Auction Sites Offer ‘Global Garage Sale’ Safe From the Rain

Karla Robertson has discovered an easy way to add to her monthly income: She hawks her cast-off goods over the Internet.

Over the last several months, the 42-year-old Santa Ana woman has used a couple of online auction sites to sell an old typewriter, a collection of blue glass, several designer dresses and a few cameras. Her total so far--$750.

“It’s like throwing a global garage sale,” said Robertson, a clerical worker. “It’s junk to me but valuable stuff to someone else.”

Online auctions have become hot, Internet experts say. Two years ago, there were only a few auction sites on the Web. Now, there are nearly 300 sites, according to the New York marketing research firm Jupiter Communications.

Revenue from online sales this year is expected to hit $500 million, a 150% increase over 1996, according to researchers.

In June, Barry Diller, chief executive of the Home Shopping Network, launched First Auction. The site sells computer products, consumer electronics, home accessories and gift items. A recent visit showed that opening bids range from $1 for the Suzanne Somers 18K Sterling Fantasy Cut Earrings to nearly $350 for a Kenwood CD stereo system.

Other popular sites include Onsale, the first auction site to hit the Internet in 1995; eBay, which is devoted to used goods, and u-Auction-it, which offers a wide array of goods from antiques to computers.

Most sites require customers and sellers to give their names and credit card information before they participate in an auction.

Sellers must complete a form on the auction site, describe the item to be sold and enter the minimum acceptable bid. Sales last from a weekend to a week, depending on the seller.

Buyer beware: No one verifies the condition of the goods.

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P.J. Huffstutter covers high technology for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7830 and at [email protected].