written by jazmine12 on 18/10/2010
CONS: shipping costs are high - UPS and FEDEX are very expensive but .....
when you look at an item to possibly bid on, there is a link to the shipping costs and I always factor that amount into my bid. Basically, other than USPS, and I don't bid at all.
PROS: good clear pics for the most part, and I've ALWAYS received e-mailed answers when I was unclear about an item.
SHILL BIDS: yes, but it probably isn't Goodwill employees - it can be from "game players" - they have a pattern - they will bid you up one dollar at a time, over and over, but they usually stop before they out bid you - and yes, you may end up paying what you'd originally bid, but if you bid an appropriate amount, you still get a bargain. When you see an item offered again due to non-payment, look up that original auction. It may be a high end item, with multiple bidders, and a LOT of activity in the minutes before auction close - and two bidders who'd been competing for a week or more, got into a frenzy. Ooops ! Buyer's remorse.
LASTLY: Research, research and search again. Google, and check out local sources. Set your maximum amount firmly in mind, and if it goes over that amount, let it go. Check daily, and eventually, a similar item will come up. I LOVE shopgoodwill.com