When two auction sits started in India, I thought, well good, consumers are going to get into a habit of buying online. Very soon disillusionment set in. Even though I was able to sell one item at bidorbuyindia.com buying from these sites is like committing Hara Kiri. If you only got yourself to get off that chair in front of that PC and found out what is available in the stores for how much, you would never bid on Baazee.
List of Shortcomings
1. Influx of corporates. Now there are so many brands trying to sell their stuff on the site rather than doing it in the stores. This should not be allowed on an auction site. Brands should be selling stuff online on their own websites, not using an auction site for it. But it gets revenue for Baazee all else be damned.
2. Multiple IDs. This I have myself confirmed. Some IDs, specially sellers of electronic items post attractive goods with no reserve price. If the bidding does not reach their expectation, they login with another ID just before the auction is due to end and outbid everyone using a crazy sum. Who will complain that the seller did not comply. However this practice has now ended since seller fees are being charged.
3. Not enough Law enforcement. Defaulters face no action except ID being scrapped. They will just create another ID. So whats the difference.
As a result, just browse through the categories now. You will see less than 10% items even having bids on them. Lots of items put up are going unbid for. Slowly those putting up items will be as disillusioned as I am. I just visited and was browsing through mobiles. Each page would have hardly one or two items on which bids have been placed. People have realised that its cheaper just going out and buying the stuff. And the exercise helps too!!!