Internet Auctions for Dummies [Paperback]

Greg Holden (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies | Publication Date: July 23, 1999

Online Auctions Internet Directory Inside!

Discover How to Get the Best Possible Deal — and Protect Your Privacy! From baseball cards and Beanie Babies to Fiesta Ware and folk art, Internet auctions are the easiest way to buy and sell collectibles (or anything else) at a great price. But with today's proliferation of sites and auction types, where do you begin? Internet Auctions For Dummies^® cuts through the confusion. With clear advice and eye-opening stories from real-life sellers and bidders, author Greg Holden guides you to the best sites for your particular interests and shows you step-by-step how to get great deals — whether you're buying or selling. Let These Icons Guide You!

• Highlights tips that can help bidders get the best auction deals
• Points out strategies that can help sellers attract customers and maximize profits
• Marks profiles of successful Internet auction bidders and sellers

Valuable Bonus CD Includes:

• Auctioneer 3.0 — Demo version of program that allows you to design and maintain an online auction house
• EveryAuction — An easy to use freeware CGI auction program
• Paint Shop Pro — Evaluation version of popular image editing tool

Shareware programs are fully functional, free trial versions of copyrighted programs. If you like particular programs, register with their authors for a nominal fee and receive licenses, enhanced versions, and technical support. Freeware programs are free, copyrighted games, applications, and utilities. You can copy them to as many PCs you like — free — but they have no technical support System Requirements: 486 or faster PC running Windows 95 or later, Windows NT 4, or 68040 or faster Macintosh running system 7.5.5 or later, 8MB RAM (16MB RAM recommended); CD-ROM drive double-speed (2X) or faster; Internet connection (14,400 bps or faster modem, or network-regular access charges apply).

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:

• Navigate the Web's hottest auction sites — eBay, Yahoo! Auctions, Amazon.com Auctions, OnSale, uBid, AuctionAddict.com, Up4Sale, Auction Universe, The Collectible Exchange, Sotheby's, and more
• Understand the different types of online auctions and the best strategies for buying or selling at each
• Handle credit card transactions, set up escrow accounts, and protect yourself from fraud
• Attract customers worldwide by learning about translation services, customs, and more
• Connect with other collectors who share your interests and locate hard-to-find items

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Want to get rid of those old comic books gathering dust in the closet? Looking for a deal on Beanie Babies? The world of Internet auctions is a fast-paced and glamorous adventure of buying, selling, and bidding. It is as addictive as it is fun. Writer and small business owner Greg Holden lets you in on the secrets of getting the best deals without losing sleep in Internet Auctions for Dummies.

This zany tour of auction e-commerce begins by addressing the basics of getting hooked up to the Net. The book then splashes right into the waters of auction sites, including searches for items you want to sell or purchase, how to arrange for payment and delivery, and what to expect from everyone involved.

Tips, anecdotes, advice, and new terms like "escrow service" filter into your life via Holden's conversational style that reads as though he is just sitting you down over coffee to give you his perspective on the world. Yet he minces no words--each page is packed with site information and the nitty-gritty details you need to make money from collectible action figures, or vice versa.

The CD-ROM that comes with the book has software to help you get connected, like Internet Explorer, as well as specialty software like Auctioneer 3.0 and other tools to see you on your way. Remember, it's not over 'til it's over, and soon you'll be hearing the virtual auctioneer crying "Going, going, gone!" --Rob Lightner

About the Author

About the Author Greg Holden is the founder and owner of his own small business, Stylus Media, which specializes in creating Web pages for other small businesses. He is the author of Starting An Online Business For Dummies and Small Business Internet For Dummies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (July 23, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764505785
• ISBN-13: 978-0764505782
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,237,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, Educational and Pretty Dang Entertaining, May 11, 2000

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Angular Velocity "angular" (Midwestern cornfield, sprawl imminent) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Internet Auctions for Dummies (Paperback)

This book is not a dry read! It's pretty engaging. I had never considered the psychology of the auctioner/auctionee - and this guy has captured the online (and live, in-person) auction dynamic and describes it pretty thoroughly (the CD software's nice, too: there are a couple CGI scipts you can use that are documented nicely, along with some .exe's that look fairly easy to cope with). Good insight into the pitfalls that the auction newbie (me) should beware of (what kind of payments to take, make sure service is plenty dang fast, follow up on questions, deal with reputable people, be prompt with payment when buying, etc.) and again, the writer covers not just online auctioning but the live kind. Fascinating. A good read, the kind you can pick up and get something new from each time.

2 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Un buen libro para iniciarse en el mundo de los remates, June 13, 2000

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"malcomito" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Internet Auctions for Dummies (Paperback)

Un muy buen libro para principiantes en el mundo de los remates en internet. Incluye muy buen software para iniciar tu propio sitio de remates online, e incluye una correcta descripcion de las posibilidades de un sitio de remates. Recomendado para principiantes