Online Auction Sites for Artists… UBid? UBet!

Another player in the online auction sites scene is uBid Inc. a company that offers items for sale by pre-approved certified merchants and products sold directly to online buyers. In existence for 12 years, the company has experienced a varied and stormy past with a number of ownership and senior management changes but continues to survive today and offers a viable alternative to eBay if you’re an artist trying to sell your art online using auction sites.

uBid’s product line includes overstocked items, refurbished or new and features many consumer electronic brands of cell phones, computers and other home electronics. They continue to expand their product base to meet a growing demand. This online service is only available to residents of The United States.

Certified Merchants need to supply vital information for accreditation. uBid wants to know tax and credit information, bank and trade references to prove their credibility. No fly by night operators here please. Having been approved and allowed to sell on uBid, payments for purchases and requests for customer service information are all handled directly through uBid. This process is designed to build consumer trust and help guarantee the best after sales service. Unlike other sites, there is no direct communication between buyer and seller as all queries must pass through the uBid screening system.

Different because uBid does not rely on membership listings for their primary source of income, most of the inventory sold is new or refurbished branded items. These are then shipped to the buyer through their warehousing system or from the manufacturer/distributor/reseller. The pro’s and con’s of this system are: when purchasing, it further legitimizes the supplier but because the sellers are professionals, it makes it difficult to get a better auction price. Another plus for those who might be wary of uBid is the fact they are registered with The Better Business Bureau. That should also help give peace of mind.

The uBid store has about 10,000 items up for auction at any one time. Most are consumer electronics, cell phones, televisions, computers and household appliances.

Recent product line additions include jewelry and travel services. Registration is free, but remember shipping is limited to within the United States. This is not a Global service and because of uBid’s structure, it is not the place for home sellers to hawk their wares.

On this site, most sales are called “Dutch Auctions” meaning that there are multiples of the items available for sale with the buyer bidding on how many they might want.

Winning bids are then determined on the quantity purchased and the overall price.

There is a tracking system in place that allows buyers to view auction history for the particular item of interest and the current high price bid.

uBid has an efficient support mechanism with email and telephone service in place and an online help center. There is a vendor warranty for most products and an extended warranty plan available, if you so choose, from uBid itself.

uBid is a very reliable on line auction site that will appeal to buyers wanting to purchase excess consumer electronics and home appliances. With selling not available to most home entrepreneurs and one a kind bargain hunters having to deal with the “Dutch Auction” uBid is not for everyone.