Niche sites may be the real cream of the crop, depending on what you are selling. And, as was said earlier, niche sites attract targeted visitors. Sounds like the perfect combo!
Here are a few possibilities that might “fit” with your passion...1) Free Bid (http://www.freebid.de/) is a German site specializing in antiques and art, both European and German. The entire site is in German so I was at a disadvantage to understand it completely but it gets reasonably good traffic and it might be a good source for anyone interested in international sales.
2) Just Glass (http://www.justglass.com/) concentrates on (surprise!) just glass! They sell such items as Vaseline glass, Avon, Boyd Glass, Collector
40’s, 50’s, 60’s Glass, Phoenix/Consolidated, Pyrex and Elegant Depression Glass. The site has a nice collection of features, such as access to an expert, online prices guide, a bookstore, no fees, dealer shops and an online magazine.
3) Biddington’s (http://www.biddingtons.com/) is the site of upscale Biddington’s Contemporary Art Gallery. This isn’t a site like the other because while Biddington’s definitely auctions its own property, it also acts as an intermediary for anyone wanting to sell. You aren’t allowed to handle your transaction yourself.
Normally, we wouldn’t include this site but it sells some really expensive art so it might be worthwhile for anyone interested and knowledgeable in this field. Biddington’s charges 10% commission for its services and holds the money in escrow until the transaction is complete.
4) Nickleby’s (http://www.nicklebys.com/) has been in business for 25 years and specializes in fine arts, antiques, collectibles. Until just recently, they did all the auctioning themselves. But they are now allowing individual members to conduct their own auctions. They act as an escrow agent, and they certify, authenticate and appraise merchandise which certainly increases buyer confidence. Obviously, this is a high-end site and doesn’t auction $2 posters. Selling is temporarily free.
5) Penbid (http://www.penbid.com/) is a fascinating site that focuses exclusively on fountain pens, although it did have a few watches sprinkled in among its listings. This site is information-rich with such goodies as “The History of Wirt” and it lets us know that a Montblanc pen recently sold for $9900! There are some really high prices on pens on this site.
6) Playle (http://www.playle.com/) auctions postcards, ephemera and collectibles but mostly thousands of postcards. Playle’s mainly features dealers, but also available to the rest of us. Their fees are like eBay’s but relisting is free.
7) Collect It Now (http://www.collectitnow.com/) concentrates on collecting. Their categories include such goodies as perfume bottles, antique toys, pottery and vintage electronics. Selling is free and they offer appraisals, chat rooms and a unique feature which allows customers to identify their silver with the site’s “free silver identifier.”
8) e-Wood (http://www.e-Wood.com/) caters to both companies and private individuals involved in the wood products industry. Everything e-Wood auctions falls into one of five categories -- building materials, logs and mill byproducts, specialty and hardwoods, equipment and miscellaneous. On a separate part of the site, they include sections for products customers want to buy, products to sell and a liquidation/surplus list.
9) If you are interested in vintage (translation -- old) clothes, then VintageUSA (http://www.vintageusa.com/) might be for you. This site offers a large selection of clothes and sneakers. Some are a fixed price but many are auctioned.
10) Popula (http://www.popula.com/) calls itself “the auction with soul” -in other words, vintage, antique, bizarre.11) Stock and Bond Auction
(http://www.stockandbondauction.com/) claims it is the only interactive auction Web site that is devoted solely to the collecting of antique stocks and bonds and related paraphernalia.
12) Antique Tractors (http://www.antiquetractors.com/) also has classified ads, discussion groups, books, tractor manuals, parts and supplies and show guides.
13) A-Gun (http://www.a-gun.com/) sells all kinds of firearms, divided into four main categories... antique -- pre 1899, curios and relics until 1949, modern until present day and miscellaneous, which includes such items as gun parts and ammunition, knives and western memorabilia. They also have a classified section, a bookstore and “guns wanted.”
14) Guns-USA (http://www.guns-usa.com/) is another gun auction for firearms dealers, collectors, and sportsmen. They have some items listed in “Non-regulated” categories which do not require shipment through licensed gun dealers. Firearms manufactured prior to 1898 are considered collectible antique firearms. They are not subject to federal gun control legislation except in regard to the age of the buyer and seller (18 years of age for rifles and shotguns, 21 years of age for handguns). This site is primarily for licensed gun dealers but non-licensed dealers may sell, too.
15) Pottery Auction (http://www.potteryauction.com/) has modest traffic but it has the potential to become larger.16) Sports Auction (http://www.sportsauction.com/) sells sporting memorabilia. They have items in a multitude of sports like baseball, football, hockey, basketball, racing, tennis, golf, boxing and olympic sports.
17) Hemmings (http://auctions.hemmings.com/) sells all kinds of cars, motorcycles, parts, books, tools and supplies, accessories.
You have in your hands a list of solid sites -- today.
By breakfast tomorrow, one of them may have made a fatal mistake that will totally destroy their business. Or five new sites may have opened, one of which is perfect for you -- and no one has even heard of it yet.
So let this auction site list be only the beginning, not the end. Meander around the Internet. Check out sites and see what you find.Hopefully, you now have a clearer idea of how to find auction sites and what to look for when you are evaluating them. When all is said and done, for the entrepreneur, there is only one definition of a “perfect” site and that is ...
... one where you can make money.