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Digital auctions are online marketplaces with the cheapest, most unique, and most diverse product ranges you can ever find. But, where do they get all their stuff?
As with most businesses, every seller sources goods and services from somewhere. And digital auctions are not that different. They use skills, expertise, and contacts to find items that can fetch them a good profit.
Where do digital auction products come from? Find the answers below.
Liquidated businesses
Most of the good items you see sold online are from liquidated businesses. Liquidation happens when companies are heavily indebted and can no longer pay off their debts. They sell off their remaining assets to meet their obligations (pay their creditors and shareholders),
These companies hire auction houses to sell their assets. The items are listed on digital auctions and sold to the highest bidder. And in return, the proprietors of the online auction earn a commission for facilitating the sale.
Estate settlement and liquidation (House Clearances)
Sometimes, online auction houses work with estates to settle the affairs of deceased family members.
During this process, auction house agents may come across valuable items that they appraise and put up for sale by digital auction. Before the auction, they settle on a fee with the property owners, and upon selling the items, take a commission for their efforts.
They also offer these services to families or individuals who want to liquidate their collections and assets. They assist beneficiaries of wills to turn their inheritance into cash. Say, expensive jewels and family heirlooms. They act as the brokers between the online buyers and the client.
During house clearance, they can also come across valuable items that the owners have no use for (see little/no value in). So they seize the opportunity and buy the goods at a low cost from the property owners. And after that, list the products on an online auction and sell them at a profit to the highest bidder.
Business overstocks
Large corporations frequently overstock products. Since they expect high volume sales, they purchase and stock more of the most demanded items.After the sales period when the product is no longer in demand, these stores have lots of unsold inventory.
They have to do away with the older stock to make room for newer stock. But they cannot give it away for free, as this will be a complete loss. So their other alternative is to sell the products at a much lower price. But they cannot do this because they have to uphold the value of their brand.
To resolve the issue of overstock and customers’ returns, they contract a third-party seller (online auctioneer). They pay the online auction house in two ways; Either on a commission basis, or they set a reserve price, and any profits earned from selling over the reserve price go to the digital auction house.
Garage and yard sales
Small yard sales and flea markets are great places to find high-value products at low prices. Because online auctioneers know this, they have a team of experts that frequent these small sales events to hunt for treasure.
They purchase objects with potential, such as valuable vases, paintings, pictures, furniture, and cards, at extremely low costs. And what do they do with these items? They refurbish and restore objects in poor condition and sell them at a profit in online auctions.
Police and other government bodies
Law enforcement bodies confiscate a lot of property when maintaining law and order. And as time goes on, they accumulate property that they have no space for and cannot return to their original or previous owners. Such items fall into these categories; lost and found, proceeds of crime, seized or confiscated property, and unclaimed stolen property.
To gainfully dispose of these items and property in police custody, they sell them off. They do this through public auction or contracting auctioneers to sell them through digital auctions.
Some of the items sold at a digital police auction include boats, yachts, jewelry, watches, televisions, iPad, business equipment, bicycles, and cars, building equipment, household goods, and so forth.
Financial institutions
Financial institutions have to deal with loan defaulters and those who fail to pay their loans. So banks and other financial institutions seize the property used as collateral to get back their money. And contract auctions to sell the property on their behalf.
They set a minimum/reserve price and agree on the commission. Upon successful sale of the property, the banks and digital auction proprietor take their share and give the balance of the sale proceeds to the property’s former owner.
Items put up for sale on digital auctions include jewelry, office equipment, cars, furniture, paintings, to mention but a few.
Appraisal Fairs
Other online auctions host appraisal fairs where they invite interested individual sellers with anything of value. During these events, their team of experts values or appraise the items brought.
Examples of such items include furniture, clocks and watches, lamps, pottery, coins, books and manuscripts, dishes and glassware, quilts and textiles, military memorabilia, sports equipment, dolls and toys, and so much more.
If they love what you offer, they buy it from you at an agreed price. Online sellers get a lot of marketable products from these appraisal fairs at a low cost and sell them at a profit at online auctions.
Donations
Some digital auctions are carried out to support a cause. In such auctions, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of goods goes towards a selected charity or cause. The organization or auctioneer solicits valuable items from well-wishers, organizations, and businesses for such digital auctions.
Conclusion
Digital auctions vary. Some sell general stuff, and others specialize in specific products. But whatever the case may be, you should buy products from an online auction with an established name in the business by checking out https://auctionwin.com/. That way, you’ll have a guarantee that the site will not compromise its standards.
