Whether you’re in the market for electronic devices, domestic appliances, power tools or exercise equipment, it’s fair to say that the cost of such items can sometimes make it difficult to afford items of this nature that are high quality.
Despite this, many of these items are either essential in maintaining a functional day-to-day life or are an integral aspect of accessing the modern world, and so forking out large amounts of money is often – and frustratingly – unavoidable.
But are there any alternatives out there for those who want to purchase much-needed electrical items – either for personal use, reselling, or as a gift for a loved one or friend – at more reasonable prices, from trustworthy sources?
Online auction listings can be the best place to scour for such items, as there’s often an abundance of these types of products available and you’re able to bid whatever you deem reasonable to acquire them.
If you’re new to buying electricals this way, we’re here to help you get started and have collated some tips and tricks that you might find useful…
What year was it made? Is it a returned or pre-owned item? Does it have all the accessories needed for full functionality? What’s the average RRP? Could it be deemed as a collectable (as this would change its value)? How many of each item is available?
These are just some of the key questions that you need to try and identify answers for when browsing for electrical items and components via online auctions. They will help you to decide what they’re worth – especially if they’re older versions of items, such as early iterations of games consoles or kitchen appliances – and verify the RRP provided by the seller.
If the item is a customer return, ensure that all the related accessories are included in the lot, such as chargers and cables, and, if kitchen equipment like a free-standing mixer, the various hooks and mixing tools that should be included. Most (if not all) lots of this nature will include such information, but it’s still important to double-check so that you can be sure.
Pallets of liquidated stock or customer returns often consist of multiple versions of the same item that are gathered together in one pallet; most of the time, this means that the stock has to be bought in bulk, so be aware that any bids you place on the items are for the entirety of the stock available and not for individual items that are listed in the contents.
If the pallet only contains raw returns, it’s important for you to consider the various reasons that customers may have returned the stock included. These can range from unsubstantial reasons such as a failed delivery attempt, the wrong item delivered or ordered, or the actual item not fully matching the stock photograph available, all the way to the original recipient receiving damaged, broken items, or an incomplete set.
In some cases, the electrical items that are contained within pallets may need a professional to fix or refurbish faulty items in order to ensure they’re safe prior to using or reselling. So, if you fancy yourself as a bit of a tinkerer or a whiz with electrical items, these sorts of pallets may be just the ticket for your next project!
Another key consideration when you’re looking to purchase electrical items is to establish the delivery costs, the buyer’s premium, and the VAT, as these will all be added on to your bid if you are confirmed as the winning bidder. At William George, this information is always displayed clearly when you’re bidding, so there won’t be any nasty surprises further down the line.
There are loads of reasons why buying electrical items from online auctions is the way to go, the most important of which is that you’re sure to find yourself at least one item or pallet of items that you’ve been scouring the internet for, but at a price you feel comfortable with.
To get started, check out our live auctions of electrical products that feature must-have items and brand names that you can trust. You never know, you might be able to spot some bargains that helps you to spread the cost of events such as Christmas and birthdays across the year!