There are few things more frustrating than struggling to navigate a website and perform a function such as placing an advertisement. This is where OLX and Gumtree have come up trumps. They are easy to use, and this doubtless accounts for their popularity. As discussed in this column, OLX and Gumtree are run like newspaper classifieds, but there are other easy-to-use options if you’re looking to buy or sell.
Launched back in August 1999 at the height of the dot.com boom, Bidorbuy. co. za brings together buyers and sellers by means of online auctions and fixed-price sales. Think of it as South Africa’s answer to eBay. Once a seller has registered on the website – which includes satisfying a security protocol such as providing a copy of an identification document – he or she can start selling items online.
Alternatives
The website offers a seller two options:
Auction: Here, you select start and end dates and set a reserve price. Visitors then bid on the item. They will know when their bid has been raised, as well as when the auction will close.
Fixed-price listing: As the name suggests, items are listed at a fixed price and can be purchased at the push of a button. The website earns its revenue by charging the seller a commission on a successful sale (up to 5%). For larger items such as cars, a flat listing fee is charged.
Rating the service
As with Amazon and other such sites, Bidorbuy allows the buyer to rate the seller afterwards. In this way, other potential buyers can see if the item was promptly dispatched and lived up to its description. Let’s say you want to buy a set of tools. Simply click on the seller’s profile. If he has sold other items, you’ll be able to see if there were any complaints.
As frequent users will be able to testify, many people run their businesses through such sites. For example, a seller with the username Ladybean has sold more than 1 000 items to date and has a 100% positive customer rating. Bidorbuy also has a highly informative page on scammers. The lesson? Only by purchasing from sellers with good ratings can you avoid trouble.
