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Sometimes you have to take the road less traveled to find bargains. Nearly everyone has found the way to eBay, and that's the problem. Too many buyers can drive up prices. To find a deal, search where fewer buyers may be looking. Here are three sites that offer online auctions ranging from warehouse club merchandise to thrift store gems and manufacturers' and retail electronic overstocks.
SAM'S CLUB
You have to be a Sam's Club member to bid ($40 annually), but you could save that chunk-o-change on one item. Shipping charges are what UPS charges, nothing more. Proxy bids are allowed. The site also allows "popcorn" bidding, which extends the deadline until the last bid has stayed up for 10 minutes. Some items have a "buy now" option. Recently, a Philips 42-inch LCD TV that sold for $980 at Amazon.com went for $701 at the Sam's site, including tax and shipping online.
• Categories: Apparel, electronics, jewelry, home furnishings, tools and automotive and toys.
• Strength: Electronics.
• Returns: 30 days, but auction items cannot be returned to warehouse stores.
GOODWILL
Don't like shopping in thrift stores? The website is odor- and clutter-free. More than 70 Goodwills nationwide, including Minnesota's, post merchandise online. All of the items posted from Minnesota can be picked up at the store on W. University Avenue in St. Paul to save shipping costs. To find local items, click on the "search" icon and then choose "MN, St. Paul" in the "Seller" drop-down menu. About 90 items are added daily from the St. Paul store, especially antique-y or collectible items. Brian Becker, director of marketing for Goodwill Minnesota, said that recent auctions on local items included an 18K gold hummingbird brooch (sold for $280), an antique Bernina sewing machine ($222) and an antique banker's fan ($600), although most items sell for much less. Some items have a "buy now" option.
• Categories: Jewelry, art, musical instruments, cameras, computers, collectibles.
• Strength: Collectibles.
• Returns: Within seven days, but only if the item was received damaged or misrepresented.
UBID
The site sells overstock items, sometimes refurbished inventory from manufacturers such as HP, Apple and Sony. A reconditioned iPod Touch (8 GB) was $175 on the "Buy now" feature, a few dollars cheaper than a reconditioned one at Apple.com. Many of the models aren't the most current, which explains the discount. Transaction fees ranging from 50 cents to $4 are added. If you tire of the auction, check out RedTag.com, which, along with Ubid, was once part of Tom Petters' holdings.
• Categories: Computers, TVs, art, jewelry, watches, automotive and home and garden.
• Strength: Refurbished electronics.
• Returns: Not usually allowed, unless the item is misrepresented.
John Ewoldt • jewoldt@startribune.com or 612-673-7633. If you spot a deal, share it at startribune.com/blogs/dealspotter.
