Auction Services

We are finishing this year within a few days and probably it's the right time of the year to clear your closets. If you are too busy to hold a garage sale, you may take the service of these organisations who will sell your items at online auction:

Trading Assistants: This eBay service matches customers with individual sellers on the auction Web site. Search for a trading assistant at Ebay.com/ta by ZIP code or specialty. Commissions vary by seller and so do guidelines for pickup or delivery.

Auction Drop: This service works with UPS for a commission of 20% to 38% of an item's selling price. To sell your items, fill out a form at AuctionDrop.com . Drop your unpackaged items off at a participating UPS store and 'Auction Drop' will take care of listing and selling the items. You'll receive a check -- minus Auction Drop's take and e-Bay selling fees. If your item doesn't sell, it will be returned to you at no charge.

Snappy Auctions: This service works through a team of franchisers who are located throughout USA. Simply drop off your item at the nearest location and 'Snappy Auctions' will take care of the rest, from pricing the item to shipping it out. The commission fee is 35% for items selling at up to $500 and slightly less for pricier items. You'll also need to make a refundable deposit of $15 to $20 if you want to start the bidding at more than $1. Visit their site: SnappyAuctions.com.

Before you choose a service, shop around for the following: commission, shipping, fees, etc. What happens if the item doesn't sell? What is required on your part? Will you need to be home for the item to be picked up or will you need to drive somewhere to drop the item off? If your sale items are valuable collectible, do some research before putting it for sale. Who knows you may be losing a fortune without ever realizing it.