Honesty is the key

Seller: Bedding Online
Name: Herman Vermeulen

As the user name he registered on bidorbuy implies, Herman Vermeulen mostly sells bedding. Even the motto on his bidorbuy listings is related to bedding; it says: ”Don’t go to bed without us”. Herman points out that he will not pass a chance to list for sale a totally unrelated product if he spots a good deal, but bedding is obviously his niche specialty.

How did you start selling on bidorbuy?

I started in July 2007. bidorbuy was the logical choice, because it is the perfect platform for any entrepreneur to start his own business with the minimum amount of capital. You can run the operations directly from your own house. You set the time and amount of time you want to work. All you really need is a digital camera, good computer and internet connection.  You can start with some unwanted gifts and work your way to finding a product or product range that you like and that you can sell for a profit. In these electronic times, people will rather pay R20 or R50 more for an item than to go to a shop. Also, you can provide your item at a lower price than the retailers because your overheads are much lower than theirs.

I list my items every week on Crazy Wednesday and Snap Friday auctions. Crazy Wednesday and Snap Friday on bidorbuy are set aside for no-reserve auctions that start from R1. Every now and then, I list a whole lot of items in the so-called Buy-Now format, at fixed prices. I price those items very close to my cost and the whole point of this exercise is to reward all my loyal buyers with a real bargain.

What sets your company apart?

I really think the reason for my success is the total hands-on manner in which I run my company. I always try to get the items my buyers purchased dispatched as fast as possible. That is why I do shipping every day, unlike the sellers who ship only on certain days. Also, I will not sell something that I would not buy for myself. Honesty is a key factor. You must be honest at all times. You cannot misrepresent an item. Neither can you sell something that you do not have in your possession.

Should shoppers buy only a specific kind of merchandise online?

You can buy anything, but it is very important to read the text of the listing, in which the seller provides the description of the item on sale and the conditions under which the item is sold. If anything is still unclear, use the “Ask the seller a question” feature included in each and every listing to communicate with the seller.

What advice can you give to shoppers who are new to bidorbuy?

I use the auction format most often, and I’d like to give these tips to newby bidders on bidorbuy:

• Read the auction listing very carefully.
• Make sure that the seller provided a detailed description of the item in question. Be sure to read shipping and other charges before bidding. If in any doubt, ask the seller a question.
• Never bid on an item if you know that you will not be able to pay for it. An auction can close at any time, so don’t even start if you can’t see it through! In other words, never count on being outbid.
• Do not place your bid in the beginning. Instead, wait till closing time. That way, you are more likely to strike a bargain.
• If you win an auction, do the honourable thing and pay the seller for the item.