Arizona Internet Auction Tips & Etiquette
Are you thinking about buying at an Arizona internet auction? This article is designed to provide you with the details on how online auctions work and how to avoid getting caught in a scam. Specifics may vary from auction to auction; however, the following information includes helpful and important guidelines from which everyone can benefit. Arizona internet auctions are like an online marketplace. You can ?walk in,? scan the goods for sale, choose a few items you?d like to buy and then bid on them. Some internet auctions features sellers who are businesses that offer merchandise and accept payment for their goods, which are usually shipped from a warehouse or other location. Other internet auctions are private party only sellers where items are auctioned directly to consumers and shipped directly from the seller?s location. To participate in an online auction as a bidder, you must register. Registration requires you to set up an account where you will either receiver a bidder number or a unique user name. You will also be required to choose a method of payment, and often times, prove that you will be able to pay. Registration must be completed before you participate in an internet auction. Sellers must also register to sell in an Arizona internet auction. Then, they can list the items they have for sale and, in most cases, set a time limit and a reserve price (the lowest price they will accept for an item. Sellers also agree to pay a fee every time they conduct an auction, and sometimes a commission fee once they sell. When the bidding closes at the scheduled time and the reserve price has been met, the highest bidder wins the auction. If no one bids at or above the reserve price, the auction closes without a winner and is usually relisted. At the end of a successful Arizona internet auction, the buyer and seller communicate ? usually by email ? to arrange for payment and delivery. Sounds pretty simple right? Not always! The internet is filled with people who are looking to make a quick buck ? no matter what. Online auctions are no different. They can often be the target of fraud. However, internet auctions can be a lot of fun and a relatively safe way to do business if you know what you?re doing. Here are some tips that will help you avoid an online auction scam: – Become familiar with the auction site. Never assume that the rules of one auction site apply to another. – Know and understand what form of payment the seller accepts. If the seller accepts only cashier’s checks or money orders, decide whether you’re willing to risk sending your payment before you receive the product. – Protect your privacy. Never provide your Social Security number, driver’s license number, credit card number, or bank account information until you have checked out the seller and the online payment or escrow service, if you’re using one, to ensure legitimacy. – Learn about the protections (if any) the auction site offers buyers. Some sites provide free insurance or guarantees for items that are undelivered, not authentic or not what the seller claimed. – Read the entire description of the item, including the fine print. Look for words like “refurbished,” “close out,” “discontinued,” or “B-grade” – especially when shopping for computer or electronic equipment – to get a better idea of the condition of the item being auctioned. – Find out everything you can about the seller. Avoid doing business with sellers you know nothing about, especially those who try to lure you off the auction site with promises of a better deal. Some auction sites post feedback ratings of sellers based on comments by other buyers. Check them out. These comments and ratings may give you some idea of how you’ll be treated. – Establish the highest price you?re willing to pay and stick to it. This can help ensure that you get a fair price and protect you from snipers. Don’t bid on an item you don’t intend to buy. If you’re the highest bidder, you’re obligated to follow through with the transaction. Some auction sites bar “non-paying” bidders, also known as “deadbeats,” from future bidding.
Arizona Internet Auction Tips & Etiquette
Are you thinking about buying at an Arizona internet auction? This article is designed to provide you with the details on how online auctions work and how to avoid getting caught in a scam. Specifics may vary from auction to auction; however, the following information includes helpful and important guidelines from which everyone can benefit. Arizona internet auctions are like an online marketplace. You can ?walk in,? scan the goods for sale, choose a few items you?d like to buy and then bid on them. Some internet auctions features sellers who are businesses that offer merchandise and accept payment for their goods, which are usually shipped from a warehouse or other location. Other internet auctions are private party only sellers where items are auctioned directly to consumers and shipped directly from the seller?s location. To participate in an online auction as a bidder, you must register. Registration requires you to set up an account where you will either receiver a bidder number or a unique user name. You will also be required to choose a method of payment, and often times, prove that you will be able to pay. Registration must be completed before you participate in an internet auction. Sellers must also register to sell in an Arizona internet auction. Then, they can list the items they have for sale and, in most cases, set a time limit and a reserve price (the lowest price they will accept for an item. Sellers also agree to pay a fee every time they conduct an auction, and sometimes a commission fee once they sell. When the bidding closes at the scheduled time and the reserve price has been met, the highest bidder wins the auction. If no one bids at or above the reserve price, the auction closes without a winner and is usually relisted. At the end of a successful Arizona internet auction, the buyer and seller communicate ? usually by email ? to arrange for payment and delivery. Sounds pretty simple right? Not always! The internet is filled with people who are looking to make a quick buck ? no matter what. Online auctions are no different. They can often be the target of fraud. However, internet auctions can be a lot of fun and a relatively safe way to do business if you know what you?re doing. Here are some tips that will help you avoid an online auction scam: – Become familiar with the auction site. Never assume that the rules of one auction site apply to another. – Know and understand what form of payment the seller accepts. If the seller accepts only cashier’s checks or money orders, decide whether you’re willing to risk sending your payment before you receive the product. – Protect your privacy. Never provide your Social Security number, driver’s license number, credit card number, or bank account information until you have checked out the seller and the online payment or escrow service, if you’re using one, to ensure legitimacy. – Learn about the protections (if any) the auction site offers buyers. Some sites provide free insurance or guarantees for items that are undelivered, not authentic or not what the seller claimed. – Read the entire description of the item, including the fine print. Look for words like “refurbished,” “close out,” “discontinued,” or “B-grade” – especially when shopping for computer or electronic equipment – to get a better idea of the condition of the item being auctioned. – Find out everything you can about the seller. Avoid doing business with sellers you know nothing about, especially those who try to lure you off the auction site with promises of a better deal. Some auction sites post feedback ratings of sellers based on comments by other buyers. Check them out. These comments and ratings may give you some idea of how you’ll be treated. – Establish the highest price you?re willing to pay and stick to it. This can help ensure that you get a fair price and protect you from snipers. Don’t bid on an item you don’t intend to buy. If you’re the highest bidder, you’re obligated to follow through with the transaction. Some auction sites bar “non-paying” bidders, also known as “deadbeats,” from future bidding.
Geico and Partners to Auction ‘geico Chopper’
CHEVY CHASE, Md. , Sept. 18, 2007 – The “GEICO Chopper” – built by nationally-known motorcycle builder Rick “Big Rick” Hoffman and which is now on tour across the country – will be auctioned off online to benefit a number of children’s charities Oct. 22 – Nov. 1.
GEICO, along with PNC Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers, last year created “Bikers for Tykes” family fun fairs to raise funds for NIH Children’s Charities, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Children’s Hospital of the Kings’ Daughters in Virginia Beach and Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Tucson, Az.
Bikers for Tykes planners this year added the ‘GEICO Chopper’ online auction to the fund-raising efforts. Other items to be at auction on eBay are sports packages for the Super Bowl, the U. S. Open Tennis tournament, and NASCAR.
To view all the items on auction, go to www. ebay. com/geico.
The GEICO Chopper was unveiled at the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha, Neb. , during the spring and has been on tour throughout the United States at various rider events.
Bikers for Tykes family fun fairs are scheduled in the fall as follows:
• Tucson, Ariz. : Saturday, Oct. 6.
• Chevy Chase, Md. : Saturday, Oct. 13.
• Virginia Beach, Va. : Saturday, Oct. 27.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 7 million policyholders and insures more than 12 million vehicles. GEICO, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, is rated A++ for financial stability by A. M. Best Company. GEICO keeps its rates low by dealing directly with the customer. GEICO provides consumers with outstanding sales, service and claims capabilities on its geico. com Web site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Consumers may also contact the company at its toll free 1-800-841-3000 number. 15 minutes could save you 15% on car insurance. For more information, go to www. geico. com.
