First, check out these tips and guidelinesGetting startedLet the bidding beginPayment and deliveryTips for smart biddingPlaying it safeAuction sitesLet the bidding begin Once you've found some likely sites (see "Auction sites"), you'll need to know a little about the actual bidding process.
First off, with any site you'll be asked to register to receive a user ID and password. The information you are required to provide varies. For starters, many of the Australian sites stipulate that you need to be over 18 years to trade. Then, depending on the auction site you need to submit some personal details.
On the person-to-person sites, for example Yahoo (http://au.auctions.yahoo.com) or Stuff (www.stuff.com.au), credit card information is not required as payment procedures are worked out independently between the buyer and the seller.
Generally e-mail and residential or business addresses, as well as passwords are the minimum contact information required - eBay (which by the time you read this will have launched its local site at www.ebay.com.au), will not allow its users to register with free or Web-based e-mail accounts.
Sites like Sold (www.sold.com.au) may also require a balance in your online auction account (for example $10) to cover costs such as commissions or fees. Remember, if a site requires complete credit card information ensure it is sent over a secure Internet connection.
Now you're ready to place a bid. Unlike real-life auctions, the online type can last from a day to a week or more. The most common style is the "standard" auction, in which multiple bidders can bid on a single item or several identical items. The highest bidder or bidders are successful when the auction closes.
When an auction starts, there is a minimum bid - usually an absurdly low amount that changes fast, like $1 for a ten-speed bike or $299 for a mid-range PC system. You then bid by clicking a button that increases the minimum bid by a preset amount. Your bid remains as the top bid until another user ups the ante once again, and so on.
A "reserve" auction is another style favoured, and it differs from a standard auction in that a seller is not obligated to sell the posted item until a certain price has been met. According to Stuff's marketing manager Justine Carter, you are more likely to sell your item if you post your reserve price. Otherwise buyers have to guess how much they need to bid in order to win the item.
Several sites use a process called "proxy bidding" in which you determine at the beginning the maximum amount you're willing to pay. From there, as others enter new top bids, your bid is automatically upped by the preset amount until your maximum is reached.
