For buyers and sellers who still enjoy the online auction experience, a new auction site has just opened up.
Auctionopia today announced its online auction platform is open for business, the latest in an expanding hodgepodge of eBay alternatives. The site aims to set itself apart by making buyer-seller communication more efficient, and by eliminating hidden costs, two issues CEO Tom Popomaronis characterizes as recurring problems with auction platforms.
The new auction site features instant messaging to let buyers and sellers chat, negotiate pricing and settle on a deal. It also offers a fee-free environment, with no listing or transaction fees paid to Auctionopia. Sellers are charged only for enhancements to the position or visibility of their listings. However, PayPal is required for processing payments, and the normal fees apply there.
“The foundation of our service is to offer a free marketplace, while giving users the tools to communicate and negotiate in real time,” Popomaronis says.
With a bulk-upload feature for adding inventory, the auction site hopes to also serve as an additional distribution channel for online businesses, he adds.
Learn more about Auctionopia at auctionopia.com.