The Best Online Auction Sites

Tuesday, May 7th

2024 Online Auction Site Reviews

eBay

• One-stop shop inventory
• Traditional bidding-war auctions and buy it now
• Pay directly
• Find 1 million+ results in key searches
• Pay through credit card
• Customer-focused return policy
• Award-winning company
• Free to list up to 200 products/month
• "A" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau

When you think about online auctions, the first company that likely comes to your mind is eBay. eBay has established itself as a global leader in the world of e-commerce, connecting millions of buyers and sellers from all corners of the globe.

Over 1.6 billion listings

Since its inception in 1995, eBay has grown into a colossal company with worldwide recognition. Currently, there are more than 1.6 billion active listings on eBay, making it a vast and bustling online marketplace for 183 million registered buyers, a testament to its popularity and reach. The best part for sellers is that you can list up to 200 products per month totally for free.

Most modern user interface

With a modern design and intuitive user interface, it's no surprise that eBay is an industry favorite. To get started on eBay, all you need to do is provide your name, email address, and set up a password. Once these basic details are in place, you can start buying or selling. To facilitate transactions, you'll connect your bank, PayPal, and/or credit cards to your eBay account. Finding what you need on eBay is extremely easy. The company offers a wide array of dropdown menus, photos, and categories to choose from. In moments, you can narrow down to a particular item or group of items to start your browsing experience.

Bid or buy right away

Sellers, in particular, enjoy the benefit of listing their products for free, with the only fees being a final value fee of up to 14.35% and $0.30 per order after successfully selling an item. Payments are processed swiftly, with options like PayPal, credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, so you can have a seamless and secure transaction experience. For customers, you can choose between a more traditional bidding style or "buy it now" items on eBay. We love this combination approach as it allows you to choose what kind of shopping experience you want. eBay offers the best of both worlds.

Insanely impressive inventory

If you're in search of one of the widest ranges of products online today, eBay has you covered. With over 34 categories to choose from, eBay offers a wide selection of both new and used items with some of them being eBay-certified refurbished, so you know you're getting something that works. Whether you're on the lookout for sporting goods, fashion items, household products, toys, business supplies, music equipment, or even cars, eBay has something for you. The beauty of eBay lies in its versatility; you could spend as little as $1 on a small item or invest a substantial sum, even a few hundred thousand dollars, depending on what you're in the market for. It's the ultimate one-stop shop.

Compare with other sites

To compare the inventory at eBay to the inventories at other auction sites, we checked out common shopping searches like watches, autographed items, and iPads to see how many results eBay turned up for each item. Here's what we found:

• Watches: 2,100,000+ results
• Autographs: 2,500,000+ results
• iPads: 31,000 results

In terms of inventory, eBay can't be beat. With thousands to millions of results for each item, you can rest assured you'll find what you're looking for or something similar at eBay.

Perfect for casual shopping and pro sellers

There are over 180 million buyers registered on the marketplace. Considering its one-stop-shop approach, eBay has become a platform for individuals to turn to eBay as a full-time endeavor, creating their own businesses. These entrepreneurs operate their shops right from the comfort of their homes and have found remarkable success by selling their items through eBay. It's not just a way to shop; it's a way to support small businesses while enjoying a shopping experience that is easy and convenient. So, whether you want to be a casual shopper, a casual seller, or to build your small business, eBay is the perfect place to get started.

Supportive return policy

If you've had a change of heart about a purchase from eBay or discovered an issue with the item, don't worry - you have options. You can easily initiate a return for the product. Once your return request is submitted, the seller is expected to respond within three business days. In the event that the seller doesn't reply or you're unable to resolve the matter directly with them, you can reach out to eBay and they'll step in to assist you. Most sellers issue refunds promptly upon receiving the returned item. What we especially loved was that eBay would stand behind customers. For example, if the item you received doesn't match the description, or if it arrived damaged or faulty, you have the right to return it, even if the seller's return policy suggests otherwise.

Impressive reputation

eBay enjoys a stellar reputation, with many customers and sellers appreciating the platform for its huge inventory and reliable service. As a testament to its excellence, eBay has earned an "A" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. When it comes to usability, reliability, and the sheer number of products listed, eBay surpasses its competition. Yet, amidst all the accolades and praise, there is one common complaint among users of the site: reaching eBay's customer service can be a challenging task. However, despite these complaints, the company still holds a 3-star average rating from third-party review sites. Plus, eBay's commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed, as it has received multiple awards for its workplace environment, responsible business practices, and inclusion policies.

Top option in every category

In your quest for success in listing products and finding niche items, look no further than eBay. The platform's expansive seller and customer base makes sure customers like you can find a wide range of items that they want with one quick skim through the site. With over 1,000,000 results on most searches, you can be assured that no matter what you're looking for, you can find something on eBay. Given its remarkable track record and contributions to the online auction world, it's an easy decision to give eBay the highest rating among online auction sites. So, if you're looking for a reliable online auction platform, eBay has proven time and again that it's the place to be.

HiBid

• One-stop shop inventory
• Timed bidding auctions
• Find tens of thousands of results in key searches
• Return policies set by sellers
• Find local auctions and estate sales
• Rave reviews from customers
• "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau

HiBid is more than just your run-of-the-mill auction platform. Whether you're in the market for real estate, cars, or exquisite jewelry, or maybe you're on the hunt for unique collectibles, sports memorabilia, and personal treasures, HiBid has them all. You can also find a mix of local and completely online auctions with HiBid, making it more unique in that respect.

You'll have to dig through some clutter

The only downside is that when you land on the HiBid website, the page looks busy and cluttered. Sometimes it's hard to find what you need at a glance. In particular, we found that the "featured" items were distracting while shopping as they appeared above every results page like an annoying ad banner. But don't judge a book by its cover. Despite its quirks, HiBid is an impressive site for online auctions.

Search items local and worldwide

Let's talk about choice and convenience. You can get started as soon as you land on the website by merely tapping into the search bar, and looking for an auction that has the items you're looking for. The site itself recommends this as the fastest way to get what you need rather than browsing by category. You can find local auctions by searching for a particular zip code (which may be helpful if you're looking for items like houses or cars), or auctions across the world, if you're looking for a unique one-of-a-kind piece. All of the auctions ending the soonest are listed first in the results, which helps customers avoid missing out on deals that are about to close.

Easy bidding system is time-based

HiBid offers you access to colossal estate sales and liquidation events that might otherwise be beyond your reach. You can place bids from anywhere in the world, with the convenience of timing that suits you best. You can attend at a physical location, but for most using the online auction feature is all you need. The process of buying on HiBid is that of a standard "real life" auction. The auctions start and end at a particular time. During that window, anyone can bid any amount of money. The highest bidder at the end of the auction time is the winner.

Tens of thousands of items in stock

With HiBid, there's no shortage of choices. What truly sets HiBid apart is the extensive range of online bidding options it offers, with items ranging from vehicles and houses to smaller items like antique jewelry, fashion items, or even art. To see how HiBid's inventory stacks up against the competition, we searched for the same three things to get a comparable number of results at each auction site. The searches were for watches, autographed items, and iPads. At the time of this review of HiBid, we found:

• Watches: 48,657 results
• Autographs: 12,831 results
• iPads: 384 results

As you can see, HiBid makes good on its promise to have a large range of items to sift through. With results in the tens of thousands for different popular items, it's clear that HiBid is one of the more robust one-stop-shop auction sites.

Find items by location

HiBid doesn't appear to have a particular specialty, but the company does offer an impressive range of items regardless of what you're searching for, and the location search is the main feature that sets HiBid apart. If you're looking for vehicles you need to drive home, for example, you'll want to be able to find what's nearby. For example, we found over 150 different cars available within 50 miles of our local zip code.

No company return policy

According to our research, the ability to make returns or get refunds is entirely up to the seller rather than HiBid itself. The company has no stated return policy, meaning if you're not satisfied with your item, you'll need to contact the original seller and work it out directly. Thankfully, many sellers post their return policies on the auction page, but others may not, so it could take extra work from you to make sure you feel safe about your auction.

Rave reviews for HiBid

Despite no posted return policy, HiBid sits as one of the most reputable companies in our review. HiBid holds an impressive "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau with an impressive customer rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. On top of this, the average rating from customers across three verified third-party review sites is a high 4.5 out of 5 as well. Customers praise how quick and easy the auctions are. Others love that they can find estate sales and items close by so they're easy to ship or pick up. Across the board (with thousands of reviews to back it up) customers are extremely excited about HiBid, which means we are too.

Top option for local auctions

The bottom line is, if you're looking for great inventory, local auctions, and the best features of an online system, HiBid is the place to go. Its impressive ratings and reviews let it stand out from the pack, and push this company to the top options. Only two things keep HiBid from the first place: the slightly cluttered user interface, and a lack of return policy. But this is the ultimate case of "don't judge a book by its cover" because this one-stop shop is an excellent choice for your next online auction.

AuctionZip

• Historical, unique, and high-end inventory
• Traditional bidding-war auctions
• User-friendly interface
• Quick signup with Google
• Find 4,000+ items in key item searches
• Pay through credit card, PayPal, or check
• "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB

If you're the kind of person who relishes the excitement of standing amidst a bustling auction hall, ready to bid like a classic in-person auction, then AuctionZip is tailor-made for you. This online platform captures the spirit of traditional auctions by allowing you to bid in real time on a unique array of items with over 25,000 auctioneers and 13 million auction buyers. What sets AuctionZip apart is the broad range of items and the wide number of high-value items like diamonds or entire homes. The allure of finding something truly unusual or collectible is one of the standout features of AuctionZip.

Sign up with Google

Navigating the website is a breeze. You can start browsing right away for items on your wishlist. However, if you want to buy (or sell), you'll need to make an account. It's totally free to join plus you can sign up with your Google account, making it easy to access your AuctionZip anytime you want.

Authentic bidding-style auctions

It's hard not to admire the site's audacious approach. As a platform for exploration and the occasional leap into the unknown, Auction Zip stands out in the crowd of larger auction websites. The bidding style is a little different here than at other competitors. The site is designed to offer real-time bidding. While this can be a commitment, as it requires your online presence during the auction, it is often lauded as being more "authentic" and customers tend to get deeply invested in auctions. There's something undeniably addictive about tracking the bidding wars as they unfold. However, if you're more interested in the "buy it now" approach, you may not be the ideal shopper for AuctionZip.

Impressive inventory with unique items

If you're looking for unique finds, AuctionZip is the place for you. For example, just on the front page, we saw a World War II German helmet, a set of Winchester guns, an old Corvette, and a 1976 Mustang. This only scratches the surface of the items you can find on AuctionZip. While the uniqueness of the items can be appealing, some of them might veer towards the peculiar side: many of the items on the front page of AuctionZip might not appeal to all shoppers. On top of rare items, you can also shop by state for auction items that are local to you, which is a helpful feature at AuctionZip.

How does it compare?

Now, to compare the range of inventory between different online auctions, we checked out the common shopping searches. Remember, these are results at the time of this review; inventory at AuctionZip may change by the time you start browsing. We checked out a standard accessory (watches), a "rare" search (autographed items), and a tech item (an iPad) to see how AuctionZip compares to other companies. Here's what we found:

• Watches: 4,084 results
• Autographs: 3,702 results
• iPads: 9 results

While AuctionZip has an impressive inventory for most of our search terms, it's a little light on modern technology.

Specializes in antique and high-end items

It's not hard to see that AuctionZip's specialty is in old and novelty items. Whether you're looking to buy a home on auction or a car, you can find it on AuctionZip. Some of the finds on the featured page include a 12-acre home starting at $1,020,000. More standard auction items might be more difficult to find, but if you're looking for a unique score like classic cars or a new home, this is a great option for you.

Buy items "as is"

There isn't a specific return policy as AuctionZip works like a traditional in-person auction, where you buy the items in whatever condition they're currently in. Each individual auction house working through AuctionZip chooses a method of payment. Some ask for cash or checks while others accept credit cards or PayPal. So, if there's a problem with your order, you'll probably have to go through your payment method or contact the auction house directly. However, in most cases, you're agreeing to buy items "as is" and AuctionZip has no specific policy regarding returns.

High BBB score, but low reviews

AuctionZip has an impressive "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, from third-party review sites, AuctionZip doesn't have the best reputation. The average score across multiple review sites is just 1.5 stars out of 5. Customers complained that in many cases AuctionZip didn't honor their bid. One reviewer showed photos of their submitted bid of $800 and the same item selling for $650 to another bidder, which was understandably frustrating. Many customers are frustrated with the "real" auction process and complain about losing out on items to other bidders. Since this is the primary risk of this kind of site, many of the reviews simply show that if you're not prepared for the "authentic" bidding experience, AuctionZip might not be for you.

Perfect place for unique or historical items

The bottom line is AuctionZip is a traditional auction site, where you bid against other customers in real time. If this isn't your thing, you might want to move on, but if you're interested in those real bidding wars, AuctionZip can be a place where you can find unique items not offered anywhere else. The company offers an impressive inventory of standard items like watches or autographed items, as well as cars, homes, diamonds, and real historical artifacts. With easy sign-up and a solid score from the BBB, AuctionZip stands out despite the lower ratings from reviewers. If you're looking for the most unique items, this is the place for you. And if it brings up its reviewer ratings, AuctionZip has the potential to rank even higher.

DealDash

• Modern and high-end inventory
• Traditional bidding-war auctions
• Buy bids instead of pay directly
• Find around 100 items in key item searches
• Pay through credit card
• Returns in 90 days for first purchase
• "A" rating and accreditation from the BBB

In 2010, DealDash made its debut in the realm of online auctions. This site specializes in the sale of overstock and liquidation inventory. What sets DealDash apart is the promise of discounts, with products often going for up to 90% off their retail price. Plus, at this auction site, you'll find items ranging from the latest Apple products and fashions to kitchen appliances, gift cards, and much more. However, to unlock these tantalizing discounts, there's a unique twist to the DealDash experience: customers must purchase bids, and it's these bids that are used to vie for the items in the auction.

Pre-purchase your bids to buy

When you get started with DealDash, you need to make an account. DealDash asks for the basics: a username, email address, password, and credit card information. However, this is not your typical free sign-up process: DealDash operates on a pay-to-play model, and as such, you'll be asked to provide payment information upfront. To initiate your account, you'll be charged $30, which translates into 250 bids. While the website promises that each bid costs $0.12, a video on the platform claims that they are priced at $0.60 each. Furthermore, DealDash offers packages of bids at a rate of $0.60 per bid which makes the actual price of the bids more confusing. Yet another section of the website suggests that bids can be acquired for "normally" $0.20 or less. The conflicting information is unnecessarily confusing when you're just getting started with the DealDash experience.

Bids in intervals of ten seconds for great deals

The bidding process on DealDash adds an element of anticipation and strategy to your shopping adventure. After purchasing the bids that serve as your currency, you can "spend" those bids on the items that catch your eye. Every bid you place increases the item's price by $0.01, while simultaneously resetting the auction clock for ten more seconds. If no new bidders step into the fray before the clock winds down, the last bidder standing is declared the victor and must pay the final price listed for the item.

You can get remarkable discounts

The purchase of bids is what allows DealDash to offer you such remarkable discounts. Since the platform makes money on bid purchases and not the actual items themselves, DealDash can offer you the best value for your money on the actual items. However, you can also lose money without obtaining the desired product. If you want to get your bids back, you can purchase the exact item you bid on at full retail price, but this could be very, very expensive depending on what you were bidding on.

Extremely low inventory

The inventory at DealDash includes a large range of modern items from technology to kitchen appliances, making DealDash a great place to grab items that are way too expensive at full price but fit in with a modern living style. You can find items from gaming consoles to office chairs, glasses, and gold earrings, and even packages of "bids" that you can bid on to win more opportunities to bid on other items.

How it stacks up against the other auction platforms

To compare the range of inventory at DealDash to other companies in our review, we checked out three common shopping searches (watches, autographed items, and iPads) to see how each company stacks up across its offerings. Here's what we found at DealDash:

• Watches: 180 results
• Autographs: 12 results
• iPads: 31 results

Unfortunately, in terms of inventory, DealDash's items change out so often that there aren't a lot of options to browse through. Plus, the site lists completed auctions in the results, which means the items you can actually bid on are even fewer than they first appear.

Specializes in deals for modern items

While the specialty for DealDash is low-cost items that would normally be top-dollar, finding specific items may be difficult as the company has some of the lowest inventory we've found among online auction sites. So, while you can find stand mixers or Xboxes, there aren't a lot of auctions to pick from, and finding the exact item on your wishlist might be a bit of a struggle.

Returns in 90 days for first purchase

DealDash extends an enticing offer to potential customers: the opportunity to dip their toes into the auction model risk-free. If you have reservations about this unique approach to online shopping, DealDash promises a full refund for your first purchase within 90 days if you find yourself dissatisfied with the experience. However, keep in mind this only works for your first purchase, and the return policy after that point is extremely vague.

Impressively high ratings

At first glance, the concept of DealDash might raise eyebrows, appearing too good to be true, given the remarkable bargains it offers and the low inventory. However, the ratings for DealDash are impressive. At the Better Business Bureau, DealDash holds an "A" rating and accreditation as well as an impressive 4.1-star average out of 5. That score is reflected in approval from customers across third-party verified review sites too. On three different sites, DealDash holds a 4+-star rating. Thousands of individuals attest to making DealDash their go-to platform for shopping, often securing high-quality items for less than $10.

Great opportunity for deals

DealDash, in our estimation, occupies a middle ground in the hierarchy of online auction sites. With tenacity and a bit of luck, you could potentially acquire high-value items like KitchenAid appliances, iPhones, or robot vacuum cleaners for just a few dollars (plus the cost of your bids). The flip side of the coin is a significant one: if you don't clinch the winning bid, you may find yourself at a financial loss without any tangible gains, unless you opt to purchase the item at full retail price and regain your bids. However, with so many rave reviews, it's definitely worth checking out.

Invaluable

• Art and fine art inventory
• Time bidding, live bidding, and buy now auctions
• Find thousands of results in key searches
• Return policies set by sellers
• Rave reviews from customers

Invaluable is an auction site that has an air of classiness that perfectly complements the exquisite, often opulent pieces that you'll find on its platform. You'll quickly discover that Invaluable is not just another online marketplace; it's a sophisticated auction site that specializes in the sale of fine art.

Global presence and well-renowned

Established in 2009, Invaluable is headquartered in Boston, with a global presence spanning the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, and Australia. The company holds a distinguished reputation that has earned them recognition from prominent media outlets such as the Boston Globe, Art News, Architectural Digest, Tech Crunch, and the Wall Street Journal.

Start browsing by art category

If you've set your sights on collecting the works of a specific artist, Invaluable's artist directory is the best place to get started. You can use the site to explore a curated selection of artists whose works are currently up for auction. You can even trace the path of their art by reviewing previously sold pieces, giving you insights into the market value of their creations. For example, upcoming auctions at the time of this review included:

• Asian art II
• Gentleman's library (art collection)
• Mid-century modern
• 19th century and decorative arts
• Street art

There are many others to choose from, but these help explain the types of art you might find during an initial browsing session.

Must be a legitimate business to sell

If you want to be a seller, there's an important detail to be aware of: Invaluable has a stringent policy regarding consignments. Unlike the typical online marketplace, Invaluable doesn't permit individuals to consign their art on their platform. To be a seller on Invaluable, you must hold a legitimate business or auctioneer's license. If you're an individual with a passion for art and an inclination to consign, Invaluable suggests you reach out to one of their affiliated auction houses to explore the possibility of your art being accepted.

Three ways to buy

When you get to the shopping and bidding, Invaluable introduces you to three ways to acquire art. The first option is the timed auction, a unique experience where items are open for bidding within a set timeframe, allowing for absentee bidding. In a timed auction, the highest bidder when the clock runs out secures the lot. You can also choose to participate in live auctions, where you watch the action unfold in real time and actively participate until the item is sold. Finally, Invaluable lets you purchase items outright at their listed prices, providing a convenient route to obtain art without the anxiety of bidding (and potentially losing).

Competitive with common items despite art focus

The inventory at Invaluable offers categories from fine art and decorative art to jewelry, collectibles, furniture, Asian art and antiques, guns and firearms, wines and spirits, and more. Whether you're shopping for dainty earrings or a vintage 1931 Ford truck, there are plenty of items to browse at Invaluable. Given that Invaluable's primary focus is on art, it's unsurprising that a substantial majority of the items on their platform carry price tags in the range of hundreds to thousands of dollars, reflecting the value of the art they curate.

Comparison results

Now, the comparison for inventory is a little tougher at Invaluable than at other auction sites due to the narrow focus. To compare the selection at Invaluable with other companies in this review, we used the same three search terms at every auction site. These are watches, autographed items, and iPads. This gives you a clear idea of how different sites stack up in terms of their inventory diversity. At Invaluable we found the following results:

• Watches: 6,519 results
• Autographs: 5,662 results
• iPads: 0

While there were a handful of iPad-related items, it shouldn't come as a shock that an art-focused auction site doesn't deal in modern technology. But, considering the company's focus, we also checked the inventory for art, since that's the company's specialty. Invaluable offered 75,189 results for the category "fine art" at the time of this review, which is an impressive number of art pieces. Notably, this doesn't include inventory for "decorative art" or jewelry which are separate categories.

Best spot for art enthusiasts

It's no secret that Invaluable's specialization is art, fine art, and antiques. If you're looking to add to your collection (or to a local museum) you can find tons of one-of-a-kind art pieces at Invaluable. For example, you can find authentic items like an ancient Egyptian mummy mask or a 1930s oil painting. Basically, this is the stop for the pro or casual art enthusiast.

Returns are handled by each auction house

Like many other auction sites in this review, Invaluable serves as a platform for various independent auction houses and galleries. So, each auction house deals with its own policies regarding refunds, returns, and exchanges. These terms can typically be found on the item details page while you're shopping. However, Invaluable itself doesn't provide any blanket return policy or any indication that it will step in for you if there are problems with a seller.

Impressive user reviews

While Invaluable may hold a "C" rating from the Better Business Bureau, this rating is derived from a single unanswered complaint on the BBB's website. The voices of customers who have shared their experiences elsewhere online paint a brighter picture. In general, Invaluable holds a 4-star average and receives plenty of praise for its high-quality auctions and unique art pieces. Testimonials reaffirm Invaluable's reputation as a trustworthy and enjoyable destination for art enthusiasts. While there were a handful of complaints like the one on the BBB page, they covered topics like frustration with photo quality or other small problems with the site in general.

Top option for art auctions

If you're on the hunt for timeless and invaluable art that transcends the offerings of ordinary stores, Invaluable is the platform for you. Their association with prestigious entities like Sotheby's, Freeman's, Bonhams, Phillips, Tajan, and others stands as a testament to their reputation and the high-quality, in-demand items they offer. As you explore the world of fine art, Invaluable offers impressive curated collections to help you sift through the art to find the perfect piece. If you're not an art fan, you might not find what you need at Invaluable. But, if you're seeking exquisite art that holds both value and beauty, Invaluable is a choice worth considering.

Liquidation

• Bulk inventory
• Timed bidding auctions
• Items sold by pallets and truckloads
• Sells items from popular retailers
• Most pallets sell for more than 50% off the MSRP
• "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau

Liquidation, as the name suggests, specializes in auctions for commercial surplus inventory. The company was started in 2000, and it operates a consortium of other companies, each specializing in the resale of different items, including returned merchandise from stores, bulk goods, and overstock inventory, among others. These companies cater to a wide spectrum of industries, including retail, energy, industrial, construction, biotech, government, automotive, and even the scrap sector. Therefore, Liquidation has a broad reach that extends its services to many different types of buyers.

Start shopping with filters and lot sizes

After registering for a free account, you gain access to an extensive range of categories, encompassing items such as clothing, computers, tools, electronics, general merchandise, housewares, jewelry, and even store fixtures. Liquidation also presents you with the flexibility to select your desired lot size, whether it be an entire truckload, a pallet, or smaller packages. To refine your search results, you can choose from several criteria, including the condition of the items, warehouse location, seller identity, retail price, the number of bids placed, auction type, and lot price. This multifaceted approach to searching helps you tailor your auction experience. If you want to be a seller on Liquidation, you're out of luck. Liquidation only allows major entities like retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, financial institutions, or other forms of business to sell on this platform.

Stress-free bidding style

The buying process on this platform is relatively straightforward. You can place bids on items of interest by specifying the maximum amount you're willing to pay. Should your bid emerge as the highest and secure the victory, your new item (or items) will be shipped to your location within four days. If you don't win the auction, you don't pay a dime, which helps keep the stress out of the process. And most of the auctions on the site list the original MSRP of the items in the package. Based on these numbers and the cost of the auctions still ongoing during our review, we noticed that Liquidation often sells these items more than 50% off the original MSRP.

Not ideal inventory for specific searches

Liquidation is unique in that it doesn't feature independent sellers or individual sellers in its ecosystem. Instead, it focuses on selling bulk products sourced from major companies such as Amazon, Wayfair, Target, Sony, Lowes, and Home Depot. This means you can expect goods from a variety of sources and even some high-end items like furniture or appliances to appear in searches on Liquidation. For example, at the time of this review Liquidation was advertising Logitech items on the front page.

Compare their inventory

To compare the inventory range at Liquidation to the other auctions in this review, we looked at the same three key search terms (watches, autographed items, and iPads), and here's what we found.

• Watches: 58 results found
• Autographs: 2 results found
• iPads: 64 results found

In general, there are far fewer auctions at Liquidation than at other competitors. However, if you're willing to do extra browsing or browse by company, you can find some unique items. For example, under the Target section, Liquidation was selling boxes of electronics with 49 items in them from older Target inventory. So, while you might not find exact items, you may find some unique and exciting deals if you're willing to dig.

Best for shoppers who love surprises

What Liquidation specializes in is bulk orders. While you can find single lots for sale, the majority of the inventory at Liquidation is large crates or multi-packs of overstock items that you can get in one large grab bag. While this doesn't guarantee that you will get everything you want in the crate, there are lots of different items in each one. For example, in the Wayfair Overstock section, there was a lot that included a Danby Dishwasher, a single swivel barstool, a nightstand, and a gold chandelier, along with 11 other items that aren't listed in the description. So, if you enjoy surprises and you're interested in highly discounted items from major retailers, this is a great place to shop.

No listed return policy

Unfortunately, Liquidation doesn't have a return or refund policy. Due to the nature of the items, you don't really know what you're getting in the box. So, with Liquidation, you're agreeing to buy the items "as is" , which might be scary for some shoppers and exciting for others.

Reviewers are frustrated when items aren't perfect

According to Liquidation's page on the Better Business Bureau, the company holds an "A+" rating. However, according to customer feedback, its "A+" reputation with the BBB may not be totally accurate. Numerous reviews show customers expressing grievances about receiving products that bore little resemblance to the descriptions and images presented in the product listings. Due to the "as is'' contingency, customers received damaged items in some of their orders. Now, what these reviews don't take into account is that Liquidation is an overstock and returned merchandise auction site. Many times customers make returns with damaged items or things that aren't in perfect condition due to the return process. So, it's expected that not all the items in a crate or pallet will arrive in perfect condition.

Best for buyers who like bulk shopping

Liquidation offers a unique auction side, making it one of the go-to destinations for buying items in bulk. There's some great potential for amazing deals at Liquidation, but since you're agreeing to "as is'' purchases, there might be some danger of broken or less-than-perfect items in the orders. While there may be risks associated with the experience, it is undeniable that Liquidation presents an enticing opportunity to secure valuable products from major retailers like Wayfair, Overstock, and Target at compelling prices, making it a destination worth exploring for those with a discerning eye and who love a little surprise in their shopping spree.

PropertyRoom

• One-stop shop inventory
• Timed bidding auctions
• Only a few hundred items in stock
• Offers unique vehicle options
• "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau

If you're on the hunt for a unique online auction experience, PropertyRoom might just be your ticket. While it's not your typical penny auction, PropertyRoom offers auctions that start at just $1.

Focus on seized property

What sets this platform apart is its focus on police-seized property. With an extensive network of 4,400+ law enforcement agencies, municipalities, and small businesses participating in live auctions, PropertyRoom offers a unique inventory you won't find at other auctions. The company has been in business for over 20 years and holds over 700,000 auctions every year.

Easy browsing across the whole site

PropertyRoom is managed by their on-staff ShopKeepers who help put together curated categories to make shopping that much easier. So, it's no surprise that navigating PropertyRoom is a breeze. To register, you just fill out a single form and set up your preferred payment method (even PayPal for added buyer protection). The user-friendly interface includes a range of collections and items visible on the front page with helpful photos to give you a clear idea of what you're shopping for. Plus PropertyRoom offers a personal touch: you can set up watchlists and email alerts, and add your shipping information, so you can narrow down your selection to items near you.

Easy bidding, but non-police can't sell here

Bidding is a straightforward process that keeps you engaged and excited about potentially scoring a great deal. Most of the auctions are just bid and click, so you don't have to constantly monitor the auction. Keep an eye on the date and time that they'll end though to make sure you keep the highest bid when the auction closes. With some of the auctions starting as low as $1, you can find some excellent deals on this site. However, this isn't a place where you can sell old items. All of the inventory at PropertyRoom comes from items seized by law enforcement. So, if you're not affiliated with a police station, you're not able to sell at PropertyRoom.

Lower-than-average inventory

At PropertyRoom, you can find items on auction spanning from electronics to cars. We even saw a Mack Truck on sale during our research. You can expect to find categories like bikes, coins and bullion, collectibles, computers, electronics, fashion, art, jewelry, musical instruments, steal of the day, sunglasses and eyewear, vehicles, and everything else you can imagine including firearms.

Comparison items

To see how the inventory at PropertyRoom stacks up against the competition, we checked out searches for watches, autographed items, and iPads, which we also looked at with other auction sites. At PropertyRoom, we found:

• Watches: 422 results
• Autographs: 11 results
• iPads: 30 results

In general, PropertyRoom is one of the lower inventory picks in this review. So, if you have your heart set on something specific, this may not be the ideal auction site.

Good place for vehicle auctions

One notable highlight of PropertyRoom is their car auctions. They provide ample photographs and a wealth of information about each vehicle, including the VIN number and odometer mileage. However, many of the cars on sale have been in accidents or are damaged in some way, so you need to be prepared to take it to a mechanic or rebuild the car yourself.

No return policy

Unfortunately, PropertyRoom cannot approve returns or guarantee third-party repairs for items in any situation. If you have received a product that doesn't match the described working or physical condition, you're stuck with the item "as is" . The company further states that it isn't responsible for any damage that isn't pictured in the photos. So, it might require you to reach out during the auction to check on anything you might be concerned about before the auction is won.

Low ratings warn about dishonest listings

While PropertyRoom does hold an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, feedback from third-party review sites shows another side. There isn't a single review site that rates PropertyRoom higher than 1.5 stars out of 5, which is somewhat concerning. The most regular complaint is that PropertyRoom sells items that don't actually match the photos or product descriptions, and once the buyers have the item, it's too late to do anything about it. Customers also complained about hidden shipping fees and warned others to check item descriptions closely.

PropertyRoom has some room to improve

While PropertyRoom is a unique auction site with low-cost starting points, those don't make up for the less-than-stellar features of this service. With a low inventory and no unique items you couldn't find on another site, PropertyRoom doesn't stand out in that area. Plus, with no return policy in place and a concerning amount of reviews talking about dishonest listings, PropertyRoom falls right in the middle of the pack.

Atomic Mall

• One-stop shop auctions
• Bid or buy now options
• Quick signup
• Find 400+ items in key item searches
• Releases payment to sellers immediately
• "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB

Atomic Mall has been a player in the online auction arena since 2008. The company is an interesting case of a platform that leaves much to be desired when it comes to its visual appeal and user interface.

Unimpressive first impression

The first impression is worrisome: the website's design isn't just outdated, it's ancient. The main pages feature an assortment of random items which are mostly just old magazines or music records. If you're looking for a site that makes you feel like it has modern security and features, Atomic Mall is one of the most disappointing auction options on our list. Especially given that this is a "newer" site that started in 2008, the complete lack of effort in the design department is shocking.

Broken links make browsing unreliable

Registering with Atomic Mall is a relatively quick and straightforward process. You can shop as a guest, but if you want to buy anything you will need to make an account. The site asks for your name, address, email, login ID, and phone number, and requires you to select an avatar image to represent yourself. Despite easy sign-up, the site is not without its quirks. As you navigate, you may stumble upon broken links when you're hoping to buy a specific item. Although such instances are not the norm, they underscore the lack of updates and general lack of reliability on the website.

Random fonts and highlights make it difficult to read

Now, for the process of buying (and selling), you can expect it to be fairly straightforward. Once you identify an item that piques your interest, Atomic Mall allows you to make an offer or purchase the item outright at the listed price. However, due to the fact that users make the listings themselves, there is little to no standardization with the listings. This means item descriptions feature varying font sizes, random highlighted words, and an abundance of information, sometimes leaving you feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of details presented in walls of text.

Keep track of your favorites

On the flip side, Atomic Mall does offer some benefits. First, you can add items to a watchlist as a shopper in case you want to keep browsing while keeping track of your favorites. Second, if you're a seller, Atomic Mall promises to release your earnings immediately, with no waiting period, which is a benefit compared to other auction sites.

Easy to find what you're looking for

Atomic Mall opens the door to a wide range of product categories, encompassing virtually anything and everything you might seek. Their primary categories include:

• Automotive
• Books
• Clothing and accessories
• Collectibles
• Computers
• Crafts
• Dolls & bears
• Everything else
• Movies & TV

If you have a specific item in mind, the search bar is your trusty ally, allowing you to quickly locate your desired product. To simplify your shopping experience, you can sort the results by price, shipping options, and items under $20, or peruse the latest listings.

Compare with other site

In order to get a solid comparison between different stores we checked out three search items that are commonly found on auction websites. Remember, these are results at the time of this review and the inventory at auction sites changes out all the time. We checked out a standard accessory (watches), a "rare" item (anything with an autograph on it), and a tech item (an iPad) to see how each company stacks up across their offerings. At Atomic Mall, here were the total results available for each category:

• Watches: 483 results
• Autographs: 76 results
• iPads: 99 results, but many of these are "related" items and not actual iPads

While Atomic Mall does well with generic items and accessories, it's not particularly competitive with tech or rare items with autographs.

Doesn't have a "specialty"

It's kind of hard to tell if Atomic Mall has a specialty. It appears to be a catch-all site without any particular focus. This can be good if you want a one-stop shop, but it is also a drawback due to some of the limited inventory at Automic Mall. While you can find "everything" , you may not be able to find specific items or specialty items in this company's listings.

No concrete return policy

Atomic Mall doesn't offer a useful return policy, which may be frustrating for customers. According to the site's FAQ, you have to try and solve the problem with the seller directly. If you're unable to resolve the issue together, your next step is to reach out to Atomic Mall through the Contact page. Here, you can submit an official Member complaint form, which will then be shared with the seller along with guidance and choices for resolution. However, Atomic Mall doesn't offer any promise of resolution or getting your money back in these cases.

Some customers like it...

Surprisingly, Atomic Mall enjoys a rather favorable reputation. The company proudly holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, and users at Sitejabber have offered the company a solid 4.1-star rating. However, at other review sites, the reputation is mixed at best. For example, Trustpilot reviewers only gave Atomic Mall a 2-star average. The customers who left high-rated reviews said that they felt like this was a good platform for sellers specifically. Many customers stated that they sold more items here than at competitors.

...but we found many who didn't

On the other hand, customers who didn't like Atomic Mall were primarily buyers who didn't receive their items or were charged extra for items they purchased. There are a significant number of reviews calling the site "dishonest" , which is a little concerning. Considering that there were only just over 30 reviews across different platforms, one thing is clear: the site isn't nearly as popular as other auction sites, so that might tell you something about its reliability.

Might be smart to skip this particular mall

While Atomic Mall seems to have won over some customers, it's undeniable that this platform may not be the preferred shopping destination for the majority of auction-lovers, especially when it competes with top-rated online auction sites. If you have a specific product in mind and are determined to find it, it may be worth a quick visit to Atomic Mall's one-stop shop auction listings. However, it's not a place you'd want to linger for casual browsing, or for specialty items like tech or autographed finds. In the grand landscape of online auction sites, your best course of action may be to start your journey with a platform that offers more items, more customer protection for returns, and better ratings across the board.

eBid

• One-stop shop inventory
• Traditional bidding-war auctions and buy it now
• Buy bids instead of pay directly
• Find 8,000+ results in key searches

Since its establishment in 2008, eBid has offered an extensive inventory for auction. And, eBid's visual presentation has been improved in recent years, creating a much more user-friendly platform for browsing. The presence of inconsistent font sizes, colors, and advertising placements on the website has faded away, leaving behind a clean site that is much easier to use. So, if you're on the hunt for unique items available through the auction format, eBid has become a more viable option than before.

Free site with clear interface

eBid offers a free registration process, allowing you to embark on your online auction journey without any initial financial commitment. This means you can place bids, make offers, or even make outright purchases without incurring any costs other than the price of the product you're interested in. You have the flexibility to navigate the platform either by browsing through specific categories or by utilizing the search bar to find items on your wishlist. You don't need to pay to register, though you will eventually need to buy "bids" like credits later on.

Multiple seller advantages

Sellers on eBid can list for free, but there is a 5% final value fee imposed once an item successfully sells. To get more out of your selling experience, eBid offers six types of upgraded seller accounts, each associated with different fees. These upgraded accounts provide advantages like the ability to feature extra photos in your listings or help your items appear in thumbnail results and are given top placement. On top of that, eBid allows sellers to add "extras" to their listings such as subtitles, highlighted categories, bolded titles, extra photos, and more.

Auto-bid provides a worry-free experience

If you're buying, the process is simple. You pay for bid points on eBid and bid for items with them. There are a few buy-it-now items, but those are less common than the standard bids. On the bright side, you don't have to keep track of auctions 24/7. eBid will auto-bid for you if you want it to, so you can maintain your bidding worry-free.

Thousands of results in inventory

One of eBid's strengths lies in its expansive inventory, spanning product categories that feature a wide range of unique and niche items. You'll find sections dedicated to baby products, comics, spiritual and metaphysical items, dolls, stamps, and thousands of other intriguing offerings. At the time of this review, eBid showed an impressive 2,636,669 listings. To compare the inventory at eBid to other auction sites, we looked for common shopping searches like watches, autographed items, and iPads to see how many results eBid had for those key items. Here's what we found:

• Watches: 8,894 results
• Autographs: 4,493 results
• iPads: 160 results

Looking at these numbers, eBid has an impressive inventory, though it doesn't quite beat out our top option. However, it remains highly competitive considering the thousands of results in key categories.

One-stop shop

eBid doesn't stand out as having a specialty, as the company is primarily a one-stop shop. However, popular items that are advertised on the company's main page include smartphones, baseball cards, and home appliances, which show that customers looking to upgrade their home and find antique curios might enjoy shopping with eBid.

Returns are in the hands of individual sellers

According to our research, the policy for returns at eBid appears to be in the hands of individual sellers. In this case, returns aren't guaranteed by eBid, so if you're worried about not liking an item, you'll have to deal directly with the seller if something goes wrong. It may be helpful to reach out to the seller during the auction to be sure that you feel comfortable with them and know their particular return policy if it comes to that.

Mixed reviews and an "F" rating

While eBid enjoys a degree of popularity, with an average rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 across different third-party review sites, some sellers have expressed a desire for a larger customer base. In comparison to larger online auction sites, eBid's membership remains relatively modest. This, in turn, can pose challenges for sellers looking to maximize their earnings through eBid's platform. On top of that, there's an even more concerning factor: the Better Business Bureau has awarded eBid an alarming "F" rating, which stands out particularly as a red flag for this business.

Low BBB score ruined its reputation

While eBid may have made some improvements to its site design and it does have a competitive number of inventory results, the "F" rating is a huge glaring problem. Considering that this site used to hold an "A" rating, the slide all the way down to "F" is highly concerning. With no stated return policy, it's not clear how eBid works to protect buyers. So, for this review, it earns a lower review overall.

Webstore

• One-stop shop inventory
• Timed bidding auctions and buy now
• Only a few hundred items in stock
• Local auctions available

If you're looking for an updated and modern auction website, Webstore isn't going to be the one for you. Even the name, Webstore, feels pretty generic. And once you land on the website, you get the feeling (or at least we did) that someone just slapped this on the internet and never looked at it again. With weirdly-sized text, random hyperlinks, and small blurry photos, Webstore gives the first impression of a site that's half-built and not terribly secure.

Not intuitive and sounds old-school

Getting started on Webstore isn't the most intuitive. It might take you a little extra time to uncover the various informational pages concealed behind oddly-placed links. In terms of fluidity, Webstore falls short. It doesn't offer the seamless navigation you might expect in the 21st century. The company offers you the option to look for online auctions or local "classifieds" , further aging the company to something that feels more appropriate for someone born in the 1950s.

Auction-style or buy-now listings

There are two types of buying styles at Webstore. You can go for auction-style, which requires regular monitoring to win your bid, or "fixed price" which you can buy outright at any time. In comparison to some of its more sophisticated competitors, Webstore doesn't offer advanced tools for sellers to optimize their listings, such as marketing analytics. Serious sellers aiming to maximize their reach will definitely prefer our higher-rated online auction platforms. However, for the casual seller, Webstore can be an effective storefront.

Clunky search function

Webstore offers a one-stop shop approach to auction inventory. You can find vintage collectibles that haven't seen a sale in decades to cutting-edge electronics. Beyond auctions, you'll also find items available for immediate purchase. On top of that, Webstore's local classifieds section allows you to narrow down their searches by city, state, or zip code to discover items near you. The classifieds section offers both auction-style and "buy it now" style purchases for certain items.

Low inventory

To compare the inventory at Webstore with other options in this review, we used the same three search terms at all auction sites: watches, autographed items, and iPads. At Webstore, we found:

• Watches: 122 results
• Autographs: 682 results
• iPads: 3 results with only 1 actual iPad

While there are some decent results in some of the sections, the inventory is already lower than many competitors who have thousands of results on hand. Further, many of the results at Webstore are only peripherally related to the search terms. For example, under the 122 "watch" results, about half of the results included books or magazines with the word "watch" on them, which made it more difficult to sift through the inventory.

Possible option for casual buyers

Webstore is particularly suitable for casual buyers and sellers. However, beyond that it doesn't have any particular specialization. The one-stop shop approach should allow it to address a wider user base. Yet, with Webstore's low inventory, the online auction site doesn't stand out as particularly competitive. Considering that the site doesn't offer great features for pro sellers, this really is only available for people looking to sell or shop casually, leaving the pros to look somewhere else.

No listed return policy

Unsurprisingly for such an old site, there isn't any listed policy for returns or refunds. So, if you don't like the items you get from Webstore, you may be stuck with them. Given the lack of customer-focused features at this store, it might be better to shop elsewhere.

Mixed reviews with concerning return practices

The reputation for this company is pretty middle of the road. The Better Business Bureau has awarded Webstore a "B-" rating overall. Reviewers on third-party review sites gave Webstore an average rating of 3.2 stars out of 5. Sellers report frustrations with being charged a fee after the first year to "maintain the site" despite being promised free listings. Customers who reported items that weren't the same as in the listing found lots of pushback from the company and while some were granted the ability to return, the shipping center was in China which cost more to ship back than it did to buy in the first place. There are a host of reviewers who did enjoy using Webstore, but with the overall red flags around the site, it's safer to choose an auction service that's more established and more customer-friendly.

Last-place pick

While we usually don't judge a book by its cover, in this case the first impressions of Webstore are pretty spot on. There aren't enough items in inventory to really make the company competitive, and with the host of navigation problems on this outdated website, the shopping and selling experiences are pretty bad. Customers left mixed reviews, and some of the negative ones raised some red flags with items not matching descriptions and high rates to ship items back to China. While it could be an option for casual buyers, Webstore doesn't stand out over any of the other sites in this review.