Online Auctions Some Statistics

Online auctions are becoming more popular and the number of people buying and selling goods in this fashion are increasing with each passing year.  These people who have given online auctions a try (just like with any other service offered in the marketplace) either love them, hate them, or are ultimately indifferent to acquiring goods through these means.  That being said here are a few statistics comprised by the National Consumers League that may be able to give you better insight for yourself as to why people have the opinion that they do concerning online auctions.  For those who are like me and have no idea who NCL is and what they do here is their mission statement according to their website.  

For Confidence and Safety in the Marketplace

The mission of the National Consumers League is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. The National Consumers League is a private, nonprofit advocacy group representing consumers on marketplace and workplace issues. We are the nation's oldest consumer organization.

NCL provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer's perspective on concerns including child labor, privacy, food safety, and medication information

The Stats are as follows:

- nearly one third of adults in the United States who go online have participated in online auctions

- The average loss per victim (in fraud) in 2000 was $326

- 43% of users are looking for bargains, 23% for hard to find items, and 21% for things they collect

- 83% of users who have participated as bidders have made a purchase

- 75% of purchases are $100 or less

- 94% of buyers were confident that they will get what they pay for from the seller

- only 50% of those surveyed said they always check the sellers rating

- 77% of those buyers that check seller ratings will never buy from a seller that doesn't have any          information about his seller rating

www.nclnet.org