AuctionCut Showcase
Each week, AuctionCut Showcase features one site which we feel stands out above the rest . This week we kick off with AuctionAir.co.uk
AuctionAir
If you are looking for a fully featured, sealed bid auction site, auctionair.co.uk is a great choice.
With over 450,000 bids received, a total savings of 7.1 million pounds over the actual value of the items purchased on the site, and over 12,500 winning bids, auctionair.co.uk is definitely here to stay.
How it AuctionAir works
Their system is set up a little differently than you might be used to. They purchase the lots themselves, meaning there are no buyers’ or sellers’ commissions and they go for a price below their actual value. Better yet, if you win the auction, your bid is not legally binding, as it would be on many sites. You do not have to follow through and pay if you change your mind. The only payment you will have to pay is the entry fee!
The major difference you’ll probably notice is that you have to pay a small payment fee to bid on many of the auctions. This is how the site makes money, and it helps you too, because it eliminates the risk of frivolous bidders undercutting you.
Auctionair Screenshot
Types of Auctions
There are two types of auctions on the site: high bid and low bid.
In high bid auctions, you can bid as often as you want. As the name indicates, the highest bid wins. In “secret price” auctions, there’s a “reserve” price that’s less than the item’s value, and above this price, every bid wins. Some auctions are marked with stamps to show that after every 50, 75 or 100 bids, there will be a guaranteed winner.
In low bid auctions, each lot has a limit on how many bids you can make. For some auctions, it might be as low as five or ten bids. When the bidding ends, the lowest unmatched bid wins, which can make for some fantastic deals. For example, one lucky bidder managed to snag a Mini Cooper S for just five pounds!
Navigating the Auctions
In the high bid auction section, the items are well organized. Lots can be sorted by their type (holidays, weekends, tech, adventure, style, and no entry fee), or you can search by keyword. You can also view a list of all the lots available.
If you’re interested in the low bid auctions, they’re all listed on one convenient page, together with plenty of information about them. You can see a picture and title, a link to more lot details, the maximum number of bids on the item, the number of bids placed so far, the number of bids still required to finish the auction, the maximum number of bids you are allowed to place on this auction, the entry fee, and the minimum bid. In addition, it also shows you what the lowest amount this item has sold for before is, and the number of people who have won it before.
Unclaimed Wins
The final type of purchase you can make is the unclaimed win. On a first-come, first-served basis, you can pay no entry fee at all and get an item quickly! To participate, you check the boxes of the items you’re interested in, and you’ll receive an email with information about the bids available. Follow the instructions in the email as quickly as possible, and if you’re the first to reply, you can win the item.
If you enjoy a race against other bidders, you could find this a fantastic way to save money and have fun at the same time!
Whether you like the adrenaline rush of competing against other bidders in unclaimed wins or guessing what prices haven’t been bid upon, auctionair.co.uk will catch and hold your attention!
Click here to visit AuctionAir for yourself to see what you think.
