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can people really save money through bidding sites?

Hello and Good Afternoon Everyone,

With bidding sites such as dealdash.com and tophatter.com advertising savings that customers achieve through their sites, I have to ask this question. Can people really save money through bidding sites? The savings portrayed on dealdash.com really sounds too good to be true especially when someone is getting a huge flat screen tv for $100 or a laptop for $30. When I see testimonies such as these, I immediately become skeptical and full of disbelief.

What does everyone else think about bidding sites? If someone has indeed experienced success or perhaps disappointment through them, please feel free to share. I would be interested in any review about bidding sites rather it be positive or negative.

Thank you

George

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

CES

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GMartin

ASKER

I see what you are saying. That makes sense. Just one more thing. What happens if the bid on the item is not won. Will the money used for the bidding be refunded or is that simply lost?

Thank you

George

GMartin

ASKER

Also, it sounds like 2 things are being paid for in this scenario. As you mentioned, the bids. But, also the asking price of the merchandise too. Is that true?

George

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David Johnson, CD

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GMartin

ASKER

Hello and Good Evening Everyone,

Thank you for your shared thoughts to my question. After carefully reviewing all of the well thought out feedback, I have come to the conclusion it will be to my best interest to stay away from bidding sites.

George

BillDL

It's similar in principle to those TV adverts where you phone or text an "answer" and it costs you a minimum of something like 3 bucks over and above your standard provider's charge for the text or phone call. The prizes can be very expensive ones, like a new BMW and a 2 week all-inclusive vacation to Sandals in Barbados. When you consider the tens of thousands of people who are effectively spending 3 bucks each for what amounts to one lucky dip raffle, the company holding the competition is getting very rich. Even though it might seem to be a gamble for the company, these adverts are strategically placed during prime-time TV viewing to induce as many people most likely to enter this kind of competition to have one or more shots at it. Does anybody ever really go and check to see who won after the competition closes? My guess is that if the company didn't pull enough money to make a very healthy profit after deducting the costs of the car and vacation, the "winner" would be fictitious or the owner's nephew. The principle is similar to the bidding sites in that the "entrance fee" is small enough to dismiss in comparison to the potential savings/winnings, so human nature takes over and the owners are getting very rich very quickly. I wish I had dreamed up such a business plan.