Penny Auction REVIEWS – Which Penny Auctions are the BEST Bargains?

Madbid a penny auction based in the United Kingdom has auctioned off many items, there search traffic pattern seems to indicate that the site was trending down quite possibly due to a number of factors but it seems poised for a possible rebound,  American bidders should familiarize themselves with Madbids terms of service before bidding on the items on Madbid due to shipping limitations.  Our bidding partners on the other side of the pond seem to be happy with Madbid and if they actually do ship to the United States we could possibly have another resource for cheap items here in the United States.

Like most things about Europe, there’s something glitzy about UK-based penny auction site MadBid. Maybe it’s the website’s look, or maybe it’s just the items they have up for auction – does an Audi A3 Sportback sound sexy enough for you?

If you’re from the US however, you’ll have to sit this one out, as MadBid is exclusive only to UK residents. Depending on how the site does, that might change in the future.

MadBid has a handful of unique features that’s sure to appeal to many penny auction bidders. Smart phone users have an advantage of sorts when it comes to this site, since bidders can actually vie for an auctioned item via SMS, with each text message costing £1.50, as opposed to the £1 cost of each bid purchased online. But before you dismiss this feature and go for the online route instead, note that SMS bidding comes with its own set of perks.

Since MadBid requires that you purchase bid packages when bidding online, SMS bidding actually saves you more money since it allows you to spend on individual bids – perfect for those who want to test the platform and try their luck without shelling out that much cash. SMS bidding is also ideal for individuals without debit or credit cards.

Up for grabs on the site are items such as notebooks, Apple products such as iPods and iMacs, HDTVs, DSLR cameras, cash, and the occasional mother of all prizes, a brand new car (as of the writing of this article, MadBid is auctioning off an  Audi A3 Sportback.

MadBid seems to be well regarded by folks from across the pond; it’s a shame that they don’t cater to US customers looking for bargains and the like. The site even has a page containing instructions on how to bid responsibly – something that’s pretty thoughtful, considering how most sites just want your money.

Along with Swoopo and Doobids, MadBid draws in the most number of users in the United Kingdom.

Website: www.BidsTick.com

BidsTick
Finland
Domain Registered: April 2008

Auction Type: Penny Auction
PAI Member Rating:

(82 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5)
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Bidstick, one of the more established penny auction sites on the web behind Swoopo offers a very limited amount of products, there auction platform differs from other penny auctions in that there auctions tend to have a shorter duration and that there products are primarily technology based.  Bidstick could be a resource for bidders to get technology based products due to the trending of the site visits from search engines.

Update 4/16/10:

One of the more established penny auction sites on the web today is BidsTick, an “old” player in the game right behind Swoopo. BidsTick used to stand out amongst the pack by being one of the first few online penny auction sites that had a chat box. Unfortunately, that feature seems to be down, as many regulars at the site have noted.

Another impressive feature on BidsTick is their testimonial page, where the site encourages their winning bidders to post videos of themselves together with the items they’ve on YouTube, which then get posted on the site in exchange for 100 bids. We feel that this unique approach to sending the message across to their visitors that the site is legitimate is a good move. This erases the doubts of potential bidders, especially with testimonials from people who’ve been lucky enough to win a laptop or HDTV for only 5 to 10 bucks.

So let’s go to the downside of BidsTick. First of all, this penny auction site has a somewhat dull homepage. Compared to other sites, Bidstick simply looks boring. Of course, it boils down to aesthetic preference, so we’ll let that one go. Another thing we’ve found out is that the site has a very limited range of products. After observing the site for a month, BidsTick has had less than 15 product changes, with “regulars” like an LG refrigerator and ATV repeatedly up for grabs since last year.

Electronics seem to be the main focus of the site, with Apple products, HDTVs, and notebooks auctioned off on a regular basis. If you’re looking to purchase such items at a bargain price, BidsTick may be for you.

Penny Auctions are getting a lot of attention around the internet- either people love them or they hate them. Most people love the fact that you can get high-ticket items such as HDTV’s and laptop computers for pennies on the dollar. But there are also countless complaints being made about the legitimacy of these websites. If you’re going to give penny auctions a try, be sure to avoid these 3 common nightmares.

Unauthorized Charges to Your Credit Card

As many people have learned, there are a lot of penny auction sites that charge fees to new users without their permission. There are a few sites that have been known to do this, with the number one being SwipeBids.com. Many users of SwipeBids have claimed that $150 was charged to their credit card after they signed up for the “free” trial.

Although there are many PA sites that charge un-authorized fees to users’ credit cards, there are just as many if not more legitimate sites on the web. Before signing up to any PA site, make sure you check out the reviews and user ratings. This one simple tip can save you hundreds of dollars and keep you from being scammed.

PA Sites Using Bots

One of the most common complaints made about penny auction sites is the use of bots. Bots, also known as auto-bidders, are used by some PA sites to drive up the auction price. They are fake users created by the site to bid for items. This is extremely unfair, because people expect to bid against real people when they sign up for a PA site.

There are a few ways to watch out for this. First, check out reviews of PA sites before joining any. Next, take a look at the main page of the PA site you’re considering joining. Most sites will list the current bidder next to the auction timer. If you see a name come up only once, it should be considered suspicious. Most human bidders will bid at least a few times before giving up.

Spending Lots of Money Without Winning

Unfortunately, far too many people buy bids on a PA site, and use all their bids without winning anything. This is usually due to the bidder not using any type of strategy. Penny auctions are not like gambling, it’s not up to chance.

Using even the simplest strategy will set you apart from most other bidders on a PA site. Instead of bidding on the first item you see that you want, take some time to watch the auctions and get a feel for the average ending auction price. When you know this average, you can enter into auctions when they get near this price. Also, enter auctions when there’s only a few seconds left on the timer.

Avoid these three common penny auction nightmares by following these tips. Don’t become another person filing complaints across the internet because you got ripped off. Always read reviews before signing up on a PA site.

Winning penny auctions can seem nearly impossible to new bidders. But just like anything else, winning is a skill that can be learned. The top winners at PA sites are usually the most experienced, and while we can’t actually give you experience, we can give you the top 10 tips to gain an edge over other bidders, and gain the experience you need to become a top power bidder.

If the PA site you choose gives you free bids, save them! It’s unlikely you’ll win with only a couple bids, and those free bids can come in handy later when you have more to play with.
Bid when there’s less than a minute left on the auction. Many people bid for items as soon as they see something they want, but this “strategy” almost never works. To win penny auctions, you need to be the last bidder, so wait until the auction is almost over before placing your bids.
Stay away from high-ticket items such as laptops and high definition televisions until you have more experience. More people bid for these items, which means you’ll have more competition bidding against you. Start out with the less valuable items and work your way up.
• Play during the right time. For most penny auction websites, the best time to play is early in the morning. The worst times to play are late afternoon and night, since most people play during these times.
• Set a spending limit on each item before bidding. Once you find an item you want to bid on, determine how many bids you’ll place before giving up and moving on.
• Stick with one item. To use your bids most effectively, don’t spread them out and bid on multiple items. Once you find something you want to win, focus on that one item until you either win, or reach your spending limit for that item.
• Watch how many different people are bidding on the item. Every penny auction shows who’s the latest bidder. When you’re bidding in an auction, keep track of how many different names you see. That will give you an idea of how much competition you’re up against.
• Don’t expect to win by placing only one bid. To win penny auctions, you have to be willing to bid multiple times on the items you want. Always stick to your spending limit, but make sure your limit is reasonable.
• Reserve enough time for bidding. If you enter an auction when you only have 10 minutes to sit at your computer, you’ll probably be wasting your bids. Penny auctions can go on for hours, so make sure you have enough time available before bidding.
• Win and develop your own strategy! Winning at penny auctions takes skills, which come from experience. Start out bidding on smaller items, work your way up, and you’ll develop a personal strategy and have a huge advantage over others.

Good luck!

When you sign up and purchase bids on a penny auction website, you expect to have a fair chance at winning items. You probably assume that everyone else on the site has the same chances as you do to win. But one user of Quibids.com has found out this is not the case.

Apparently QuiBids shows different items for different users. What you see on the main page might not be the same as when you log in. The QuiBids user that found this out posted a video on Youtube to prove this; you can watch the video below.

So why is this QuiBids user being sent to a “trap page”, as he calls it? There are numerous potential reasons for QuiBids doing this. QuiBids could be keeping track of their user patterns, such as wins for example. Once a user reaches a certain amount of wins, they could be sent to a page with more competition and less prizes, which would then save QuiBids more money.

They could also be doing this to balance out the auctions for their users so there’s less competition. If this is the case, it could be viewed as a good thing. But if this is what’s going on, why not tell their customers about this when they register on the site? Looking at Quibids.com, we can’t find an explanation, or even mention of this in their terms & conditions or anywhere else on the site.

Either way you look at it, it’s still unfair. People purchase bids on QuiBids because they like what they see on the main page, and they want a fair chance at winning the items they see. If they log in and are re-directed to a page with fewer products, like the video above shows, then they’re not getting the fair chance they’ve paid for.

So it all comes down to this- If you sign up to bid on a penny auction site, you should be able to bid for the same items as everyone else. If the penny auction site can’t offer the same prizes for everyone, for whatever reason, they should make their customers aware of this and provide an explanation. It’s the bidders that make penny auction sites possible, and we’re sick and tired of sites like QuiBids taking advantage of their customers and giving penny auctions a bad name.

What do you think? We’d love to hear your comments below. And if someone from QuiBids is reading, please help us understand why your site is doing this.

“Tis the season to be jolly“, and apparently in the penny auction industry its a jolly season for penny auction bidding as well. With cold weather reports coming in from all over the county, coupled with above average winter snow predictions for this coming winter, people now more than ever are searching for new and fun ways to pass their time indoors. Since the rise of the personal computer people have always passed their time playing video games such as solitare, but now since the advent of online gaming, internet use has spiked to all time highs.
For the last few years it has become very apparent that internet auctions are a popular past time. Due to the fact that you can get a bargain on great items, Online auctions have become something of a diamond in the rough if you play your bids right. It is no wonder that penny auction sales have increased with the start of cold weather. With the holidays just around the corner, home shopping seems to be gaining ground when it comes to getting what you need without the hassle of waiting in line and fighting through the crowded stores.
Is it snowing outside?, well look into trying online penny auctions as a great way to have fun and do your holiday shopping all at once, from gift cards, HD TV’s, Computers, and so much more for a considerable less amount then you would pay in a retail store. To the smart consumer this should be an opportunity that no one should pass up.
No need to fight traffic and risk driving in the snow and cold weather when you can simply make a hot chocolate and cozy up to the warmth of a fireplace and just point and click.

This winter is already expected to be a bad one this year, with snow flurries predicted in the 2010 farmer’s almanac seen here 2010 Farmer’s Almanac .
It will be a perfect season to stay indoors and try new and entertaining ways to spend your time.
Always be sure to do your homework when it comes to picking the perfect penny auction site. If you have any doubt about which sites are the best you should always check with the websites testimonial page. Doing these simple steps will go a long way in insuring that your online bidding experience goes well. Remember to always spend within your means, and never go into a online auction without first knowing a bit about the site, and it’s software.
With that acknowledged and winter almost here, penny auctions are proving to be a great way to wait out old man winter. Holiday gifts can be easier than ever to collect, if you play your cards right and know which auction exactly to go to.

A ground breaking investigation questioning the credibility of the BBB was just brought to light on November 12th on ABC’s 20/20, click the following link to watch the segment: Better Business Bureau Probe.

The investigation and report clearly shows how the LA BBB allegedly gave a racist group an A+ rating, and a fake group labeled “Hamas” an A-. The Boston BBB even gave an F rating to the Ritz Carlton which happened to have only 2 complaints. The report alleges that the BBB takes illegal payments to raise ratings and is more concerned about making money than ensuring business credibility. After many complaints this investigation brought stunning evidence of how the BBB manipulates business’s credibility rating for financial gain. Just because the members are accredited does not always mean that they have been audited or pay taxes. It certainly calls for more public awareness when it comes to dealing with dishonest business’s and websites.

Website: www.PonGow.com
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States

Domain Registered: January 2010


Auction Type: Penny Auction
PAI Member Rating:

(27 votes, average: 2.37 out of 5)
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PonGow.com is a new penny auction that features reserve auctions and a host of other features — all in an attempt to make penny auctions fairer and more transparent to bidders. PonGow’s owners apparently want to legitimize the heavily-criticized penny auction model by introducing more expensive items to bidders, whilst providing them with a fair shot at winning auctions.

After studying the business model for more than half a year, PonGow’s owners have refined and streamlined the concept, presenting in a way that’s never been seen before.

Unlike other reserved-based penny auctions, PonGow.com rewards early bidders or those who place bids before the auction reaches its “PonGow Price,” with twice the number of bids they used below the auction’s reserve price, regardless of whether or not they won the auction.

For a new penny auction, PonGow offers a variety of impressive items. For women, the site carries handbags, shoes, jewelry and other luxury goods; for men, the site has electronics and luxury watches; last but not least is the children’s selection, made up of kids’ items and furniture.

PonGow has deigned their business model in such a way that 3 people win the auction when it ends. First you have the last bidder who gets to purchase the item for its auction ending price. Then you the 2 runners-up, who get to receive the equivalent of 10% and 5% of the auctioned item’s MSRP in bids.

Website: www.TheCheapBid.com
Oneandone
Private Registration
1&1 Internet, Inc.
+1.8772064254
Chesterbrook, PA
United States

Domain Registered: June 2010


Auction Type: Penny Auction
PAI Member Rating:

(3 votes, average: 1.00 out of 5)
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Though it styles itself as a penny auction that sells cheap bids, TheCheapBid.com doesn’t have the most competitive bid prices—that title still belong to For10Cents.com. This new penny auction site is a low-profile player in the industry, and might be an ideal PA for novice bidders to get their feet wet.

From what we see on the landing page, it’s pretty obvious that the owners of The Cheap Bid are hands-on when it comes to running the site. They’ve come up with numerous seasonal promotions and gimmicks to entice people to sign up—for Halloween, TheCheapBid has spruced up their site with special Halloween images. They’ve also added a few holiday perks for bidders, such as mystery auctions and more.

If you’re looking to bid on big-ticket prizes, then you’ll have to go somewhere else. Prizes on the TheCheapBid.com are made up primarily of low-value items, including gift cards, Blu-Ray movies, video games, relatively affordable consumer electronics and more. Though don’t be surprised if you see a major auction taking place every now and then.

As far as feedback goes, The Cheap Bid is an enigma. The only useful bit of information we found is that the site uses the popular PennyAuctionSoft script that’s mostly found on other new penny auctions.

Try them out yourself and see how it goes.

If you’re thinking about bidding on BidRay.com, or want to know how penny auctions work in general, then this video should be a great way of letting you know the facts. Is BidRay really a scam? You decide.