OZtion
Encyclopedia
Quicksales is an online auction site
based in Australia
, and the second largest auction website in Australia. According to the site there are more than 750,000+ items available for auction or purchase and as of 15 September 2009 there are over 430,298 member accounts.
based Philip Druce and Kelvin Yip. By May that year there were 2000 members and over 9000 items for sale. The website rose to prominence in May 2008 after rival auction site eBay
announced it would force all customers to use PayPal
for payment processing. Although eBay later reversed their decision, in six weeks OZtion's sales jumped 50% and its member based jumped by 28,000 to 275,000. The number of new signups also rose, from an average 250 new members per day, to 650 per day.
In June 2008 the founders sold the website to the listed media company Jumbuck Entertainment for $2 million in cash and shares. In April 2010 Jumbuck sold the website to online classifieds company Carsales.com for $1.1 million. On 7 February 2010, the website changed its name to Quicksales.
vShops are a unique OZtion version of online auction shops. They allow sellers to have a searchable store, and include information about their business on a separate page. Owners of vShops are charged $5 per calendar month for the privilege.
At least one form of verification is required to become a seller. Forms of verification available are: address verification, credit card
verification, photo ID verification (drivers licence or passport), telephone verification (only after one other form of verification has been completed) and Australia Post verification (which adds address and photo ID verification as well). As of 2007 only residents of Australia and New Zealand are permitted to sell on OZtion (sellers from other countries registered prior to September 2006 are still allowed to sell). A major difference between OZtion and more dominant auction sites is that OZtion allows non-electronic verification (for example, eBay's verification system involves credit card or phone, while its payment system, PayPal, involves bank details).
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...
based in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and the second largest auction website in Australia. According to the site there are more than 750,000+ items available for auction or purchase and as of 15 September 2009 there are over 430,298 member accounts.
History
The OZtion website was founded in 2005 by MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
based Philip Druce and Kelvin Yip. By May that year there were 2000 members and over 9000 items for sale. The website rose to prominence in May 2008 after rival auction site 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...
announced it would force all customers to use PayPal
PayPal
PayPal is an American-based global e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as checks and money orders....
for payment processing. Although eBay later reversed their decision, in six weeks OZtion's sales jumped 50% and its member based jumped by 28,000 to 275,000. The number of new signups also rose, from an average 250 new members per day, to 650 per day.
In June 2008 the founders sold the website to the listed media company Jumbuck Entertainment for $2 million in cash and shares. In April 2010 Jumbuck sold the website to online classifieds company Carsales.com for $1.1 million. On 7 February 2010, the website changed its name to Quicksales.
Community
OZtion uses a "rating" system (similar to the feedback system used on other online sites) for rating transactions. Transactions can be rated by both the buyer and seller as 'Satisfied', 'Neutral' or 'Unsatisfied'. Each OZtion user is also given an overall rating score based on their transactions, as follows: two points are added for each 'Satisfied' rating; zero points for each 'Neutral' rating, and two points deducted for each 'Unsatisfied' rating.Trading
Listing, including up to three pictures, is free but sellers are charged a commission when a sale is completed.vShops are a unique OZtion version of online auction shops. They allow sellers to have a searchable store, and include information about their business on a separate page. Owners of vShops are charged $5 per calendar month for the privilege.
At least one form of verification is required to become a seller. Forms of verification available are: address verification, credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
verification, photo ID verification (drivers licence or passport), telephone verification (only after one other form of verification has been completed) and Australia Post verification (which adds address and photo ID verification as well). As of 2007 only residents of Australia and New Zealand are permitted to sell on OZtion (sellers from other countries registered prior to September 2006 are still allowed to sell). A major difference between OZtion and more dominant auction sites is that OZtion allows non-electronic verification (for example, eBay's verification system involves credit card or phone, while its payment system, PayPal, involves bank details).
Prohibited items
A number of items are not permitted to be sold on OZtion. Some notable examples include:- Adult items (unless added to the "Adult" category)
- Alcohol
- An alcohol license is required to list wine and other alcohol on OZtion. The seller must display their license number on the listing and are responsible for knowing alcohol laws in all states and territories.
- Drugs
- No controlled prescription drugs, regardless of herbal or chemical in origin, are permitted for sale.
- Fireworks
- Illegal items
- Illegal items are unable to be sold on OZtion as they are, of course, prohibited.
- Lock Picking Devices
- Lock picking or lock smithing devices (including key cutters) cannot be listed.
- Tickets Over Face Value
- OZtion does not allow tickets to be re-sold beyond their face value (referred to as ticket scalping). To prevent tickets being sold over their face value they must be listed as "BuyNow Only" (instant purchase, no auction) items with a price below or equal to the face value.
- Used Clothing
- Clothing that has been used may be listed, however, the garment must be cleaned before sending. Used underwear and swimwear (including children's) and cloth nappies must not be listed on OZtion.
- Used Cosmetics