IOffer
Encyclopedia
iOffer is a San Francisco-based online trading community
that was launched on May 1, 2002 by Steven Nerayoff.
As of February 2008, it claimed to have nearly one million total users
, including approximately 75,000 sellers, although this information cannot be independent verified, nor is it known how many of these users are active.
iOffer deviates from the online auction business model
and instead adopts the "negotiated commerce model", characteristic of garage sale
s and flea market
s,
operating on the basis of negotiation
between buyers and sellers rather than bidding
. When a negotiation concludes successfully (i.e. a transaction occurs), iOffer charges a "final value fee" based on a sliding scale
. The website advertises this distinction, claiming: "This is not an auction. It's better!"
iOffer permits free listing of items for sale, charging fees only when items are sold or for premium listing services (such as bolding
, highlighting, and listing on the home page). Sellers can post an asking price or request offers; buyers, in turn, can purchase an item at its asking price or make an offer. Users can also post "want ads" at no charge and barter
.
All transactions are recorded and can be viewed by other users.
iOffer competes with other similar negotiated e-commerce websites, as well as online auction sites such as eBay
.
According to Greg Holden, author of multiple books about eBay, from the perspective of sellers iOffer is both a "complement"
and "good alternative" to eBay. Through iOffer's software program Mr. Grabber, sellers can relist items from sites such as eBay, and Overstock.com
onto iOffer en masse, as well as import eBay feedback ratings.
Unlike sites such as eBay, however, iOffer provides nothing in the way of buyer or seller protection from fraudulent and other problem transactions, such as those involving counterfeit goods, counterfeit money order scams, etc, although purchases with PayPal may be covered under PayPal's buyer protection program for items that are not received or not significantly as described.
While iOffer does not provide customer service via telephone, email customer service is available through the Helpdesk although form letter responses are frequent.
In a January 2011 survey of more than 2,800 online sellers by the website AuctionBytes.com, iOffer ranked 16th out of 16 marketplaces with an overall rating of 3.6 out of 10, just behind eBay's 14th place rank with 4.2 out of 10. iOffer's highest marks were for Ease of Use (4.42/10) and its lowest marks were for Would Recommend This Site (3.14/10).
Online trading community
An online trading community provides participants with a structured method for trading, bartering, or selling goods and services. These communities often have forums and chatrooms designed to facilitate communication between the members...
that was launched on May 1, 2002 by Steven Nerayoff.
As of February 2008, it claimed to have nearly one million total users
User (computing)
A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...
, including approximately 75,000 sellers, although this information cannot be independent verified, nor is it known how many of these users are active.
iOffer deviates from the online auction business model
Online auction business model
The online auction business model is one in which participants bid for products and services over the Internet. The functionality of buying and selling in an auction format is made possible through auction software which regulates the various processes involved.Several types of online auctions are...
and instead adopts the "negotiated commerce model", characteristic of garage sale
Garage sale
A garage sale, also known as a yard sale, rummage sale, tag sale, lawn sale, attic sale, moving sale, or junk sale, is an informal, irregularly scheduled event for the sale of used goods by private individuals, in which "block sales" are allowed, so that sellers are not required to obtain business...
s and flea market
Flea market
A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent...
s,
operating on the basis of negotiation
Negotiation
Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties, intended to reach an understanding, resolve point of difference, or gain advantage in outcome of dialogue, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or collective advantage, to craft outcomes to satisfy...
between buyers and sellers rather than bidding
Bidding
Bidding is an offer of setting a price one is willing to pay for something. A price offer is called a bid. The term may be used in context of auctions, stock exchange, card games, or real estate transactions....
. When a negotiation concludes successfully (i.e. a transaction occurs), iOffer charges a "final value fee" based on a sliding scale
Sliding scale fees
Sliding scale fees are variable costs for products, services, or taxes based on one's ability to pay. Such fees are thereby reduced for those who have lower incomes or less money to spare after their personal expenses, regardless of income....
. The website advertises this distinction, claiming: "This is not an auction. It's better!"
iOffer permits free listing of items for sale, charging fees only when items are sold or for premium listing services (such as bolding
Emphasis (typography)
In typography, emphasis is the exaggeration of words in a text with a font in a different style from the rest of the text—to emphasize them.- Methods and use :...
, highlighting, and listing on the home page). Sellers can post an asking price or request offers; buyers, in turn, can purchase an item at its asking price or make an offer. Users can also post "want ads" at no charge and barter
Barter
Barter is a method of exchange by which goods or services are directly exchanged for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange, such as money. It is usually bilateral, but may be multilateral, and usually exists parallel to monetary systems in most developed countries, though to a...
.
All transactions are recorded and can be viewed by other users.
iOffer competes with other similar negotiated e-commerce websites, as well as online auction sites such as eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
.
According to Greg Holden, author of multiple books about eBay, from the perspective of sellers iOffer is both a "complement"
and "good alternative" to eBay. Through iOffer's software program Mr. Grabber, sellers can relist items from sites such as eBay, and Overstock.com
Overstock.com
Overstock.com , also known by its shortcut, O.co, is an online retailer headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, near Salt Lake City. Founded in 1997 by Robert Brazell, under the name D2: Discounts Direct, it was a pioneering online seller of surplus merchandise which, upon its failure in 1999,...
onto iOffer en masse, as well as import eBay feedback ratings.
Unlike sites such as eBay, however, iOffer provides nothing in the way of buyer or seller protection from fraudulent and other problem transactions, such as those involving counterfeit goods, counterfeit money order scams, etc, although purchases with PayPal may be covered under PayPal's buyer protection program for items that are not received or not significantly as described.
While iOffer does not provide customer service via telephone, email customer service is available through the Helpdesk although form letter responses are frequent.
In a January 2011 survey of more than 2,800 online sellers by the website AuctionBytes.com, iOffer ranked 16th out of 16 marketplaces with an overall rating of 3.6 out of 10, just behind eBay's 14th place rank with 4.2 out of 10. iOffer's highest marks were for Ease of Use (4.42/10) and its lowest marks were for Would Recommend This Site (3.14/10).