Online Auctions - Good or Bad?

Love them or hate them, online auctions are here to stay. Hundreds of items are being sold every minute of every hour and everyday, in fact it?s just like consumerism on steroids. But is this really just a case of supply and demand?

With almost all online classifieds or auction sites now selling both new and second hand items it seems no one has distinguished between what?s good for the planet and what is bad. When classifieds first appeared in the local papers it was simply away to sell your unwanted items to willing local buyers. The online revolution now dictates that anything can be sold and with easy access to cheap imports new goods are likely to be the target of a savvy seller. But how good is this for the planet?

For the seller, online auctions are a quick way for sale conversions. The final price may not be guaranteed, as in conventional sales, but if the margins are right the seller will certainly make some profit. And the seller will continue to sell these cheap imported goods whilst there is demand for such products. Unfortunately, the perceived demand in such online auctions is not always real demand.

The buyer in an online auction participates in the auction for a number of reasons such as: - needing the item, wanting the item and thinking they should buy it because it?s a bargain. Have you ever spontaneously purchased something that you don?t really need but think the price is so low you just can?t pass it by? Well by design an auction creates a feeling that you will miss out if you don?t bid a little higher each time and when you win an auction you experience a feeling of euphoria thinking you?re a winner. Unfortunately such behaviors can become addictive and you may find yourself buying more and more items, including some that you don?t actually need. It is this consumerism for consumerism sake that is a concern for sustainable living.

So the question is how can you make a difference? Well there is nothing wrong with actually buying something in an online auction that has been used before as potentially you have extended that items usable life but when new items are purchased in an auction style, the quick turnover can create a false impression of demand. This higher demand usually equates to a higher price. Simply take control of your buying habits and if you can?t reduce your consumption of new goods; use a site like Used Before Free Classifieds to help guide you into reusing unwanted items. It?s good for the planet.