Resources

Don't find what you're looking for? See our Frequently Ask Questions about reverse online auctions.

Research Oltiby.com site

If this is the first time you are using our online reverse auction services, read our help guide before you post an order. Also, please make sure you understand the Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use Agreement. This is to make sure that, if you got a seller who posted the lowest bid, you follow through with the purchase.

Find more information about the seller

Ask for the phone number and their street address. Be cautious of sellers that try to hide their identity and of those that do not provide their address information. Before you send the payment, please verify the sellers' history and review the feedback comments from others that dealt with this seller before. If you do not find any information ask questions.

Get more detail on the product

Even if you are buying a small, inexpensive item it pays off to learn more about the product. If you are not quite familiar with an item, ask expert if they can confirm the information provided to you. You can also compare the prices of the same or similar product at our previously held reverse auction services and bids. Always as questions if the price you were given is significantly lower then what it would normally be.

Request for the item to be shipped within a specified time frame

When posting an ad, under shipment requirements, you can request the seller to send you the product within 20 days or sometimes 30 days (depending on the nature of the product). This way you will overcome the uncertainty of "when" is the product going to arrive. Be sure to specify the name of the shipper (UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, etc.) you want the seller to use.

Request a tracking number

Before you post an order, make it a requirement for the seller to provide you with the tracking number once the product is shipped. This will allow you to track it to you location and it presents an assurance that the seller followed through with an agreement.

Be wary of deals that sound too good to be true

If the product is offered at too low price, and especially around the holidays, it could indicate that the product is a lower quality or it might be stolen.

Never trust "sellers" from the outside of the Oltiby.com site

You may receive emails from strangers offering you same product you requested at an unbelievable low price. It is a scam. Keep in mind that when you participate or make deals outside this site, you are no longer protected by our privacy and security policies.

Do not offer cash or money order as a form of payment

We strongly encourage you to use any other form of payment accept money order, cash or wire transfer. This will eliminate the possibility that the seller could take the money and disappear without sending you the product.

Address at the auction different from the payment address

Question the seller if you notice that the sellers' auction address is different from the address of where he/she wants you to make a payment to. If you do not get a satisfactory answer choose the next lowest bidder from your posting at auction services screen.

Do not trust unsolicited requests

Oltiby.com will never ask you to provide as with your password or to update your personal information via email. If you receive an email of that nature, please contact us immediately so that we can take appropriate steps and protect other members.

Cancel bids from sellers who are known to submit bogus bids

If you believe one of the participating sellers is bogus, you may be able to cancel their bid, but only before the auction closes. Our auction services site will even allow you to restrict an auction to pre-approved bidders and sellers only.