I-bidder auctions...

A question about : I-bidder auctions...

Does anyone have any positive experiences of buying through i-bidder? I'm after some new dining chairs and an auction house near us seems to sell surplus stock (inc dining chairs) via i-bidder.

I've worked out there's about a 33% markup on the total buy price by the time you pay the many fees, and then you have to collect the item.

Can find very few reviews from users on it.

Does anyone have any feedback or views? TIA

Best answers:

• I use it when I cannot be bothered going to auctions. It works fine. The commission varies between auction houses.
  Some items are VAT free though, so you may save 20p in the Ј1.
  The only thing I'm wary of is the deposit. Some auctioneers will take it off you. Some wont unless you fail to collect the items.
• I-bidder is not much more than a portal for any auction house to sell on. You'll need to check out the auction house itself.
  A third extra is about right for fees and VAT, if anything it's on the low side.
• I'd make sure you view the item before bidding. You might be better off bidding in person. Check the terms and conditions as you will have to give card details and some will take a deposit from your card when you apply for approval to bid. Also ensure you get approval first. Just click on the "Sign Up To Bid" button.
  Also remember sales are final and if you don't collect by the deadline they will take the money from your card and then charge you storage for everyday past the deadline.
  Really though it as RFW says no more than another way for the auction house to sell. If the auction house is dodgy then you will be ripped off and there is no come back as everything is "sold as seen" but if it is a decent auction house then you can get some really great bargains. But really I would view the item first. You may find the auction house does its own commission bids which are cheaper as they have to pay fees to I-bidder which they charge to you.
• I use I-bidder and so far haven't had any problems, but it depends on the auction house you are buying from. If possible, arrange to view and don't forget your extra 3% fee in addition to the auction house's fees.
  As said previously, you will be asked for your credit card details and may or not have a fee taken before bidding. Some auctioneers keep this until you request it back in writing.
• Be-careful on ibidder, most of the auction houses on there will out bid you their self, this has been going on for a while now, you have a maximum bid of, lets say Ј35 and you stop, but the bidding goes to Ј40 then Ј45, so you think you have lost the item, then at the end of the lot, you have won it at Ј35, you are best off going to the auction and bidding only against the room.
  I know this is happening because i knew someone that worked for a auction house and then left to get a new job, it is the auctions getting the prices up, so they don't lose there supplier.
  If you contact ibidder about this they will tell you that this cannot be done, but the truth is, this is going on all over the online auctions, hopefully somebody will put a stop to it, before ibidder gets a very bad rep.
  Ibidder also owns bidspotter and the-saleroom
  The best way to combat this is to set a max price on items and don't go over the prices you have set.
  Thanks and hope this helps.