Singapore Expats

I've listed most of my yahoo auction stuffs to http://www.merlionauction.com and some over to http://www.99auction.com. How about you guys?

I'm using eBay..

I use eBay as well.

Course here eBay not so good as most locals don't know what an Auction really is. I generally use the US site. Prices usually go UP in an auction. You don't post questions like "got discount or not!"

Car Boot sales rule! You wouldn't believe the crap we got rid off before coming to Singapore

Saint wrote:Car Boot sales rule! You wouldn't believe the crap we got rid off before coming to Singapore

Yet Mrs S still brought you along? Tough to sell?

Vaucluse wrote: Yet Mrs S still brought you along? Tough to sell?

His market value is out of existence, they did away with the sixpence some time ago.

Vaucluse wrote:

Saint wrote:Car Boot sales rule! You wouldn't believe the crap we got rid off before coming to Singapore

Yet Mrs S still brought you along? Tough to sell?

I'm priceless so Mrs S keeps telling!

Actually not too sure what she means by that

I think they have replaced Yahoo!Auctions Singapore with the new Marketplace. You guys may wanna check it out here: http://www.gmarket.com.sg/event/gmarket ... _event.asp

myirene wrote:I think they have replaced Yahoo!Auctions Singapore with the new Marketplace. You guys may wanna check it out here: http://www.gmarket.com.sg/event/gmarket ... _event.asp

gmarket - looks good, just that those animated tumbnails are making the pages look messy. And there are charges for successful deal too.

99 auction - large seller base but the site design and features are lacking

merlion auction - I like the clean and neat look, very "Singapore" too but perhaps its new so not too much sellers.

ebay singapre - great if you deal worldwide. Need to verify before you can list. Good protection to both buyer and seller.

Any other auction sites?

The Singapore Auctions sites are a complete joke.

The average Singaporean doesn't know what an Auction is. If you look at all the sites you do not see any acutions but fixed prices and Singaporean asking "got discount or not" that's why Yahoo folded up and eBay isn't doing too well here as well. The other auctions sites will fold up as well as local will continually try to cheat as they always do and without the buyer & seller protection like eBay has, they will fold due to people ripping each other off.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:The Singapore Auctions sites are a complete joke.

The average Singaporean doesn't know what an Auction is. If you look at all the sites you do not see any acutions but fixed prices and Singaporean asking "got discount or not" that's why Yahoo folded up and eBay isn't doing too well here as well. The other auctions sites will fold up as well as local will continually try to cheat as they always do and without the buyer & seller protection like eBay has, they will fold due to people ripping each other off.

Gosh you are so right, most singaporean would ask for a discount. I guess it more like "no hurt asking right?" To be honest, I did that too. I was shopping for a new modem on ebay and well I saved 10 bucks just for asking.

If i've not mistaken, ebay is encouraging seller to set fixed prices too.

Just my 2 cents worth, Yahoo SG auction folded up probably becos it technical team sucks and lack customer focus, never managed to fix those search bugs and many other issues within its auction site. Since it does not generate $ so the easiest way is to fold it up and get emarket in.

I think otherwise, there will be room for perhaps 2 to 3 players in SG. Best Wishes!

I doubt it seriously, I have personally made about 4 dozen purchases via thee auction method from eBay in the last 60 days. Here it has nothing to do with the back end or anything else except the local mindset. eBay Aus is doing well as is eBay UK. They all use the same system. So maybe there is something to what I said after all.

The local sites will fold up as well, mark my words.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:local will continually try to cheat as they always do

You take that back you!

I had dinner with some local friends tonight and the restaurant charged us one dish less and my friends sent the bill back highlighting that they had undercharged us.

So you're the one cheating us of our reputation by making sweeping generalisations like that. Take it back!

Okay, I rephrase that.....

They will always try to maximise profit at the expense of the host if at all possible. Better?

Have you used eBay in Singapore?

This is an example of what I'm talking about:

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Singapore-1987-1 ... dZViewItem

Shipping & Handling US $20.00

Collector's book and 1pc 10 yrs Anniversary MRT Card Value at $0.00 as shown in picture. VERY RARE Issue. This item for overseas buyer (Outside Singapore). Local Buyer agree to accept the same S/H charge are welcome.
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT U GET.

That is so they don't have to pay the commission to eBay but they will make about 30 bucks profit over and above what they sell the item for. And, most are similar in some way.

I tried to buy a pinball machine on ebay from a local seller a few years ago. It was the most frustrating experience. He never answered the questions I asked him, so I didn't bid on the first 'go'. He relisted it and this time I went to see it, and then bid on it. I was the only bidder and I won the item, then he changed his mind and wouldn't sell it. There's only so much negative feedback matters.

Even if you just go on to the site, you can see that people are playing fast and loose with terms like 'authentic' and 'antique'. Just not worth the risk in my opinion.