formats available on eBay that you should know about.

1. Private Auctions

Private auctions are similar to a regular auctions except that the bidders identities are hidden and only the seller knows the bidders usernames. Sellers have a choice when creating their auctions to offer this option to their buyers.
Private auctions are created mainly for these reasons:

- Buyers may be uncomfortable buying the item and having others know what they are buying, eg. a adult related item, etc.

- Buyers do not want their competition to snoop on them during the bidding process.

- Buyers may be embarrassed to purchase high priced items and be concerned that their financial status is open information.

2. Live Auctions

Traditional auctions use a live auctioneer in front of the audience of buyers and similar to this are the live auctions on eBay. You participate in real time through eBay. Items for these auctions are usually rare and expensive, such as art, jewellery, coins, furniture, memorabilia, etc. You made also see rare signed documents from historical figures, movie stars or sports heroes.

To participate in these live auctions you will need to register ahead of time at ebayliveauctions. It would be a good idea to search for a good guide to explain how to use these types of auctions.

3. Adult Auctions

These are restricted auctions for the adult items. Access is limited to buyers who must meet certain conditions to view and buy from these auctions.

To bid or buy adult items a buyer:

- Must be 18 years old
- Must supply valid credit card information
- Must agree that he/she is voluntarily accessing restricted access auctions.

As a seller of Adult Auctions you must know that your listing will be harder to find.

If you are looking for alternative auction formats to sell your hard to place items on eBay, one of these three formats may suit your needs. You may even want to consider combining any of these formats as well.

Peter Morrison is an active eBayer, who enjoys writing articles about auctions and other subjects as well. You can visit his blog at http://www.bumpauctions.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Morrison

My Top Ten Tips to Auction Profits

2010-04-22T14:09:00.001+07:00

As an experienced auction seller and buyer on eBay over many years, I often come across "bad" auctions. What I mean about "bad" auctions is the amount of mistakes that many people make when they list their auctions. They make these same mistakes over and over again. With a little bit of help, you can prevent many of these same mistakes when you list your auctions. I have put together My Auction Info Top Ten Tips To Profit.

10. Shipping

Your potential customers always want to know what the shipping price is. Do not try to inflate your shipping price, because most buyers will have a good idea what is a fair price for shipping. Once they know your location they can check shipping prices online. They will pass on your auction if they feel they are not getting a fair price.

9. Customer Relations

When potential buyers email you for information, respond promptly. You will lose customers if you are not willing go the extra mile for customers. Happy customers will buy from you again.

8. Reserve Price

Look at other auctions that are similar to yours. Use a reserve price that is reasonable. If you over price your item you will not get many bids. You may actually get more bids if you use a no reserve auction. It all depends on the amount of research you did before you listed you auction.

7. Condition of Item

When you list your auction always tell your bidders the condition of your item. If it is new, in packaging or like new condition. It it is a used item, tell your bidders and point out any imperfections.

6. Customer Service Terms

You can put terms on your auction listing such as "Not responsible once item shipped" or "Item sold as is". A drawback for these terms will be less people bidding on your auctions. Offer insurance for your items and be sure to offer some type of guarantee.

5. Taking Care of Feedback

This is an important part of you auctions on eBay. This is the way eBay allows buyers and sellers to record there experiences with each other. Anyone can check out another persons feedback rating. This will help them decide whether they want to deal with that person. Keep good relations with your customers to ensure they give you good feedback.

4. Time of Auction

Start your auctions around the time that bidders will be active. The best time to start or end your auctions is in the evening on the weekend. Try to do a little research to find out who you are selling your item to. Plan your start or end time around that.

3. Description of Item

Keep your descriptions of your items to the point. Not enough information or too much information will not attract bidders for your item. Try to create an interest in your item. Look at other similar auction items and take ideas from their pages.

2. Images

You will attract bidders when you include a good image in your listing. Take a picture of your item if possible and upload it to your auction. You can also copy and paste images to your auction if you do not have a digital camera. For this you will need to create your own auction page in an html editor. You can put more than one image doing it this way.

1. Title

This is the most important feature for your auction listing to attract the most bidders. You have to select words that people search for on eBay. You can find the best ideas by looking at other auctions. Check out successful auction listings, by finding the page views at the bottom of the auction page. You can use a free online title optimizer tool called the BayEstimator to check out your titles. Search for it on Google.

Peter Morrison is an active eBayer, who has enjoyed writing articles about auctions and other subjects as well. Visit his blog at http://www.my-auction.info.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Morrison

Car Dealer Auctions - You Are Now Invited to the Party

2010-04-22T14:08:00.002+07:00

Annually there are numerous cars disposed of at car auctions. These auctions go by different names based on their backgrounds, i.e., salvage car auctions, police auto auctions, seized car auctions, damaged cars, car dealer auctions, etc. Mostly though, these auctions are only offered to automobile dealerships and the public can not attend. The current exception to this is the introduction of web-accessed auctions like Car Auction Inc where these vehicles are available to the public via the internet.

The selling price of cars sold at the auction is always less than what the dealer would advertise on its lot, because the specific seller's need to clear their inventories quickly and hassle-free. There are several of groups these unwanted cars originate from: expired leases, old rental car fleets, aging company cars, repossessed and seized vehicles, and trade-ins.

Leases

Banks and financial institutions with vehicles with expiring leases use closed auctions (private, not open to the public) to sell off the cars. Off-lease vehicles are good specimens for auction participants as they are usually in good repair because of limited mileage, regular maintenance, and penalties for neglect and excessive wear. Also, the banks choose to liquidate them in a timely manner and thus, compromise by accepting lower selling prices..

Rentals

Car rental companies like to swap out their vehicles on a yearly basis to make room for the new ones. This creates a substantially large amount of late-model cars in the marketplace. They rely on auto auctions too for a quick sell-off. These cars are in demand by bidders because they are well maintained and usually less than a year old. Despite that, they frequently have high mileage and rough usage by the wide array of drivers and driving conditions.

Company cars

All sizes of companies often have fleets of cars, trucks, or vans for their employees that they choose to replace every two or more years. This is another example of the need for a car auction. Company vehicles driven by the upper tier are often luxury cars and are usually driven gently. Thus they tend to be in overall good condition. Conversely, trucks and vans usually get more use and abuse. All types get adequate maintenance so this is not an issue.

Repossessed

Finance companies facing unpaid car loans have to repossess, or seize the vehicle. When this happens an auction is their only choice for removing the car from their possession. Buyers can get excellent deals on repossessed cars because the banks only seek to offset their losses from the loan. The car's condition is another issue here, as there is a higher chance of neglect and possible sabotage by the delinquent owner. Repairs and maintenance could have been ignored, too.

Trade-ins

When a dealership accepts a trade-in for a new car, they don't often keep these older cars on the lot for resale. Retaining aging vehicles is unfavorable to dealerships because the costs are high and can adversely effect their reputation. If they have many cars of this nature on the lot not being sold, then poor salesmanship could be implied. So it is wise to move these trade-ins out of the inventory. At auction they can usually yield a bit more than what they offered on the trade-in. The condition of these vehicles is all over the place, as some have after-market additions, and some may be older and out of warranty.

Many in this category of cars will be of high quality and late models still under warranty. Federal law states that full disclosure of any major mechanical problem, which may void the warranties. Cars with a troubled history are classified as salvage, and are put up for auction mostly by the insurance companies that had underwritten them. So in addition to these car dealer auctions there are salvage car auctions, and police auto auctions that may include government cars as well.

Before car auctions on line were commonplace, most of the auctions were closed to the public and reserved only for auto dealerships. Now, with internet services like Car Auction Inc, that does not stand. With access to the World Wide Web, the general public can join the party and share in the great deals offered by car auctions that only an exclusive few formerly enjoyed.

Please visit Peter Charles's very informational website, http://www.carsalesandauctions.com, on automobile auctions that you can access online and actually participate in. Learn how you can get in on these tremendous deals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_D._Charles

Auction Variations in Swoopo

2010-04-22T14:08:00.001+07:00

Bidding in Swoopo requires good strategy, mindset and skill to win the bids. However, this is a common problem for people who are new to Swoopo and are still getting the hang of it of the bidding system. The good thing is there are different variations on the Standard Swoopo Auctions.

Beginner Auctions -- as the name says, this auction is only available for Swoopo users who have yet to win an auction in Swoopo. The competition here is less fierce and also less experienced.

Penny Auction-type -- in this type, the price of the item is increased only one cent for each bid. This is usually for highly desirable items like TVs, Cameras, Game Consoles and related gadgets.

Standard Auction-type -- each bid in a standard auction raises the price by 2, 6, 12 or 24 cents. You'll recognize these by a red banner across the left side of the screen that lists the bid amount. Even though these up the price at different intervals, you'll still pay $.60 per bid.

Nailbiter Auctions -- this type of auction prohibit the use of Bidbutler, meaning each bid is done manually by clicking the bid button. This auction is also recommended for beginners to get their feet wet on Swoopo. Make sure though that you have several hours to spend before committing to an auction on a Nailbiter as they require constant attention.

Open Auctions -- Swoopo sets a limit on the number of auctions you can win in a given month (usually 8 auctions). But on Open Auctions, you can bid regardless of how many other auctions you've won that month.

Closed Auctions -- this latest addition in Swoopo Auction allows some auctions to be closed to a limited number of bidders. Only those users who have placed at least one bid can continue to bid. There is a simple thing you can do to make sure you don't get "locked out" of these closed auctions you want to participate with. This will be discussed more on the basic Swoopo bidding strategy.

International and Local Auctions -- you can determine if an auction is international by the globe icon at the top right-hand side of the screen. On the other hand, Local auctions only allow Swoopo bidders from a specific country to participate. These are shown with the relevant country flag.

Other Auction Types -- the last two former auction types in Swoopo were Fixed Price Auctions and 100% Off Auctions. These auction types are no longer offered because of the confusion it caused among Swoopo bidders and outsiders who are checking the system.

Anyhow, these are the type of auctions you can place your bids with on Swoopo. Remember that it is not hard to bid on Swoopo if you get to learn each basic step and choose the right auction type that best suits your Swoopo bidding strategy.

Swoopers dot org is a Swoopo strategy community, where Swoopo users swap tricks and tips on how to win BIG on Swoopo. To learn more about how to join Swoopers dot org, visit SwoopoManual.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_B_Fox

Government Auctions and Police Auctions Sites - Homes For Under $5K and Cars Under $2K

2010-04-22T14:07:00.002+07:00

Many citizens are unaware of the large volume of seized property that ends up with law enforcement custody. This is not just on a local level, but state and federal also. This is property that has been repossessed, lost, abandoned or seized from criminals. Government auctions and police auctions are scheduled when there is a large volume of merchandise available. These kinds of auctions are known as impound auctions.

There are two main reasons law enforcement agencies hold auctions. One reason is to free up space in the storage areas. The other is to raise money that is put back into the department or put towards a specific project. There are several different types of government and police auctions you may come across:

Impounds and Forfeitures:

These are the auctions you want to attend if you are looking for bargains on big ticket merchandise. This might include automobiles, watercraft, private planes and sometimes real estate. These types of items are usually confiscated as part of a large drug arrest where it was obvious that the property was purchased with the money made from the manufacture and/or sale of illegal drugs.

The first thing you should know is that the items sold at these auctions go as they are. This is not as cut and dried as a car with a bullet hole in it. This could mean that you will be stuck with liens to pay off before you are deemed the owner of the merchandise. For example, if you bought a vehicle at a police auction that had loan payments due you would be responsible for those payments.

While it is definitely possible to score huge discounts on fabulous items at these auctions, it is important to make sure you know what you're getting into before bidding.

Abandoned and Unclaimed Items:

These are government and police auctions where lost items are sold. This is merchandise that was turned into the police station and never claimed. While the police will attempt to locate the owner, if they cannot and no one comes forward to claim the lost item it is put up for auction. There are all kinds of items you might find such as handbags, jewelry, electronics and more.

How Police Auctions are Held:

Although rules and regulations vary from place to place, usually there will be a published notice listing the items up for auction as well as the date, time and place the auction will be held. At some auctions, you are required to sign up ahead of time. At others, pre-registration is not a requirement. At most all auctions, there is time to check out the merchandise before bidding starts.

The Lowdown on Government Auctions:

Like police auctions, you can find super deals on expensive merchandise. However, government auctions are often not as widely publicized as local police auctions, so you may have to do some digging. It is worth the time and effort to learn the ropes of these public auctions because you can actually make money.

For example, you could buy a luxury car for several hundred dollars when it is worth tens of thousands. Then you could turn around and sell it for more than you paid, putting a tidy profit in your pocket. This might also apply to jewelry, designer handbags, designer clothing, private jets...you wouldn't believe the variety available at some of these auctions.

Always set a limit for yourself before attending either police auctions or government auctions. The reason for this is that it is very easy to get lost in the excitement and overpay for an item just because the bidding was heated.

To find reviews of the top Government Auction sites that have listings for real estate (including distressed home sales and foreclosures), cars and most any kind of merchandise check out government auctions reviews. If interested more in vehicles only click police auctions.

About the Author: Nolan Speers has been investing in real estate for over 15 years and specializing in government and police auctions for the last 5.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nolan_Speers

How to Find Great Deals Using Government Car Auctions

2010-04-22T14:07:00.001+07:00

If you are in the market for a car, you should consider looking at government car auctions. These auctions are not hard to find if you know where to look and usually offer many different vehicles for sale. If you are willing to do a bit of research and take the time, anyone can find affordable vehicles in good condition at one of these auctions.

Who Can Place Bids At Government Car Auctions?

If you are over the age of 18 and you have valid identification, you are eligible to bid on cars in government car auctions. Other than being a licensed driver, all you will need to participate in government car auctions is by registering, which is usually free, and bringing payment with you should you bid on a vehicle successfully.

Most government car auctions will accept a range of payment options. Although you should check with a particular auction before visiting one, you will find that most auctions accept cash, cheque, credit cards, a cashier's cheque or a money order. You should not assume that you will be able to arrange financing if you have purchased a car at one of these auctions.

Where Do Auctioned Vehicles Come From?

The vehicles being sold at auction come from a wide variety of sources and will therefore they will not all be in the same condition. A car may have been repossessed by the bank, seized by a taxation agency for failure to pay taxes, or they may have been seized by law enforcement during the course of a criminal investigation.

You can often find listings of vehicles that are being offered in an upcoming auction. You should review all of the information you can get on the vehicle, its condition and the features that the vehicle has. You may find that the vehicles in auctions range in terms of how much mileage is on the vehicle, the model years of the vehicles being auctioned, and other features as well.

You may find that other vehicles are being auctioned as well depending on the size of the auction. Larger areas may focus on cars but if there is an annual auction in a smaller area they may add in vehicles such as boats or ATV's to round out the auction.

There are different forms of auction. There are sealed bid auctions, where the bidding process is extremely private and you do not know what the other bids or bidders are. You may find vehicles on Internet auctions as well, and Internet auctions are becoming more common and increasingly popular as more people have access to the Internet.

If you are interested in taking part in government car auctions, the Internet is one of the best tools for accessing and researching them. If possible, you should look at statistics for past auctions held in the same area as it can give you an idea of the amounts that vehicles have been sold for in the past and this can give you a bit of a guideline for what you may be paying at the auction you will be attending.

It is such a great feeling to own a new car and pay little for it. Do a free search for the car that you want in your local state by going to government repossessed car auctions. You can also find other government car auctions by going to our site.

By Jayson Park

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jayson_N_Park

Purchasing Strategy Tips For Your eBay Business

2010-02-27T22:43:00.001+07:00

Here are some purchasing strategy tips for your eBay business:

1. Come up with a plan for purchasing several times a year. You might plan to make strategic purchases on a quarterly basis, or twice a year. It is important to set up an annual budget that allocates money for seasonal purchases. Not only do you need to have resources available for making purchases, but this also helps you to know when you are likely to have an influx of income so you can plan to meet your personal needs.

2. Knowing when your busy times will be also helps you allocate space in your storage areas for accommodating your inventory. Many sellers have to clean or restore the items that they will then resell. If you deal with larger items, you may have to rent storage space or set up areas in your warehouse when you are likely to be fully stocked.

3. Get in the habit of purchasing in advance for seasons and events coming up later in the year. Some of it might depend on weather, if you deal with goods that are hotter or cooler. There are also plenty of holidays that are geared to acquiring gifts of decorations. A smart seller is eager to pitch his or her wares when a large audience is likely to be eager to purchase.

4. Once you have determined how frequently you want to sell, come up with a plan. If you plan to purchase on a quarterly basis, come up with a review of the previous quarter. Your quarter review should include the value of your inventory, your gross sales revenue, and the total number of items you ended up selling below your desired price.

5. If you sell many different items in various categories, simplify your planning. Focus on one major category at a time. You will give yourself less work to do, and you will be able to isolate successful categories from failing ones.

To be a successful eBay seller, you must have a systematic purchasing strategy. I hope the tips above will give you some head start to setup your own purchasing strategy.

Eruwan Gerry is an Education Specialist Trained by eBay. Click here to get your FREE eBay bonuses worth $398!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eruwan_Gerry

Why You Should Seriously Think of Becoming an eBay

2010-02-27T22:42:00.000+07:00

Are you currently looking for ways to make money online? Have you thought about eBay? Most people have heard of eBay, even if they've only ever used it to browse around. But have you ever thought about making money online by actually selling on eBay?

What's nice about eBay is that just about anyone can become an eBay seller, including you. It also means if you have any items to dispose of you can sell them on eBay, and of course make money at the same time.

You may, for example, have lost your job through redundancy, or retired from full time employment altogether. You may be a housewife with a bit of time on your hands while the children are at school or a teenager who wants to be a millionaire by the time they're 20. Whoever you are, it doesn't really matter, if you have a few hours to spare a week, YOU could be making money online by becoming an eBay seller.

One of the beauties of becoming an eBay seller is that it's so simple to do! For a start there are NO minimum auction requirements, which means you can try things out to see if they sell or not, and also see if you like it.

You can start by selling a few unwanted items from around your home; it's what most people do before they take it any further. If you find the experience all too much, then just stop doing it. eBay is really flexible like that to all users, especially those getting started.

When selling an item on eBay, you will have step-by-step instructions on how to list your items and get your auctions up and running. Just by following these simple instructions you can have your items listed and live on auction in minutes!

If you're stuck for items to sell on eBay, don't forget you can sell just about anything! With literally millions and millions of active eBay buyers out there, there will always be someone somewhere who'll buy it! Go to the eBay Help centre for a list of the things you can't sell, but they're normally things you wouldn't want to sell anyway. Despite a few restrictions, there are a large number of items that can be sold on eBay. These include real estate, vehicles, clothing, toys, movies, books, gaming consoles, computers, beauty items, and much more.

Whether you're looking to sell something that you have in your home, something you bought from a yard sale, thrift store or second hand shop, or something that can be dropped shipped from another company, you should be able to do it online easily with eBay.

I suppose it's the ability to make money from everyday things that makes eBay such a good way to start selling. If you've never sold anything before in your life, then you will be amazed at how easy it really is to get started. In no time at all you will have sold all there is to be sold around the home (except the kitchen sink - I'd leave that for now) and then be looking for other things to sell.

If selling on eBay isn't for you then you've lost nothing by trying it out except a few listing fees, but if you take to it like a duck to water (as most people do) then what is to stop you carving out a first, second or third career as a fully fledged eBay seller. Give it a go!

Discover how you can turn ordinary things into real money FAST! Find out where you get products at rock bottom prices to sell for HUGE profits time after time. Get hold of a step by step guide that will show you how to earn thousands a week from your own kitchen table!
Go to http://all-for-online-auctions.blogspot.com or http://smartauctionprofits.blogspot.com where you will find all the information you need to get started. Isn't that what you want?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bernard_Thompson

The Truth About Bidrivals Auctions - True Bidrivals Review and Reference Coupon Code

2010-01-29T17:25:00.003+07:00

When searching the internet it's easy to find some Bidrivals fraud claims, but the truth is that most people complaining are just unhappy customers, that spent some money and didn't win.

That doesn't mean it's unfair or that there is something devious going on, it was just a case of failed strategy. If you buy a pack of 20 or 50 bids and hope to get expensive items at your first try, then these kind of auctions aren't for you.

There are two courses of action:

1) Be willing to pay market price and hope others quit before that. You will get the product anyway, even if you don't win. Just click on the red buy button, and the bids you spent trying to win will be deducted from the final price. So, it's not gambling if you are willing to go all the way and pay the final price in case you don't win, it's like buying in a store but with the possibility of getting it for a lower price.

2) Start bidding at the right time, after the others spent most of their credits. It's time consuming to monitor an auction for a long period, but sometimes it pays of.

But how can some products end for low prices, won't the company loose money? Yes, but you have to see the big picture, some auctions will end after thousands of bids, and that compensate all other auctions that have an early end.

As you can see this is the truth about 1 cent auctions or penny auctions as they are also called (Swoopo was one of the first), this is how they can provide some products at low prices. There is no Bidrivals scam at all! This is a true and unbiased Bidrivals review, and you can confirm it.

After that you just need to go to Bidrivals.com (it will automatically select the proper country: Bidrivals us, uk, nz, au, br, dk, de, fr, ie, it, lu, nl, no, pl, pt, se, at, ch, be, ca,...) and start bidding! And remember, the final price you pay is the total amount of bids you do plus the final price. Don't forget to use the best Bidrivals coupon code that you can find. A great current one is NKU10 and will give 10 extra bids when you buy a bid package.

This is the end of my Bidrivals.com review, hope it will help you.

Do you want to know more?

Read or download a free report by visiting my bidrivals strategy site. With the right tips and strategies you will save money.

My name is Nuno Oliveira and my username is Trapi and I've won a SLR Camera Canon 50D, a Nintendo Wii, an iPod Classic, an iPod Shuffle, a Nintendo Wii Fit Plus, a Panasonic TZ7 Digital Camera, an HP 23" Monitor, etc.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nuno_Oliveira

SaleHoo - Get Computer Merchandise at Wholesale Prices Via SaleHoo Dropshipping

2010-01-29T17:25:00.001+07:00

How can you survive in this world of modernization? Well, simple! Equip yourself with knowledge and with high tech Information Technology gadgets like computers. Computer is what makes our world much more advanced. It is the most powerful machine that man has ever invented. And it is now part of our daily lives.

If you want to earn big money in less time, then this niche is for you. There is a high demand for computer and its accessories. Those running a computer cafe and those people at the corporate world would be a great catch for you. This business people normally purchase PCs by bulk. So this is great chance to move your product quickly and increase your sales volume. But of course, you can also generate income in selling PCs to school and to ordinary people who are indulged in surfing the internet.

You can also sell computer parts for those people who want to assemble their own PCs. In this way, you can be known to be people as a specialized store for computers. This is one way to make your name popular at the market. You can use the newest trend in e-commerce called the drop shipping instead of the traditional trading system. This modern way of doing business allows you to sell your products via the internet without worrying about the stock inventory and delivery process. You just have to create your own website or just sign up for an account in eBay or other auction site and make an enticing advertisement of your product there. Creating sales is your major task in this kind of business. The rest of the job will be handled by the drop shipper. You just have to transfer the order request to the drop shipper and the drop shipper will pack and ship the product directly to the customer under your name. It is so simple! You can even work everywhere you like without time constraints. This kind of business technique can help you earn money even while sleeping.

The only crucial step here is looking for your wholesale drop shipper. You must be able to find a reputable drop shipper that is rightly fitting to your business needs. Have a set of standard and start surfing the internet. It would be much easier if you will use web directory like SaleHoo. SaleHoo can provide you a broad list of wholesale drop shippers that offer wholesale computer products at low prices. Compare each one of them and get the one that suits your standard. With SaleHoo, you can surely get higher discounts and reputable wholesale drop shipper because SaleHoo accredited companies are all verified legitimate company and have passed a strict screening process that ensures their reliability.

Buy Direct Wholesale
Jumpstart Your Online Business and Join the eBay Powersellers! Buy Wholesale Products From Real Wholesale Manufacturers Worldwide. Compare Top 3 Legit Wholesale Suppliers. As Compared by BBC News: Buy Wholesale Products

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_J._Franklin

SaleHoo - A Platform of Conversion From Plain Wholesale Buyers to Wholesale Business Owners

2010-01-29T17:24:00.001+07:00

People's thoughts and ideas are changing day by day. So the businesses regarding individual's preference are changing. They develop new ideas of business according to people's choices. Some people choose to buy their essential products in bulk in order to gain advantages. These products maybe clothing, undergarments, shoes or anything that people need to buy. But to purchase things in bulk, you have to be very careful about the suppliers and drop shippers. You need to be sure before purchasing things that suppliers and drop shippers you are dealing with are authentic and reputable. It's not that hard to find out reliable suppliers. In this case, you can count on Salehoo. Salehoo is the most reliable authentic wholesale directory that you can choose to find out your right suppliers and drop shippers.

Salehoo is one of the most popular whole sale directories that can provide you various helpful marketing and managing tools and also can show you people's testimonials and stories of dealing with Salehoo so that you can easily realize that how Salehoo can change the status of your business. Thus you become actually an owner of a whole sell business instead of being a straight whole seller. Additionally you can also generate income from Salehoo if you are dedicated to know that how can you generate a profitable income from Salehoo. It will help you to gain some real extra income. You can generate income always with this till you are dealing with a reliable directory.

Thus you can obtain enough information regarding this business to be realized that it's not that hard to earn some extra money with Salehoo and you can perform this with a simple effort and it doesn't need you to give your full attention. It is very possible to earn extra money through dealing with wholesale directories. All you have to do is just relax and wait for the advantages. Most importantly you don't need to give your full attention to generate money. Just be wholesale owner and do at least your essentials.

A wholesale business consists of many different parts like storing, packing, delivering etc. You have to be very conscious to build a profitable business about choosing your part. It is very possible that you will not be able to afford all part of a wholesale business. To meet your needs, there are drop shippers to supply your product and thus reduce your works. Choose a genuine drop shipper and make yourself free from the task you will not be able to effort. But be conscious enough to check the tasks to be sure that your products are being delivered to the buyers safely and with quality.

As Seen on BBC News, FORBES and CNN Money
See: Wholesale Dropshipping List (Platinum Edition) and Wholesale Dropship Suppliers

Erika J. Browen is an eBay Powerseller, generating sales of up to $65,000 monthly, at which almost 40% is her profit. Find out how she created her online business with only $200, and how she leveraged the use of wholesale dropshippers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erika_J._Browen