Online auctions in town

ARGUABLY the world’s largest person-to-person online trading

community, eBay, has released a new Australian web site, www.ebay.com.au

Buyers and sellers can trade in more than 2,000 categories including AFL memorabilia, Australian stamps and coins and computers.

A search function allows users to find items from among the three million items listed daily at eBay.

Perth eBay user Paul Richardson said an Australian site will offer more locally-themed items and make dealing with any problems easier.

eBay Australian and New Zealand managing director Alison Deans said the site gave access to a worldwide community of 5.6 million active buyers and sellers.

She said eBay, founded in the US in 1995, had pioneered person-to-person online trading.

“Already thousands of Australians are avid eBay users – some make their living out of selling while others have discovered a site which allows them to pursue their collecting passions,” Ms Deans said.

“More than 300,000 new items are listed every day.”

Following a free listing day in September, the site hit a record with 4.2 million items up for auction.

Some of the unique items traded at eBay include a pickle jar from around 1850 described by an antique bottle and glass collector as “the Cadillac of the category”. It sold for more than $70,000.

However, vintage doesn’t count for everything in online trading, as one seller discovered when he received $31 for an original 1950s Mr Potato Head – especially considering a 1999 Japanese Pokemon box sold for $2,014.