Favorite auction sites for Dutch/Europeans

[HuubL]

Apart from an incidental sale on RFF, in recent years my favorite auction site has changed from international eBay via the Dutch Marktplaats to the European Catawiki.

I don't need to explain why my love for eBay sharply turned to hatred, a couple of years ago. I notice similar feelings here.

I liked Marktplaats initially because of the the fact that as a seller you are in total control of when you want to sell. As the auctions have no time limit, you can just bide your time and wait for a bid you are happy with. Unfortunately, in recent years this amateur market place has changed into a regular internet shop with most items offered by professional sellers. This seems to have had a great impact on the number of visitors looking to buy second hand camera stuff at a modest price. The few amateur sellers left on Marktplaats offer their items at pro sellers prices scaring away visitors looking for nicely-priced stuff.

Catawiki was originally set up as an auction site for collectors. The items are on auction for a limited time (5 days) and at the end the highest bidder wins. A nice thing is that bids placed in the last minute reset the clock for another minute, so that the previous highest bidder has the time to bid again, avoiding much of the frustrations that one had on eBay.

What is your favorite internet auction site?

 

[Spanik]

I'm in Belgium, but that isn't that far away.

I'm still a believer in Ebay, maybe it is because of what I exactly look for but it is still the place where I find the most. But it has become more difficult, both in time between finding something and the price asked.

While I do take a look on Marktplaats from time to time I find it less attractive. Very often bad descriptions, photos that are impossible to make sense off, silly prices asked, sellers that do not give any detail and do not answer questions and often offers that are long gone but never removed from the site. 2dehands and Kapaza sometimes do have something but very often nothing better than fleamarket items at collector prices.

Catawiki is a nice idea but the prices are geared towards collectors, not people looking for some used but to be used material. Prices sometimes go through the roof and then you have to add the auctioneers fee to it. Also too difficult to follow if you have a job to do at an office.

Other than that I look at photographic shops that also deal in secondhand gear where you can from time to time find something interesting at honest prices. No great deals but no ripoff either. With the added bonus that someone that should be knowledgable has seen and looked at the item. Some forums also do have a trade section that is lively and interesting altough the prices tend to be high. Added bonus is that it is often local so you can go and have a look before deciding.